Rude boys of cricket

Too many victories give arrogance. This is what the Australian cricket team has demonstrated to the world. Without exhibiting an inch of sportsmanship, Ricky Ponting’s men were atrocious on the field. They were keen to win by hook or crook. Just to break their own record of sixteen consecutive test match wins, the Aussies were pulling false victories. Collectively they have brought shame to their country and cricket. Unfortunately the umpires were aiding this uncharacteristic quality of cricketers.
The Sydney cricket test was a true testimony to the growing rudeness in the Australian team. Ponting and his teammates displayed a below standard aggressiveness on the field. They terrified the umpires to give out when it was not. If it was by accident fans and cricket lovers would have forgotten as an error. But it was reenacted often. This really triggered unrest among the game watchers. Surprisingly the Australian public and cricket commentators have out rightly condemned this dubious distinction.
In the last series in India, the Aussie team members led by the captain shoved BCCI president and the union cabinet minister, Sharad Pawar on stage. It was the magnanimity of Pawar which let off the arrogant Aussie team. Unfortunately this did not impact them positively. Without learning from the past mistakes, the team Australia continues to behave badly on and off the field.
The Wankhede episode in Mumbai where Andrew Symonds was mocked through monkey posturing by some indecent fans set the ball rolling for Aussie revenge. To stop this expected trouble, the Indian law enforcement swiftly initiated actions against the racist postures and comments of the few Indian fans. This had sent a strong message that the Indians are against racist remarks and actions.
On the contrary to the popular anticipations, the Australian cricket watchers conducted gently and watched the game in true spirit. It was the players who initiated the ugly turn of the much celebrated tour and series.
John Bertrand of the Sport Australian Hall of Fame wants his countrymen to give back the moral compass in the cricket. He thinks that they had gone too far in arrogance. According to the Reuters, Bertrand has slammed his own cricketers.
The Daily Telegraph says
Footy legend Ron Barassi said Australia should be the world leader in all aspects of the game.

"I'm very concerned the word unsportsmanlike is being thrown around in relation to the cricket, and there is a fine line between arrogance and confidence," he said.

"It concerns me that the Australians are regularly being referred to as being arrogant and because it is mentioned so often, you begin to wonder."

Kevin Bartlett, another AFL legend, said he defined bad sportsmanship as not showing respect to your opponents.

"You don't treat them with contempt, you treat them with respect -- and I didn't see that from the Aussies," he said.

Australia's national netball coach Jill McIntosh said the Aussies were a "little arrogant".

"It worries me that the Australian cricket teams of recent times have been called the worst sledgers in the game. Why don't they just rely on their skills?" she said.

"They don't need to sledge. They are an incredibly skilled team."
While exposing the Australian cricket team it is important to send few advices to the Indian side. The men in blue deserve accolades for maintaining decency and decorum despite the umpires wreaking injustice on the team. It is a happy scence to see the entire team standing behind Harbhajan Singh who is accused of racist remarks against Symonds. The BCCI continues to exhibit late responses to the players’ problems. It requires to put its house in order. Till then the team India suffers because of too much of politics and too less of professionalism in the board management.