Thursday, January 31, 2008

Cricket woes: Diarrhea in Australian media over indian 'money power'

This story is from TOI .

The Australian national newspaper, in an article headlined "Cricket's Day of Shame," quoted an unnamed Australian player as saying: "The thing that (annoys us) is that it shows how much power India has. The Aussie guys aren't going to make it up. The players are frustrated because this shows how much influence India has, because of the wealth they generate. Money talks."

India has become the financial powerhouse of world cricket, generating massive broadcasting and sponsorship revenues which support the international game.

The International Cricket Council has been seen to have bowed to Indian pressure in several recent decisions, including the removal of umpire Steve Bucknor from the recent test series when his rulings angered the Indian team.

Cricket commentator Peter Roebuck, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald , said India's threat to fly its players home if the appeal failed was "amongst the most nakedly aggressive actions taken in the history of a notoriously fractious game." "If this is the way the Indian board intends to conduct its affairs hereafter, then God help cricket," Roebuck wrote. "All around, it has been a bad business. Over the years, India have often been represented by gentlemen with high principles and a strong sense of sportsmanship. Australia have not been so fortunate. But it seems that power has corrupted."

A poll conducted by the Sky News television network showed 57 per cent of respondents disagreed with the appeal decision while 43 per cent supported it. The number of participants was not available.

In The Australian newspaper, Peter Lalor wrote that Indian had "pulled out every stop" to ensure the ICC and Cricket Australia "caved in" to its demands. "India, the team that bleated about the spirit of cricket after being beaten in Sydney, has again held a gun to the game's head and had its demands met," he said. Australian governor general Michael Jeffery, the British queen's representative in Australia, appealed in a radio interview for a return to courtesy on the cricket field. "While we should be playing the game tough and hard and all of that sort of thing, I think there's also a need to really take care of the fundamental courtesies and good manners," Jeffery said.

My take on this issue:
This indeed is a strange statement : Over the years, India have often been represented by gentlemen with high principles and a strong sense of sportsmanship. Australia have not been so fortunate. But it seems power has corrupted. What does this imply? because Aussies are not gentlemen, they have the license to be abusive, and 'cos indians are gentlemen, they should grin and bear their abusive language? oh come on now. that is real real cockeyed logic. and to say that when team India reacts, it has been 'corrupted' by power(!!!!!!!!) is another way of saying that we (aussies)cant stomach it if the underdog rises above his station. And this digestion problem appears to be messing up the australian media!

As the sayings go 'every dog has his day' and 'the smallest worm will turn being trod upon'. But then, we are not talking about worms and dogs.if these lesser creatures can turn, how can anyone expect the tiger not to pounce?

1 comment:

  1. hello madam,
    Earlier I visited you once and was very much fascinated by your thoughts...I remember, it was an article on a feminist issue...and later, after a few weeks, I wanted to read you once again...which I couldnt as I lost your link...and fortunately, I got ur link back...thankyou...

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