It’s how Australia plays the game

THE EDITOR: Consider this. A batsman edges a ball and is caught in the slips. Thinking he is out, he starts to walk off the field, unaware that the umpire has signalled no-ball. The catcher breaks the wicket and appeals for run out. There was a time when the batsman would be given out. To cater specifically for situations like these, the following amendment was made to the Laws of Cricket:

31.7 Batsman leaving the wicket under a misapprehension

An umpire shall intervene if satisfied that a batsman, not having been given out, has left the wicket under a misapprehension of being out. The umpire intervening shall call and signal “dead ball” to prevent any further action by the fielding side and shall recall the batsman.

A couple weeks ago, Pakistan versus Australia, cricket fans were treated to the bizarre run out of Pakistani batsman Azhar Ali while he and his partner, Asad Shafiq, were having a mid-pitch chat. Whereas, at one level, it was hilarious and will be a YouTube hit for decades, I see it as an act of ignominy by a team desperate to get a wicket by any means.

While the law quoted above does not apply specifically to this case, I believe the principle does. The batsmen were clearly under the misapprehension that the ball had gone for four. Yes, they were careless. Yes, they should have waited for the umpire’s signal. But they were not trying to steal a run as, for instance, in the case of a non-striker backing up too far. (In that case, I have no sympathy with the batsman being run out – he should pay the price for trying to sneak an unfair advantage.)

While I was amused at the run out, I was shocked, though not surprised, by Australia’s behaviour. Australians have a long history of unsportsmanlike conduct. Maybe it’s in their DNA – they can’t help but display poor sportsmanship whenever the opportunity arises.

Ali, understandably sheepish about the incident, was quite gracious towards the Aussies. “I don’t think it was bad sportsmanship and I take full responsibility as I feel I was a bit ignorant.”

I am less generous. Sometimes an action may be legal (like a nuisance neighbour playing loud music, or having an affair with that same neighbour’s wife), but that does not necessarily make it right. The run out was within the rules of the game but, for me, it’s just not cricket.

By the way, the wicket did not help the Australians. Pakistan still walloped them by 373 runs.

NOEL KALICHARAN via e-mail

P.S.
Perhaps, there’s hope for Australia. Just a few days ago, Cricket Australia received a report on the review of Australian cricket. Interestingly, the report acknowledges how they play the game. Among the findings:

“We didn’t put sufficient emphasis on the spirit of the game in our pursuit of wanting to be the very best we could on the field... There is a view in the cricket community that Cricket Australia is perceived as arrogant.”

As they say, the first step in changing bad behaviour is to acknowledge it. Can the Aussies change? In the immortal words of Jimmy Cliff, “Time will tell… time alone will tell.”