The jury is still out on whether the World Cup in the West Indies can set the cricket world ablaze. But the first bushfire has been lit, off-field, by Sunil Gavaskar and Ricky Ponting. The Little Master has said that despite being world champions, the Australians were not liked by many because of their “awful” on-field behaviour.
In turn, Punter has said, “we all know the way he played his cricket, don’t we?” referring to Gavaskar’s decision to take his partner Chetan Chauhan and walk off the field after being given out contentiously. Now, Gavaskar says he walked only because he was abused by the Australians, a fact he has not revealed for 25 years.
Questions: Is Gavaskar, who batted left-handed against Karnataka when Bombay was about to lose, right in lecturing Ponting about on-field behaviour? If he walked in 1981 because of abuse, not because he doubted the umpire’s decision, why didn’t he make it public all this while? Is Australia really not liked, or is it just a boulder Gavaskar is carrying on his shoulder? Is the Indian on-field behaviour any better than the Aussies (remember Saurav Ganguly arriving late the toss with Steve Waugh)? In an era when winning is all, does on-field behaviour matter at all?
Also see: Gavaskar: the most petulant Indian cricketer ever?
Ofcousrse Gavaskar can lecture Aussies..Given the awful behaviour of Aussies anybody can advise / comment..
On a differente note, should Sunil Gavaskar of 36 not out fame be commentating when one-day cricket is being played? Should slow coach Geoffrey Boycott? Should Ravi “Hai Hai” Shastri? Should Sanjay Manjrekar? Should Arun Lal? Pardon my ignorance, but weren’t these the slowest coaches known to humankind?
Names mentioned by Atmasakshi are all interesting ones….Ravi Shahstry could bat only off side. It was left to Shrikkanth to score from both sided! Most captains did not bother about leg side when Ravi was batting.. Sanjay Manjrekar ,apart from being a slow scorer would get his partners run out..Geoff Boycott was betwen a tortoise ans a snail in everything he did..That’s why an England Captain once sent Botham to get Boycott runout as they wanted to win the match!Arun Lal , competed with another equally ‘great’ for ‘strokeless Wonder’ award.- Anshuman Gaekwad who also became India’s coach!
Gavaskar has this tendency to shoot his mouth off which is a pretext for getting visibility. Its another matter that what he blabbers his crap. ‘Expert’ cricketers like him and Sanjay Manjrekar, Ajay Jadeja, L Sivaramkrishnan, Saba Karim to name a few become should first do some soul searching as to how they played during their time. If they say ‘Yes, this is how we played’ then they should realise that this is how cricket is played now. If Australians abuse then stand up and fight give them back in the same coin..not run away. These ‘Expert’ cricketers just lecture that is all
All these are valid arguments. But, “TENDULKAR IS THE GREATEST.” say the pygmies of thinking:)
Avaa shanka oothane, nevella yaakri tension maadkothira?…avayaaro hodkondre, ivaru, iralaradhe, iruve bitkondranthe…Olle Prajegalu
I think Gavaskar is entitled to air his views/thoughts, its a known issue about the attitude of aussies and their own board has cautioned them.
Come off it ! Gavaskar has agreed that it was a mistake several times. Lillee was never an angel – he was the most arrogant and Yes they thought that Cricket is entitled to only Engalnd and Australia.
With his comment – YES – it is valid. Gavaskar has always fought against the Aussie and english group in cricket matters.
Of course Gavaskar is right to air his opinion as an ex-cricketer, and as part of ICC Cricket Establishment. I am surprised Australian Prime Minister who, at the drop of a hat, comes rushing to any Australian cause, such as Murali’s bowling action, has surprisingly exercised great caution and wisdom this time!There was no doubt that Australian Captain, Ponting and his ‘Mates’ misbehaved with Sharad Pawar, and Ponting’s Apology was itself an apology for an apology-‘If he wants one, I will give it’!One still remembers Ponting’s outburst when Srinath after, giving one of their own medicine- a Nasty bumper, wanted to help him out.The Great West Indies Team wasn’t boorish, despite flattenning all teams for over a decade.There’s much to learn there! Roger Federer is on the way to become an alltime Great and is still loved by his colleagues and fans ,because of his thourough sportsmanship and manners.
C’mon guys . gavaskar has always been vocal in raising issues when ever
there are issues concerning on field behaviour .He has always questioned how the aussies and zulus get off the hook when it comes to onfield behaviour .
If the Aussies and Zulus need a role model we have the Sachins and Dravids who have been gentle all the time .
Remember the way Shaun Pollack behaved or a glen mcgrath , Michael Slater ,Jason Gillespie,Brett lee etc .Gavaskar vehemently opposed whenever a circumstance arised wherein a player from subcontinent was fined but let off an aussie or a Safrican.
I agree with Dheerandragopal…
Somehow the ICC always has a 2 faced approach when it comes to sledging.. take the case of Andre Nel who keeps beating his chest and sledging after every ball (except when he is hit for a 6).
Unfortunately the Match Referees from the sub-continent want to pander to the powers in being as well…
Gavaskar might NOW be crossing the limit. He should not have brought the late David Hookes in to it.It doesn’t speak good of Sunny to bring a dead man into the fight. It’s not cricket….
E.R.R..Truely said .
I felt Bad reading on cricinfo . I just cant imagine what the family of late Hookes would feel reading the comments .
Shame on you sunny .thats very bad of you to relate Hookes death of PUB brawl and the Aussies bad behaviour on field.
Sunny , you should have kept your comments with the cricket boundary and only to On field behaviour . shame shame