Are you Fredor in disguise? Another case for Inspector Dorts. People's thoughts on this sledging stuff? I'm a big fan of 'anything goes' but it doesn't take a genius to work out what they said to Bairstow, and it turns my stomach. Are the Aussie's so desperate to win they need to resort to that? (Also, are they really so worried about losing? We're ****e!) Also, good on Bairstow for not reporting exactly what was said, and just saying 'no more of that, enough said.' Makes him look like the bigger man and the Aussies like the overgrown schoolboys they seem to be.
On the one hand the sledging is going against good sportsmanship and in a way cheating to gain an advantage rather than winning through skill. On the other hand every player should be tough enough to take it without it affecting their game and should be able to give at least as good back them. Unfortunately, I fear the English players are more introspective and dont have the confidence and mental strength to compete on that psychological level. Some can handle it of course but you look at the rabbit in the headlights look on some of their faces at times when at the crease and you worry about them. The Aussies know they can get an advantage through this and won't stop using the tactic so it needs to become a tangible planned out part of our game too. The Aussies are not bothered how they win or about sportsmanship, they are just bothered about what result goes down on the cricketing almanac.
Bairstow has refused to comment, but it seems more than likely it was something to do with his Dad's suicide (he was also an England wicketkeeper).
Remember the Dad but I never knew he took his life. If I was in Bairstow’s shoes I’d have probably gone loco on the pitch.
I am massively for sledging. It can be really funny. The problem is not everyone likes to partake. I think there has to be a line. People thought Clarke threatening Anderson with a broken arm was distasteful. I had no real problem with that. Sledging about Bairstow dad taking his life is too far for me. The biggest bullies are the worst at dealing with it. I remember McGrath sledging Ramnaresh Sarwan of the West Indies non stop. He got so frustrated because Sarwan was going well. He ended up getting crude and saying “what does Brian Lara’s dick taste like?” - pretty juvenile and a bit pathetic. Quick as you like Sarwan retorted “I don’t know ask your wife”. Fair enough. McGrath quickly descended into a rage, pointing fingers and shouting. His wife was ill I think with cancer at the time but you couldn’t help but feel, well if you will live by the sword mate. We’ve had great ones like Eddo Brand being chastised by McGrath why he was so fat. He responded by saying because every time he made love to McGraths wife she gave him a biscuit. Or Mark Waugh asking Jimmy Ormond what he was doing out here, he’s not good enough to play for England. He replied maybe not but at least I’m the best player in my family. Big Merv Hughes could be pretty crude but funny too. When Javed Miandad called him a fat bus conductor, and a few overs later Hughes got him out, he ran down the wicket towards him shouting “tickets please”. Or when told Graham Hick to turn the bat over as there was instructions on the other side. It can be ok. I’m not a massive fan about bringing dead relatives into it but sledging is not that big a deal. I just think we are getting very sensitive as time goes on. We are striving for some niceness utopia and I’m not really sure why. Bayliss made a good point. Turn the microphones down, trust the umps to keep it sensible but otherwise let our sportsmen and sportswomen push the boundaries in the heat of action and get into competitive duels. Otherwise sport will become very stale.
If it was that it should reported and the said players banned for a few matches or years, headbutt incident I can live with, tbh sledging is basically childish crap unless it is very personal
tbh guys, we (the Aussies) have a crap batting lineup and keeper but a good bowling attack, how about we give you Payne, Khawaja, Marsh, Marsh, Bancroft and Handscomb and you give us Bairstow and Root
If that is what it was (and we don't know) I think Bairstow would have rapped his bat around said person's head. And he would have had my backing to do so.
England 175-4 at tea on Day 1 of the 3rd Test, being played at the WACA. Joe Root won the toss and elected to bat hurrah. For those of you who don't know, the name WACA comes from the initials of Western Australian Cricket Association.
