Poll: Who’s the biggest sledger?
I have changed sides after reading Stuart’s explanation on how culture variations engender diverse sledging habits (no, I am not drunk, just a tad bit sleepy). I now think sledging is OK to an extent. I am quite scared of lipreading all that Anglo-Saxon, though. So I wouldn’t even try that. But I think Sangakkara’s comments are quite comprehensible and digestible. So I can tolerate him, at least.
And take the poll, sledgers. Er, gentlemen.
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Mission Next Week: Finish Ian Botham’s autobiography. If I forget to review it, please someone remind me. I promise to give you your fave candy.
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POSTED IN: Cricket
6 opinions for Poll: Who’s the biggest sledger?
Ottayan
Oct 22, 2007 at 1:51 am
Sixandout,
The link to Stuarts explanation is broken or wrong.
SIXANDOUT
Oct 22, 2007 at 6:48 am
Aww…dang. Sorry and thanks.
I keep telling myself that I should not be writing posts while sleeping.
Stuart
Oct 22, 2007 at 7:24 am
There is an important difference between sledging and abuse. I don’t have any time for people who simply abuse (especially racial stuff, but any abuse really), but I see sledging as being something a bit more subtle. Merv Hughes always used to swear and curse, but almost all the batsmen said that it didn’t really worry them.
In contrast to Merv, I have commented elsewhere about Matthew Hayden’s sledge of Sanath Jayasuriya. Just after Sanath came into bat, Hayden called out to the bowler “He’s changed his grip - he’s clearly out of form” (or something to that effect). Jayasuriya couldn’t get that out of his head, and he got himself out to a stupid shot. Now that is fine by my thinking - getting inside the opposition’s head is clever stuff. Abuse is mindless and serves no purpose.
SIXANDOUT
Oct 22, 2007 at 7:38 am
Thanks, Stuart. That’s very well said.
Uncle J Rod
Oct 22, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Stuart, Merv was a master sledger, his yelling and screaming similar to what Muhammad Ali did to Sonny Liston in 64, he convinced batsmen he was big and dumb, and yet got most of his wickets through out thinking them. Graham Gooch anyone?
You must have picked the only sledge of Hayden’s that was any good cause his work into the stump mikes is atrocious.
Six, sledging is the most fun you can have with your whites on.
Mark
Oct 22, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Agree with Stuart. Crass, mindless abuse is just pathetic (and anything racist is totally out of order and should be subject to a fine or a ban) , but a decent sledge that can get in the batsman’s head can work wonders.
And if you can get the fielders laughing at their own bowler, that’s even better. Think Eddo Brandes riposte to Glenn McGrath, or Cullinan to Shane Warne.
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