The Insider

Its very interesting in this summer to see some exciting cricket. We have seen some matured cricketers in the tests and more of younger blood in the ODI Indian team. Excellent stream of runs from Sachin, beautiful innnings by Hayden and James Hopes in the finals in the Common Wealth Series. Though India won the series, I just thought I would throw a few of my ideas on what I feel about the season.

I am not very good with the dates and the numbers but what I can see about the whole Bhaji-Symmonds’ controversy, I think it had a very big impact on the cricket as a sport itself and also on the audience. For the Sunday’s match, people, audience and media forgot about the beautiful innings played by Sachin. It instead concentrated more towards what Harbhajan was saying/doing. First of all what the crowd did to him was wrong. At the sametime, I am not supporting Bhaji for the way he has reacted. A matured player like Sachin would not have reacted in this way if he was in Bhaji’s shoes. But to my astonishment, I found no article or picture on Indian’s victory in any of the leading Australian news papers on Monday. Instead SMH site had an ugly picture of Bhaji showing his tongue, hey you guys, dont you have a better picture of him? Or is it just the clicks you want?

I think the Sport has lost its grace and humbleness because of the whole of the issues. What happened to the maturity of the players in the field? Its not fair for the aussies/crowd to taunt the players and later complain about their reactions. But at the samtime I would also say that the players have to be a bit more patient and act a bit more maturedly. I think I was diappointed with Ishant Sharma showing pavillion to Symmonds. Hey no matter what, Symmonds was a batsman leaving the crease, let him leave with dignity. Don’t forget that you guys in the field are representing a nation and are playing for a great sport. So keep up your sporting spirit and leave the egos. They come for no good but will definitely leave you devastated.

Oh before I wrap this post, I just wanted to say what an amazing player Brett Lee has been both on and off the field. He has been a great cricketer and also great sportsman. His bowling has always accompanied with a smile and he has always stayed out of controversies, which is why I think I admire him and I think its right for him to be chosen for the Alan Border Medal of the year. Oh how about the “Namaste” he gave to the crowd during the match on 24th Feb… a great personality always playing in the spirit of the game

Overall I would say, this season we had lots of cricket, to be satisfied till next summer but worst of all I tried to look for a matured sportsmen in all of the cricketers involved and I guess all of these great players out there need a bit of a brainwash to be called great sportsmen.