The longest ever cricket world cup took 47 days to conclude with a dramatic final between Australia and Sri Lanka, but yet it's not all over. Adam Gilchrist's "Squashed innings" which scored 149 off just 104 balls, while all the other Australian batsmen were struggling to score more than run a ball is now the hottest topic in the cricket world. This adds as yet another incident to the Australia's long history of "cheating in cricket", which includes the famous "under arm last ball" by Trevor Chapel, under the advice of then captain Greg Chapel, in an ODI against New Zealand.
So far, the legality of Gilly's innings was questioned by only the cricket fans and by few members of the blogging community. There's enough evidence to say that what Gilly did was illegal. A Squash ball cannot be a cricketing equipment, under any law either in Cricket law books or Squash law books. Australian cricket blogger JC, indirectly admitted that "a squash ball won the world cup for their country". All independent analysts (I mean, independent from Australia) agree that the facts raised by churumuri and some of the commenters in that thread, are un deniable. If you are an Australian, it would be hard to swallow most of the facts raised their. It's natural!
But what can a blogging community and fans do about this matter? Nothing but persuading the officials to take some action. I did the exact thing, by writing to some of the leading press and electronic media in Sri Lanka, to build a pressure on Sri Lanka Cricket, to bring this matter up. Then I realized I'm not alone! There were thousands of letters to editors, to some of the leading newspapers in Sri Lanka regarding this issue.
One such cricket fan write to The Island and says "Gilchrist has openly explained that it helped his grip and that means he has used an external substance other than those provided to enhance his batting. We are also perturbed at the Australians’ openly floundering the match rules and getting away. Sri Lanka feel robbed and rightfully so. You may feel that some of this grumbling is due to that"
Now the good news from cricket's point of view is, Australia is not going to get away this time. Sri Lanka Cricket's interim committee official, K. Mathivathan told The Island today that Sri Lanka Cricket will take this as a serious issue, and take the matter to net ICC meeting scheduled to June. He further added "It's unethical for Adam to do that, and laws could be brought to prevent doing such things in the future"
So, the cricket fans around the world now can be assured that Aussies will not be allow to just cheat like this and get away with it easily. But I personally, don't like the argument that the World Cup should be taken away from the Aussies, or the final should be played again. All in all Aussies have now won the world cup (even if it was by cheating), and now it's theirs for another 4 years. So let them posses it, break it or do what ever they want to do with it. What we want as cricket fans is justice. We want a clear statement from ICC that "It is illegal to use squash balls in cricket matches, and what Adam Gilchrist did was similar to what Ben Johnson did in 1988 Olympics"
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Sri Lanka Cricket to question the legality of Gilly's "Hidden Ball" in next ICC Meeting
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6 comments:
Well apparently some guy who answers questions on Cricinfo says it's legal. His justification is that it is similar to wearing inner gloves beneath the normal batting gloves. This is utterly ridiculous. Inner gloves are nothing compared to a squash ball. Having a squash ball is similar to having a thick spounge and a spring inside the glove.
Read the details on: http://content-sl.cricinfo.com/columns/content/current/story/293249.html
From the Sydney Morning Herald after speaking to the Sri Lankan Team. Please read Murali's comments. Hope this clears it all up.
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Mathivanan insisted several players had told him "they were a bit upset" over the use of the squash ball. That was contradicted by Muttiah Muralitharan. "That is [Mathivanan's] personal opinion; the team doesn't think that," the spinner told the Herald.
"If anything, I would think having a squash ball in your glove would be uncomfortable. I don't know if I could even hold a bat with something like that in my glove. So if [Gilchrist wants to do it], it is OK with me."
Mathivanan also received little support from SLC chief executive Duleep Mendis. When asked if he supported his secretary, Mendis said: "You must call him about that."
Gilchrist's use of the squash ball, as recommended by former WA batsman Bob Meuleman, was used to lighten his grip and stop the bat rotating in his hands.
Read the full story: http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/gilchrist-ton-was-underarm/2007/05/07/1178390231999.html
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Of course anyone who still has issues I have some Gilchrist Magic Squash I willing to sell you. Guarenteed to make you hit sixes. Only $50 USD. :-)
Interesting - the SL cricketers don't seem too bothered. Nor is Duleep Mendis, an official who has played test cricket. The only people who seem bothered are those ppl with little practical knowledge of the game or those who are blinded by hate and depression at SLs loss.
I'll start taking this squash ball seriously when I see professional cricketers or coachs say it is a big deal. Until them, this is a nothing issue by bitter and ignorant ppl.
quote from anon: I'll start taking this squash ball seriously when I see professional cricketers or coachs say it is a big deal.
Whoa.. whoa.. wooo.. Anon!
This is the funniest joke I heard after a long time. Who cares when you want to start talking about this? Do when ever you want. Because we don't care. You are not a "professional cricketer" or anything. You are just an "anon". You could be any one. Any one. You don't have any identitity what so ever. So theoritically you don't exist. You are a John Doe. So, we don't care when you want to start talking about this.
To ranaboy - is that the name on your birth certificate? OK, if me being anon is a problem, I'll call myself xyz.
Regarding your point - I'm not saying I'm a professional coach or player - what I'm saying is I don't see too many of these kind of people objecting to what Gilchrist did. If Murali and Mahela and Duleep Mendis don't have a problem with it, who the hell are you and I to make such a fuss? Are you saying you know more than Murali?
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