growing racism in cricket...

shared by straight point on Wednesday, December 16, 2009

no i am not talking about this racist incident against pakistan team... though one could very well imagine the uproar this news would have created had this happened to a visiting team in pakistan or for that matter subcontinent...

but here i am talking about the comment posted in cricinfo commentary during tea of first south africa vs england test being played at centurion...

It's been a fascinating first day and has clearly pleased someone calling himself KP "After 400-run test days; 800-run one-days here in India, its so eye-soothing; sense-fulfilling to see decent bowling; pitches with some life. Whoa! This year will be remembered for some splendid tests; so many dull ones. Hope Centurion belongs to the former."

here i am not against lavishing praise for the ongoing test pitch or bowling... but i am against this growing cricracism that every thing good has to be compulsory equated with cricketing 'filth' that is happening in india... to highlight the disparity... even if there is no obvious link...

but then why come sense of perspective come in way of india bashing...?

last time, i remember, when 400 runs were scored in a day of a test match... it happened in england... when england scored them against australia during 2005 ashes... the first time 800 runs or more were scored in a day in one day international match... that was played on south africa soil... and both time it was praised as the celebration of attacking and exciting cricket at its best... and rightly so...

but when the same happened in india... it must be discarded as dull cricket without ever feeling the need to check things... to make an example out of that...

these so called 'experts' can go to any length to achieve pre-conceived conclusions... to give you few examples...

india can not be no. 1 in test ranking coz we 'choked' in the hyderabad one day match... or we can not justify being no. 1 coz we don't have a star fast bowler...

so when india scores 400 runs in a day of a test... when one of india's proudest son scores almost 300 runs in a day... we are accused of taking or replicating one day cricket to tests...

or when 800 or more runs got scored in a day of one day international in india... it is anything but dull cricket at its yawning worst...

these jaundiced eyes suffering from the eye-flue called cricracism refuses to see beyond paleness blocking their 'vision' that this is not the first time it has happened in a test or one day cricket and certainly won't be last irrespective of where it will happen...

but then again... why reason come in way when you can attract cheap eye-balls by practicing racism in the name of cricket and cricket journalism...?

14 comments:

Anil Singh said...

I was also feeling this bieas from the past some time. Good that you gave them excellent words.

Actually this has become a phenomenon. And it's a fact that every nation has some inherent advantages when it plays in its own nation.

A recent comment of Ricky Ponting is as sad, as the one quoted as example.

So as you said, this targeted sarcasm is nothing more than a form of racism.

This has to stop, it's good to be competitive till the battle is on, but after the battle,one should show a big heart to congratulate the winning side.

Applies to battles our friends fight as well.

straight point said...

This has to stop, it's good to be competitive till the battle is on, but after the battle,one should show a big heart to congratulate the winning side.

i could not put it better...

i don't know what it takes to give credit where its due...

why this unnecessary rush of falling over each other to come up with sick arguments just to please certain audience and may be bosses...?

Som said...

Sp, spot on. I used to fret earlier now I merely pity the cackling of the frustrated lot which know it fully well that they and their heroes are just not capable of doing that.

Wasim said...

As long as there is a result there should be no criticism about any sort of conditions. The fans want to see results and a fair contest between the ball and bat, every country has a right to prepare the tracks according to their advantage. But the fans should not be let down by making the game one sided for the batsmen through out a series.

Homer said...

And in the meanwhile, what a glorious day for cricket! A more than half empty WACA ( capacity 45,000), a benign wicket with very little to offer for the bowlers and a score card that reads 365/4 in under 100 overs.

Or, as the Prick says it, a wicket with character!

Test Cricket is in good hands, so unlike the subcontinent!

Cheers,

straight point said...

exactly som... on the same pitches their best could not achieve the same scoring rate and they talk about it as if you just have to turn up with willow in your hand... they not only show the disrespect towards the talent and class but to cricket itself...

straight point said...

yes wasim... as soon as there is result... and when a 3 test series produces a result of 2-0 and what these so called 'experts' say...?

no points for guessing tho... :)

straight point said...

you have got it wrong homer...

its indeed the wicket with character... it needs a character to keep yourself awake on the pitch while batting and interested in the proceedings while fielding and watching... :)

Golandaaz said...

there has never been a team rated number 1, without its share of baseless criticism. More than the ICC ranking, these stupid and snide remarks are a clearer indication that India is the best team in cricket. And only the best gets criticized. Remember how we criticized Australia for "bending the rules", "ruthlessness", etc, etc for wanting to and winning all the time

straight point said...

yeah... its definitely an angle worth looking into gol...

but the thing is there is just no consistency in commenting/reporting about same incident... so when the south africa's odi win chasing 430 odd was hailed as 'greatest game ever' we see same chase being reported as dull cricket on sub standard wicket...

come on!!

Wasim said...

SP

The criticism carried over from the first test, which is unfair.

It should have stopped after the first test, to be fair the conditions in the first test deserved criticism as no result was possible on that track.

straight point said...

exactly wasim... all i want is consistent reporting... but then i may be already asking for too much... :)

as for ahmadabad match... here is what i wrote then...

Soulberry said...

That's what I meant when I said recordings of history must be rooted in its pod of present and that pod, in the current era has changed - recordings of history of the game must reflect the shift from anglo-centric domination, philosophy and narrations.

Recording history is a clever tool used by many to manipulate truth....India and such dominated countries suffered for the absence of records of their own history...their voice.

Don't expect them to change...they will record history the way they want and downplay what they wish to. It is upto us to maintain the truth in all recorded versions.

straight point said...

could not have put it better... great insight sb!

the more i read it more it grows on me... we all must do whatever we can in our small capacity to expose these 'experts' and should not let them get away writing shit as and when they please...

about me...

BCC!straight point (sp) is restless... relentless... but a fun loving guy... likes to live life to fullest... trying to discover himself through cricket... welcome to this little world of his...

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