For keen followers of international cricket cock-ups the announcement that the ICC is going to end sledging is fantastic news. Following the Oval and Harbhajan cheating and racism scandals Wickman was worried that we might be going to run out of opportunities for mayhem.
When someone says they are going to stamp something out in sport, the only way you are going to do that is by legislating it out of the game or creating a sufficient in game punishment that cannot be appealed afterwards. Look at rugby - back chat to the ref? 10 yards. Do it in the wrong part of the field and you have an almost guaranteed scoring opp for the oppo.
The ICC is going to use law 2.8 to drive sledging out of the game.
ICC Code of conduct - law 2.8 Using language that is obscene, offensive or of a seriously insulting nature to another player, umpire, referee, team official or spectator.(It is acknowledged that there will be verbal exchanges between players in the course of play. Rather than seeking to eliminate these exchanges entirely, umpires will look to lay charges when this falls below an acceptable standard. In this instance, language will be interpreted to include gestures)
This is perfect! You could drive a horse and cart through this regulation and not touch the sides! What's an acceptable standard? Who will decide? PERFECT! This now means that we can have legal battles and appeals after every single incident. What umpire is going to be brave enough to haul someone up first? What will in be for? Which of the famous sledges would result in a fine or caution or something?
Wickman reckons the immortal "Come on boys, he can't get a hundred every week" is going to be okay, but what about "sniff that?" Wickman can't wait...
2 comments:
"What umpire is going to be brave enough to haul someone up first?"
Daryl Hair - oh no sorry - I forgot he's a racist bigot who was forced from the game. I didn't agree with the guy but he was willing to take a stand for what he believed until the Asian block forced him out(and the BCCI and the biggest bullies here). And people wonder why Simon Taufel has decided to step away while his reputation is in tact and every move he makes is handed over to a tv umpire/anchorman. International cricket is fast becoming noting more than a commercial/tv commodity that disparages the very reason we all love and play the game............ rant over
sorry for the spelling/grammatical errors - ich bin drunken - the crux of my argument still stands though
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