This is not cricket !!!!

seein d way cricket has been played these days...i m pained to write "This is not cricket...."

cricket has always been a Gentleman's Game......unlike many other team games which involves a lot of physical contact between d players, cricket involves skills one has with the bat and with the ball

over the years cricket has moved from the era of bradman n larwood in bodyline series, from the ashes contests to the indo-pak rivalry...what has been common in all these evenly played matches is the spirit with which game has been played....

but these days what one gets to see is not cricket.....there can been some barter n chirpin between d playes on the field...its healthy for the game if all know where the limits are and where such things should end.....someone may try to gain some unfair advantage tryin to distract players

but then these players are playin at the highest level n they shud know how to handle such things....there's no need for histrionics jus to show how aggressive you look on the TV !!!

d other day sreesanth was makin all sorts of faces after takin the wicket of andrew symonds in d 2nd ODI.....here i m not takin abt his ability...he is and can b a very good bowler...but when he took tht wicket...d game was match / stock n barrel over for india...symonds had done his job for his team...aussies had taken d game away from india....



again in d newspapers i read how aussies resorted to some sort of cheap language against harbhajjan

aussies are known for such tactics...

but at the end of the day you hav a bat / bowl to prove.....bhajji did taken 22 wickets in tht series against aussies in 3 matches n showed his class...pointin d bat against someone aint gonna do any good to himself.....

in fact the current lot can learn from zaheer...in tht 99 world cup he was also worked up n got in the verbal volley of words wit hayden n co...what happened after tht is history

n now when zaks is back in the team, he is a lot restrained n is well within himself n knows how he can make ppl dance n duck to his deliveries

winnin d T20 world cup was great but is this how these stars wanna be ambassadors of the game for all those millions of kids who wud glued to the TV sets watchin them play !!!

hope they realize what wrong they r doin n resort to playin jus good old cricket....the gentleman's game n nothin else

Spirit of Cricket: Preamble to the Laws

Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws but also within the Spirit of the Game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself. The major responsbility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the captains.

1. There are two Laws which place responsibility for the team's conduct firmly on the captain.

Responsibility of captains

The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of the Game as well as within the Laws.

Player's conduct

In the event of a player failing to comply with instructions by an umpire, or criticising by word or action the decision of an umpire, or showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute, the umpire concerned shall in the first place report the matter to the other umpire and to the player's captain, and instruct the latter to take action.

2. Fair and unfair play

According to the Laws the umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play.

The umpires may intervene at any time and it is the responsibility of the captain to take action where required.

3. The umpires are authorised to intervene in cases of:

• Time wasting
• Damaging the pitch
• Dangerous or unfair bowling
• Tampering with the ball
• Any other action that they consider to be unfair

4. The Spirit of the Game involves RESPECT for:

• Your opponents
• Your own captain
• The roles of the umpires
• The game's traditional values

5. It is against the Spirit of the Game:

• To dispute an umpire's decision by word, action or gesture
• To direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire
• To indulge in cheating or any sharp practice, for instance:
  (a) to appeal knowing that the batsman is not out
  (b) to advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing
  (c) to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one's own side

6. Violence

There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play.

7. Players

Captains and umpires together set the tone for the conduct of a cricket match. Every player is expected to make an important contribution towards this.

http://www.lords.org/laws-and-spirit/spirit/spirit-of-cricket-preamble-to-the-laws,141,AR.html