Silly Gilly
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/10/23/1224351451472.html
Adam Gilchrist is probably the greatest wicket keeper batsman the world has ever produced. He is the one guy who could be counted to ‘walk’ even if its a cup final.
The Indians, including Sachin might probably have covered up ‘Harbhajan affair’ after that farcical test. Primarily because Harbhajan, the one with the loudest mouth would never have conjured up the racial angle at that moment. It takes a certain intelligence to see the connection and Harbhajan would be the last person to see that. Anyway preferring someone white over black is something that happens everyday in India and we don’t ever see that as racism, that a different story.
For any Indian, ‘Monkey’ is probably as innocent as it gets when one compares to what McGrath had told to Sarwan and what he got back, which unfortunately comes conveniently under the realm of ‘playing hard in the cricket field’ by the Australian players, and hence within the ambit of ‘sportsmanship’ including Gilchrist and the media. There is a definite cultural angle to it.
He is right in criticizing the BCCI,ICC and CA, but why now? why not then? Because he could not have then! Does that make hima sore loser? Hell no.
When it comes to fairness, I thought Gilchrist was always the right man in the wrong team, at least when he was batting.
All the same, Aussies are better off not talking about that Sydney test, which was roundly criticized even by their media. If I were Gilly, I would not have written a single line in my biography about the whole test, right from the infamous Ricky Ponting’s ‘catch’ to ‘Monkeygate’ to the ‘unsporting’ Sachin who scored a hundred.
Maybe I would’ve sold less number of copies of my book and that’s always a cause for concern especially when I am retired. Probably in Australia, those concerns are well within the ambit of ‘winner’ and ‘Sportsmanship’.
October 24th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Has the book been published ? Steve Waugh’s autobiography contains quite a few paras about the Australian team politics. Unless Gilly’s book is out his remarks on Tendulkar can never be placed in context. Is he critical only of Tendulkar in his book ?
Anyway why is Tendulkar beyond all criticism ? Gilly was in far better position to judge Tendulkar than you or me.
October 24th, 2008 at 1:30 am
BNB
Tendulkar is not beyond criticism. I would ‘ve criticised Tendulkar if he say he preaches something about ‘Walking’. Gilly is much better there and more entitled to talk. He is the only one to walk in a cup final as i mentioned.
But I would’ve thought twice about writing about sportsmanship if I were in an Australian team which took part in that Sydney test - Jan 2008.
Maybe he is in a much better position than you or me. That does not mean you or me should not have any viewpoints about it, nor write about
it.
The same can be said about the movies that you and me criticize, the IT companies that we crib about, right?
I think I have enough context to write what I’ve written based on the excerpts I’ve read. It does not matter if he does or does not talk about other players.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
I said he is in a much better position to judge Tendulkar, never said anything about your right to draw conclusions based on your own observations or hunches. The analogy about IT companies just doesn’t hold. Because we have direct experience in this case.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Lets see what he comes up with as his version.
Someone might have more direct experience (for e.g the parties themselves) than you or me… Just like Harbhajan and Symonds will have more direct exp. than Gilly himself…
Seri freeya vidunga!