It is always nice to see Tom Alter. His presence is so soothing in any programme. He was certainly a welcome inclusion in the episode of Cricket Controversies aired on NDTV on Sunday night.
Few interesting things that came out of the programme for general public, in the episode titled ‘Is cricket still a gentlemen’s game’', were.
-- It was never always a gentleman’s game. When given out, WG Grace once reprimanded an umpire, saying ''they (people) have come to watch my batting, not your umpiring!’’. So how can we blame today's players.
-- Instances of sledging and ungentlemanly behaviour also increase the TRP of Live programmes, Recoded Programmes, Web and Newspaper readership.
-- They help take the focus away from real issues. And the real issue today is that India is 0-2 down and in real danger of losing it badly (Though the initial ammunition here was provided by the umpires and the Australians, leaving the Indians with no option but to retaliate)
-- Even in sports like Chess and Tennis, where the intensity level is very high compared to relaxed time for some players (Especially for close-in cordon between two deliveries/overs), instances of bad behaviour are rampant.
Blog's conclusion: In Cricket, ugly behaviour and sledging will continue because no one wants to lose. Even though Cricketing Doves like Alter may remember Sidhu more for his sixes in the 1987 World Cup, than for his altercation with Aamir Sohail!
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