India's new found aggression in cricket

• Aggressive Body language by Sreesanth(mostly) and others
• Challenging Australia in media inteviews
• the aggression spilling to the audiences too and insinuations of racial abuse

~ Is the aggression right or wrong?

~ Do the Australians in particualr deserved to be paid in the same coin?...afterall they are the same nation who treated Murlidharan and Monty Panesar not too kindly, not too long ago...also almost pushed Sharad pawar off stage😃

~ Is cricket being a Gentleman's game a thing of the past?

~ Is this new found aggression indicative of the confident mood of a new, shining,young India"?

Originally posted by: TallyHo

Aggressive Body language by Sreesanth(mostly) and others Challenging Australia in media inteviews
• the aggression spilling to the audiences too and insinuations of racial abuse

~ Is the aggression right or wrong?

~ Do the Australians in particualr deserved to be paid in the same coin?...afterall they are the same nation who treated Murlidharan and Monty Panesar not too kindly, not too long ago...also almost pushed Sharad pawar off stage😃

~ Is cricket being a Gentleman's game a thing of the past?

~ Is this new found aggression indicative of the confident mood of a new, shining,young India"?

Aggression is of utmost importance in any sports, attack is the best defence. I did not mind anything shreesanth did except for a foul appeal for a run out after ball was declared dead.... there is fine line between aggression and cheating which he crossed that day....

I am not surprised at public behaviour towards Symonds.... he is not doodh ka dhula.... he has so much arrogance.... monkey is in no way a racial abuse.... it can be considered as derogatory remark which came through his behaviour but can not be called racial.... but the issue was actually blown out of proportion by australians.... who commented mostly on this issue than sports during their interviews.... 😊

Aggression is good for a game, but Sreesanth acting bit over.... 😳 I dont think cricket is the only Gentlemans game 😳

Symonds is a gr8 player,he is all-rounder, Hats off his play 👏 I dont think public done any racial abuse against Symonds 😊

We have to change our traditional meek image. At least in cricket a good beginning has been made.

Remember we won at T20 by being agressive in playing style so it is natural that it will reflect on the body language of our players.

Originally posted by: kabhi_21

I am not surprised at public behaviour towards Symonds.... he is not doodh ka dhula.... he has so much arrogance.... monkey is in no way a racial abuse.... it can be considered as derogatory remark which came through his behaviour but can not be called racial....😊

AGREE....

few Sledges'😛

Best Cricket Sledges

Wiki refers to sledging as 'exchanging words with opposition player(s) which can put him(them) off their usual game; it is an attempt to "psych out" an opponent'. Cricket is a very interesting game, and sledging adds to it the extra spice that make it much more than just game.
Here is a compilation of the best sledging related incidents, witnessed in the history of cricket...

History
Sledging has always been a part of cricket.Even the great WG Grace did it. Once in an exhitbition match given

out leg-before, he refused to walk and told the umpire: " They came to watch me bat, not you bowl". And the innings continued.

Grace's ability to stand his ground would have done Sunil Gavaskar proud. Once, when the ball knocked off a bail, he replaced it and told the umpire: " Twas the wind which took thy bail orf, good sir."
The umpire replied: "Indeed, doctor, and let us hope thy wind helps the good doctor on thy journey back to the pavilion ."

The best WG Grace sledge was on him, though, not from him. Charles Kortright had dismissed him four or five times in a county game - only for the umpires to keep turning down his appeals. Finally, he uprooted two of Grace's three stumps. Grace stalled, as though waiting for a no-ball call or something, before reluctantly walking off with Kortright's words in his ears: " Surely you're not going, doctor? There's still one stump standing."

The Prasad Vs Sohail Incident : Hero to Zero in 3 easy steps
Chasing India's score of 287-8, pakistan got off to a flyer of a start, Amir Sohail and Saeed Anwar went about tearing the Indian bowling attack. Pakistan looked all set to win as they reached 110 odd for the loss of just 1 wicket within the 15 overs.
1. Play a Great Shot: Amir Sohail was completely bent on demolishing the Indian bowling to pieces, charging down the track to the faster bowlers (if u can call Prasad that) in this particular case he came down the ground (a good 4-5 steps, anymore and he would have hit Prasad too) and slashed the bowl over vacant off side area... the ball disappeared into the fence in a flash ... what followed has since been etched in the memories of every cricket fan in the subcontinent.
2. Act Oversmart: Amir Sohail is no Miandad. But he tries to be,and fails miserably. Sohail after hitting the shot pointed his bat the area where the bowl had disappeared and then towards Prasad apparently gesturing where he will send the next one .
Its not everyday that you see a batsman sledging the bowler, and Sohail was about to learn just why.

3. Get what you called for: Sohail attempting to repeat the shot (albeit with his feet stuck to the ground this time) made room and exposed his stumps, and his weakness, and in return lost his wicket and his face.
As the wicket lay uprooted, Prasad returned the favour to Sohail, pointing to the pavilion this time.

The comeback was truly remarkable, almost a miracle .... Prasad has bowled thousands of deliveries and taken hundereds of wickets in his career but, it was this one granted him a place in the History of Indian Cricket .. for ever... the ghost of Miandad's last ball six was exorcised, once and for all.

You can also watch the video of the incident.

Steve Waugh Vs Curtly Ambrose Episode.
It really does not get any bigger than this, the two legends of cricket came face to face, literally and engrossed in a verbal duel in a test match in Trinidad. All the juicy details were not to be known until Steve Waugh came out with his autobiography.

Ambrose repeatedly stared Waugh down during a searing spell, and Waugh, who sized up the towering Ambrose, said: " What the f*ck are you looking at? "
Ambrose was stunned because, as Waugh says (in his Autobiography), "no one had ever been stupid enough" to speak to him like that.
Ambrose replied, "Don't cuss me, man", before Waugh's response, which had nothing to do with bowling.
"Unfortunately, nothing inventive or witty came to mind, rather another piece of personal abuse: 'Why don't you go and get f*cked.' "
The Windies skipper Richie Richardson had a hard time keeping Ambrose from hurting the Aussie.

McGrath Vs Brandes

In a showdown of best pacers of two countries, Brandes made up for his complete absence of batting skills by some displaying some great sense of humor and presence of mind.
Aussie paceman Glenn McGrath was bowling to Zimbabwe number 11 Eddo Brandes - who was unable to get his bat anywhere near the ball. McGrath, frustrated that Brandes was still at the crease, wandered up during one particular over and inquired: " Why are you so fat?"
Quick as a flash, Brandes replied: "Because every time I make love to your wife, she gives me a biscuit ."
Even the Aussie slip fielders were in hysterics.

Viv Richards v Greg Thomas
This incident took place during a county championship match between Glamorgan and Somerset.
Glamorgan quickie Greg Thomas had beaten Viv Richards' bat a couple of times and informed the legendary West Indian ace: " It's red, round and weighs about five ounces, in case you were wondering."
The very next ball was given the King Viv treament and smashed out of the ground, into a river - at which point Richards piped up: " Greg, you know what it looks like. Now go and find it." Merv Hughes and Viv Richards:
Merv Hughes usually never short of a word while on the field, rarely keeps quite. During a test match in the West Indies Hughes didn't say a word to Viv, but continued to stare at him after deliveries. " This is my island, my culture. Don't you be staring at me. In my culture we just bowl." Merv didn't reply, but after he dismissed him he announced to the batsman: " In my culture we just say f*ck off. "

Sachin Tendulkar Vs Abdul Qadir
The year was 1989, the little master had recently made his debut in Pakistan.

Sachin not even old enough to get a driving licence Sachin Tendulkar was facing the best bowlers in the business. As the Pakistani crows jeered and mocked Sachin holding out the placards saying "" Dudh Pita Bhachcha ..ghar jaake dhoodh pee", (hey kid, go home and drink milk), Sachin sent the then young leg spinner Mustaq Ahmed hiding for cover (he had hit two sixes in one over. The frustaded mentor of Mustaq Ahmed the legendary Abdul Qadir challenges Sachin saying " Bachchon ko kyon mar rahe ho? Hamein bhi maar dikhao' ('Why are you hitting kids? Try and hit me.').
Sachin was silent, since then we all have come to know that he lets his bat do the talking. Abdul Quadir had made a simple request and Sachin obliged, and how. Sachin hit 4 sixes in the over, making the spinner look the kid in the contest. The over read 6, 0, 4, 6 6 6, David had felled Goliath ... and a legend was born.

Ravi shastri v/s Mike Whitney:
Its common knowledge that Indian's usually don't resort to sledging, and the Aussies swear by it. In this rare ocassion the tables had turned and it was the Aussies who were at the receiving end.
Shastri hits the ball towards Mike Whitney (the 12th man in the game) and looks for a single, this guy gets the ball in and says
Whitney: "If you leave the crease i'll break your f***ing head"
Shastri didn't bat an eyelid before replying : " If you could bat as well as you can talk you wouldn't be the f***ing 12th man "

Hughes Vs Miandad
The inimitable Merv Hughes has forgotten more about sledging than most people will ever know, so he was more than a little miffed to be on the receiving end in the 1991 Adelaide Test against Pakistan. Hughes and Javed Miandad almost came to blows after the Pakistani batsman dared to call big Merv a " fat bus conductor". But revenge was sweet for Hughes. A few balls later he finally got his man and as Miandad walked past, he could not resist shouting " Tickets, please!"

Dennis Lillee Vs Sunil Gavaskar
Dennis Lillee and Sunil Gavaskar, were involved in a war of words in the 3rd Test, MCG, February 1981. A historic win for India in that Test would definitely not have taken place had Sunil Gavaskar not calmed down. He clashed with Australian

fast bowler Dennis Lillee, who Gavaskar claims abused him after claiming his wicket and the Indian captain asked non-striker Chetan Chauhan to walk off the field, forfeiting the match. Gavaskar was batting on 70 when Lillee appealed for a leg before decision. Gavaskar showed his bat to the umpire, indicating he had 'nicked' the ball before it hit his pads. Angry words were exchanged between the batsman and the bowler, and Lillee even went to the extent of pointing to the batsman the spot where the ball had his pads. The decision went in favour of the bowler and as Gavaskar started his long, dejected walk back to the pavilion, Lillee turned around and abused him. That was it. Gavaskar snapped, and decided to forfeit the match.
Later, Gavaskar was to write in his book 'Idols': "That (the walkout) was the most regrettable incidents of my life. Whatever may be the provocation and whatever the reason, there was no justification for my action and I realize now that I did not behave the way a captain and sportsman should ."

Steve Waugh and Parthiv Patel

Amidst all the hype surrounding his farewell match, Steve Waugh had to contend with an unexpected dose of his own medicine from a player half his age.
As Waugh fought a grim battle to stave off defeat in the series-deciding fourth Test in Sydney, 19 year-old Indian wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel tried to unsettle the veteran batsman through some banter.
The baby-faced Patel egged on the 38 year-old stalwart to play one of his sweep shots one last time.
The India 'keeper was saying, 'Come on, just one more of the famous slog-sweeps before you finish'
Waugh replied: 'Look, show a bit of respect. You were in nappies when I debuted 18 years ago' .

Rod Marsh and Ian Botham:
When Botham took guard in a Ashes match, Marsh welcomed him to the wicket with the immortal words: " So how's your wife and my kids?"

Trueman and Aussie batsman
In an England v Australia Test during early 1960's Trueman was fielding close to the gate from the pavilion. As a new batsman came out he turned to shut the gate, Trueman said " Don't bother son, you won't be out there long enough."

Waugh Vs Jamie Siddons
In a Sheffield Shield game between NSW and SA, a Waugh twin (not sure which) was taking an enternity to take guard, asking the umpire for centre, middle and leg, two legs - the whole lot. Then he steps away towards leg side and has another look around the field, before re checking centre.
Jamie Siddons is at slip, and decided enough is enough. He yells out."For christ sake, it's not a 'f*cken test match."
Waugh replies: "Of course it isn't ... You're here."

Mother (in law) of all sledges:
In the 1980's Ian Botham returned early from a tour of Pakistan, and on radio joked " Pakistan is the sort of country to send your mother in-law to ." Needless to say the Pakistanis did not find this amusing, and when Pakistan defeated England in the 1992 World Cup Final, Aamer Sohail told Ian Botham " Why don't you send your mother-in-law out to play, she cannot do much worse."

Special Mention:
Inzamam-ul-Haq once told Brett Lee to " stop bowling off spinners".

In the recent Karachi Test when Irfan Pathan came to bat in 2nd Innings Afridi shouted two times " O mera Shehzada aaya ! " (Oh! my prince has come) .

Australians' decrying racism is a bit rich,though our stooping to their level is equally condemnable

Agreession shouldn't egg the players to make below the belt comments,like commenting derogatorily on looks,race etcetera...Because,the joke is really on you if you lose,as India did 😭 ....Exchange of words laced with a bit of sexual innuendo,or plain staring, sneering is I guess OK

Some of the sledging anecdotes are funny....Especially

The India 'keeper was saying, 'Come on, just one more of the famous slog-sweeps before you finish'
Waugh replied: 'Look, show a bit of respect. You were in nappies when I debuted 18 years ago' .

McGrath, frustrated that Brandes was still at the crease, wandered up during one particular over and inquired: " Why are you so fat?"
Quick as a flash, Brandes replied: "Because every time I make love to your wife, she gives me a biscuit ."
Even the Aussie slip fielders were in hysterics.

In a Sheffield Shield game between New South Wales and Southern Australia, a Waugh twin (not sure which) was taking an enternity to take guard, Jamie Siddons is at slip, and decided enough is enough. He yells out."For christ sake, it's not a 'f*cken test match."
Waugh replies: "Of course it isn't ... You're here."

Greg Thomas had beaten Viv Richards' bat a couple of times and informed the legendary West Indian ace: " It's red, round and weighs about five ounces, in case you were wondering."
The very next ball was given the King Viv treament and smashed out of the ground, into a river - at which point Richards piped up: " Greg, you know what it looks like. Now go and find it


Whitney: "If you leave the crease i'll break your f***ing head"
Shastri didn't bat an eyelid before replying : " If you could bat as well as you can talk you wouldn't be the f***ing 12th man "

Indian pplayers are actually guilty of being too timid and gun-shy. It is encouraging to see the team getting out of that mold and assuming a level of aggression which is required ina ny modern day sport. Ganguly started it and did not entirely endear himself to a section of people because they were not used to an Indian being aggressive. Of course, McGrath or Marsh or Lee being rabid on the field was taken for granted because "it is the nature of the Aussie sport" but how dare a timd Indian bare his attitude.

I am glad to see our young team showing aggression and taking the fight to the enemy's (read: opposition) camp. Of course, Sreesanth made a mockery of the term aggression. 😃

Aggression in sports is healthy when channeled correctly. When I look at the current Twenty20 team they have a fire in them that was missing for all these years. They are a lot more passionate with a determination to win.

In the past our teams have been skillful with a will to win, but psychologically weak. There was no can do attitude and many players were to polite and submissive when sledged and ridiculed by other aggressive opponents.

Sreesanth is a bit overboard. I think he is a young man trying to find balance. He will learn. However, the rest of the team is doing great. One thing they do need to work on is long term goal setting. Aggression gives the mental frame of constant motion. In the fifty over game they need to learn to take that middle period of steadiness and consolidation. That calm assertive aggression is still unknown to Indians.

As for Australians accusing Indians of being to aggressive or racist crowds. Pardon my French but that is a load of bulls**t. Ulta chor kotwal ko daate. They simply cant stand Indians using their own tactics against them. The issue with Symonds is not racism and its blown out of proportion. The insults and jeers are to his attitude and behavior not the color of his skin. And what about all the abuse Muralitharan faces in Australia?

Originally posted by: return_to_hades

The issue with Symonds is not racism and its blown out of proportion. The insults and jeers are to his attitude and behavior not the color of his skin.

Sarina....the insults and jeers are not to his attitude but his looks....😆..Have you ever noticed the similarities in his and a monkey's visage when he puts warpaint on his face?😆....

Sorry...I am just being facetious but also realistic..😃

The way I see it there are quite a few people with less than ordinary looks and demeanor, who get respected. It is his attitude and way he conducts himself that leads him to look like a monkey and hence the monkey chants. If he stopped being full of himself, he would groom himself to be a cricketer not a Halloween parade.

Personally, I hate big hair in sports. Kevin Pieterson used to irk me with his hairstyle, now he looks like a smart sportsman. Lasith Malinga is another player who irksme.

But yes, there are uncanny similarities between him and apes. Missing link in evolution?