The Aussie Way

I write this post in anger over what transpired in the Sydney Test.

I am willing to ignore the umpiring errors for the purpose of this post, as those need to be handled by the ICC and the national Boards. What shocked me (and has shocked me for years now about the Australian team is their "honour and spirit of the game" talk.

This is what their Code of Conduct says, "When you're out, and you know it, don't walk till the umpire rules you out. The edge might be audible in India, you could be caught at first slip, or your stumps might be shattered. DON'T WALK. Wait for the umpire to give you out. BUT, (and this is a crucial 'but', almost as large as Jennifer Lopez's), expect the opposing team, the umpire, and the rest of the world to trust you when you tell everyone that you've taken a catch cleanly. After all, you never cheat."

Michael Clarke showed us how ridiculous this philosophy is. He was caught at first slip off Kumble to an edge that was visible to someone sitting in the far stands at square leg, and he stood his ground - behaved like everything was normal. Next day, he takes a dubious catch of Sourav Ganguly, a catch that even Ian Chappell and Sunil Gavaskar cannot agree upon, and all of us are expected to believe him.

If I am supposed to trust Clarke when he's sure he's taken the catch, I should suppose that he will walk when he's sure he's out. The Aussie Way clearly has some loopholes.

I have this Grand Spirit Theory that can explain The Aussie Way. The Spirit of the Game is in the air in Australia, and the players inhale it when they are on the field. Sadly, this Spirit is extremely weak and cannot penetrate helmets. Therefore, when players are batting, the Spirit is forced to stay in the air and not within them. So, when an Aussie is batting, he isn't playing in the Spirit of the Game, but when he is fielding without a helmet at slip, he is playing in the Spirit.

And then there are those who support Clarke. Michael Slater. Not surprising at all. Wasn't he the low-life who claimed a clearly grounded 'catch' off Rahul Dravid in Mumbai six years ago and then wagged his finger at Dravid and Venkataragavan? We Indians are raised on Bollywood movies. It takes us lifetimes to forget these things.

Oh, let us not forget Ricky Ponting, and his outburst, "Are you questioning my integrity?" Of course we are, Mr. Ponting. When was it ever not in question?

As an aside, why do the Australians look to outlaw anything that affects their game - bodyline, off-spin bowling and sledging?