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Muralitharan a burglar,a thief and a dacoit : Bedi

JASON

Cricketer Of The Year
The truth is if anyone says he is getting advantage from the bent elbow , then show me why anyone else is not as successful as he is (with the chuck) ....There ends the argument , IMO.

The guy is succesful because he is a great bowler and the bent elbow does not make him any more successful or any less .
 

JBH001

International Regular
You haven't been reading all the posts or you're lost on what I am referring to. Whilst others have called a ban even, I have not. I have said that of COURSE it takes talent to take those wickets and the deformity by itself is nothing. BUT when people equate that DEFORMITY with talent then it becomes ridiculous. Murali does not get the advantage of the examples of men with 10ft tall or the guy with 100% twitch fibers, those extreme examples were ridiculous. But he DOES get an advantage and it is not the same as McGrath having an advantage over another bowler simply because he is more accurate. The fairness has nothing to do with that.
Fair enough, and maybe I misjudged you - in which case I apologise.

However, with all due respect, your posts do seem seriously confused.

Furthermore, they hinge on a very contextual, and perhaps subjective, idea of 'deformed'. For example, Garner gained an advantage due to his height (6ft 8 in) which is 'abnormal' even for a fast bowler and especially so among the general population - does this suddenly invalidate his achievements or lessen them in any way? I dont think so. The only way you could differentiate them is by maintaining a rather subjective (personally or socially) notion of deformity which makes Garner 'normal' and Murali not.
 

Dasa

International Vice-Captain
But he DOES get an advantage and it is not the same as McGrath having an advantage over another bowler simply because he is more accurate. The fairness has nothing to do with that.
Why? The only argument you've been able to offer for that so far is that it's 'abnormal', and that argument is logically crap - not only does abnormal not mean unfair, you're just setting an arbitrary mark for abnormality so you can single Murali out. So again, why is it unfair? Could it possibly be yet another attempt to diminish Murali's achievements?
 

BoyBrumby

Englishman
But until we can test the bend of the elbow in real time while bowling, the post-game testing and analysis seems to be the fairest place. Yes, it could mean a guy who threw and took wickets got away, but thats counterbalanced by a guy who might not be throwing and got called and was unable to bowl.
Ignorance is bliss until it ceases to be ignorance.

Once it does, it becomes horror.

At least, IMO.

The current law is unpoliceable. The old law was completely unfair and based on false ideals. Which was worse? Hard to say, but me I like to see false ideals that are held dear exposed, so I'll probably take the later scenario as the slightly better.
As I said Pandora's box is open & there's no point in wishing it shut.

It's fairly obvious that I'm not a fan of the current law &, tbf, not too many people are clapping their hands & saying how great it is. So what is perhaps more interesting to consider is why the law is as it is. Let's take the LBW law and more specifically how technology is applied to it. One of the oft repeated arguments against the use of Hawkeye or any other tracking device is that it isn't 100% accurate. This means that all LBW decisions are left at the fallible mercy of the umpire's human eyes. We routinely see a couple of wrong decisions every game (more if "Howler" Howell is standing, obv) but these are generally accepted as having been made in good faith.

To draw the analogy, why is it ok (well, not "ok" but accepted) for umpires to make incorrect decisions about one facet of the game, but not for another? Moreover, how accurate is the measurement of an elbow's flexion after the fact? Even an error margin of one degree means it would be less effective than the 92-3% Hawkeye is supposed to achieve.

The sad thing is that no umpire can (if he has long term ambitions to remain in the game) make a call because he'd be vilified even if, on inspection, his calling of a chucker was proven to be accurate.
 

Dasa

International Vice-Captain
To draw the analogy, why is it ok (well, not "ok" but accepted) for umpires to make incorrect decisions about one facet of the game, but not for another? Moreover, how accurate is the measurement of an elbow's flexion after the fact? Even an error margin of one degree means it would be less effective than the 92-3% Hawkeye is supposed to achieve.
A couple of points - firstly, it's not ok for umpires to make incorrect decisions about any facet of the game and I fully support using Hawkeye and any other technology available to eliminate errors, as I think SS and Richard both do as well. Secondly, and I don't necessarily agree with this view, a dodgy LBW decision is less likely to ruin a career, while calling a bowler for throwing is much more likely to.
 

archie mac

International Coach
Coping a bit, seems my comments have gone over everyones heads8-)

Read them again, maybe someone will see what I was getting at:ph34r:

Although I won't hold my breath:laugh:
 

Ikki

Hall of Fame Member
Fair enough, and maybe I misjudged you - in which case I apologise.

However, with all due respect, your posts do seem seriously confused.

Furthermore, they hinge on a very contextual, and perhaps subjective, idea of 'deformed'. For example, Garner gained an advantage due to his height (6ft 8 in) which is 'abnormal' even for a fast bowler and especially so among the general population - does this suddenly invalidate his achievements or lessen them in any way? I dont think so. The only way you could differentiate them is by maintaining a rather subjective (personally or socially) notion of deformity which makes Garner 'normal' and Murali not.
There are degrees to being tall and in some cases short height has it's advantages and so does being tall. All cricketers have a variance of height. But you're either double-jointed or not. You either have a kink in your elbow or not. There is no degree to it.

If the height was such an outlier, in comparison to others, I'd be inclined to agree. But being a foot or two taller is not in the scope of this argument.
 
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Ikki

Hall of Fame Member
Why? The only argument you've been able to offer for that so far is that it's 'abnormal', and that argument is logically crap - not only does abnormal not mean unfair, you're just setting an arbitrary mark for abnormality so you can single Murali out. So again, why is it unfair? Could it possibly be yet another attempt to diminish Murali's achievements?
Abnormal in the sense that it is not frequent, nor are there SOME players with a similar characteristic.

To be frank, you're examples have been poor and you're missing the mark again and again. Murali's feats are greatly helped by his deformity. I am arguing his deformity being abnormal, not his talent. I mean, there is someone in the same era he has played that has pretty much done what he has ;) But your Murali fanboy cap keeps getting in your view.
 
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Dasa

International Vice-Captain
Abnormal in the sense that it is not frequent, nor are there SOME players with a similar characteristic.

To be frank, you're examples have been poor and you're missing the mark again and again. Murali's feats are greatly helped by his deformity. I am arguing his deformity being abnormal, not his talent. I mean, there is someone in the same era he has played that has pretty much done what he has ;) But your Murali fanboy cap keeps getting in your view.
Yeah, ignore my point, well done. By the way, I haven't been missing the mark again and again, I'm understanding you quite well but I'll repeat, your argument is nonsensical because you've decided on an arbitrary point of 'abnormality'.
Again, why have you set an arbitrary mark that singles Murali out?
And how can you possibly maintain that you're not disputing his talent when your posts in this thread have basically been arguing that he has an 'unfair advantage' which would logically mean you think he's less talented. Seriously, what's the motivation for harping on and on about this point? I mean, you claim you rate Murali highly etc etc, but then you go to great lengths to 'prove' his inferiority...which one is it then?

Oh yeah, this: 'But your Murali fanboy cap keeps getting in your view.' is exactly what you've accused JBH001 of doing. If it's my 'Murali fanboy cap' affecting how I argue this, what do you have to say for everyone else refuting your points in this thread? Is it a vast cricketweb conspiracy to keep KaZoH0lic down or what? To use your words, you're ridiculous.
 
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Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
A tad harsh for mine, I don't agree with Archie but I don't see why you'd be that disappointed as such. I thought Dasa's response was pretty good itbt.
Agreed. That sort of sentence has the connotations that, just because you like someone they should have the same opinion as you.
Fair enough. Bit of an overreaction on my part but seeing such a post from someone that I hold in high regard is slightly disappointing. Certainly not a terrible post but it's more than just a "difference in opinion" case for me. Believing that Murali chucks is a difference in opinion but suggesting that scientists (biomechanists) have no credibility is something else IMO. Anyways, not a big deal.
My thoughts were exactly as Akhil's. There are one or two people I've met who've had legit reasons to doubt Murali, but the "I trust my eyes over science" view simply makes no sense, none at all. And by-and-large people who sport that sort of notion are just the sort of guys who lack sense. Sean isn't, and it disappoints both of us that he'd lack sense like that in one area but not in any others. (I felt the same way about Fiery FWIW)
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
By the way, I haven't been missing the mark again and again, I'm understanding you quite well but I'll repeat, your argument is nonsensical
Yeah, **** me is it annoying when people do that. Old LA-ICE E is a master of it. I believe you to be wrong, so I'm "not getting it"? Crap.
 

archie mac

International Coach
Let me have ago at explaining:)

Using Aussie Rules as my example

Player 'A' almosts takes off player 'B's head

Extenuating circumstances are that earlier player B had hit player A behind play, and had also insulted player As mother.

Then at the tribunal a biomechanic gives evidence that because player A was moving in a certain way and his arm was at a particular angle he was not responsible for his actions.

What I am wondering is Biomechanic an exact science or is it open to interpretation? Shown the same footage could two different experts come up with a different view of the same incident?

And how many experts viewed Murali? And who paid for their professional opinion?
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
As I said Pandora's box is open & there's no point in wishing it shut.

It's fairly obvious that I'm not a fan of the current law &, tbf, not too many people are clapping their hands & saying how great it is. So what is perhaps more interesting to consider is why the law is as it is. Let's take the LBW law and more specifically how technology is applied to it. One of the oft repeated arguments against the use of Hawkeye or any other tracking device is that it isn't 100% accurate. This means that all LBW decisions are left at the fallible mercy of the umpire's human eyes. We routinely see a couple of wrong decisions every game (more if "Howler" Howell is standing, obv) but these are generally accepted as having been made in good faith.
I don't see the connection, TBH. No-one's really questioning the integrity of Umpires who've reported (and in the old days no-balled) bowlers, with the exception of Ross Emerson who is almost universally accepted to be an idiot. Even Darrell Hair it's usually held to be mostly conspiracy-theorist crap that he's biased against subcontinental teams. Similarly, mostly Umpires who make the odd bad lbw\caught decision aren't often villified much.

The issue is not about the integrity of Umpires, but simply about what is right and wrong. It was wrong to assume almost no bowler ever straightened his arm. I'm glad we found that out, personally, if I'm wrong I generally like to find-out I am so I can change my view.
To draw the analogy, why is it ok (well, not "ok" but accepted) for umpires to make incorrect decisions about one facet of the game, but not for another? Moreover, how accurate is the measurement of an elbow's flexion after the fact? Even an error margin of one degree means it would be less effective than the 92-3% Hawkeye is supposed to achieve.
As Dasa said, ideally you want every decision to be as right as you can get it, and I'm in favour of using everything available to get that. There's no point, I've come to the realisation, in doing bits but not all. We're currently in the time with technology\replays that we were in the mid-1970s with covered wickets. Because some people objected to it, instead of going the whole hog straightaway, we initially had some idiotic schemes brought in that made no sense at all (only cover the wicket when play's been called-off for the day? WTF?), just to try and placate those objecting to progress.
The sad thing is that no umpire can (if he has long term ambitions to remain in the game) make a call because he'd be vilified even if, on inspection, his calling of a chucker was proven to be accurate.
Exactly, and I think that's quite right. We've seen enough examples of the deception of the eye for me to say I never again want to see a bowler humiliated, even if it's apparently the most blatant chuck in history (ie, Lord's 2002 and Ruchira Perera). If a bowler's action looks suspicious, report it, get it checked and go from there. If the odd delivery is likewise (eg Marlon Samuels' quicker-ball that I seem to remember you like me spotted earlier this summer) - do the same. But the days of no-balling a bowler for throwing are hopefully gone for good, unless they literally just walk up and make no secret of it (as a jest gesture).
 

archie mac

International Coach
That's because the majority were and still are those who judge by impulse rather than consideration.

At least, that's the way I see it. :)
I hardly think players playing well over 50 Tests would given people plenty of time to decide who they thought was the better player not to mention the players who played against them
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
Let me have ago at explaining:)

Using Aussie Rules as my example

Player 'A' almosts takes off player 'B's head

Extenuating circumstances are that earlier player B had hit player A behind play, and had also insulted player As mother.

Then at the tribunal a biomechanic gives evidence that because player A was moving in a certain way and his arm was at a particular angle he was not responsible for his actions.

What I am wondering is Biomechanic an exact science or is it open to interpretation? Shown the same footage could two different experts come up with a different view of the same incident?

And how many experts viewed Murali? And who paid for their professional opinion?
Quite a few people actually. And not just Murali, countless hundreds of other bowlers too.

It is known beyond a doubt that the old ideals of bowling-actions were false. If people wish to shut their eyes to that, well, that's their loss IMO because they're making things difficult for themselves when to accept the truths would feel far better.
 

archie mac

International Coach
Quite a few people actually. And not just Murali, countless hundreds of other bowlers too.

It is known beyond a doubt that the old ideals of bowling-actions were false. If people wish to shut their eyes to that, well, that's their loss IMO because they're making things difficult for themselves when to accept the truths would feel far better.
How many as bad as Murali though?

I still think the rules were changed for his benifit and still think my eye is right:ph34r:
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
I hardly think players playing well over 50 Tests would given people plenty of time to decide who they thought was the better player not to mention the players who played against them
It's not a case of having time or not, it's a case of judging by face-value or examining the depths of the matter.

Just to look at Richards or Lillee, because of their attitude and personality and charisma and all that, many people could and will come to the conclusion, without even really bothering to think about it, that they were better players than Chappell or Marshall. They'll just look, they'll see, and think "wow, ain't that impressive". However, with someone who (relatively speaking) did the job a bit more quietly, they'll often get far less credit than they deserve.
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
How many as bad as Murali though?

I still think the rules were changed for his benifit and still think my eye is right:ph34r:
And I think the rules were changed because they had been based on false ideals. If, as DB has mentioned, the matter was examined ITFP because of him, then that means we need to be hugely greatful to him IMO. He's the person who's finally induced the chain that has casued the false ideals to be smashed.
 

archie mac

International Coach
It's not a case of having time or not, it's a case of judging by face-value or examining the depths of the matter.

Just to look at Richards or Lillee, because of their attitude and personality and charisma and all that, many people could and will come to the conclusion, without even really bothering to think about it, that they were better players than Chappell or Marshall. They'll just look, they'll see, and think "wow, ain't that impressive". However, with someone who (relatively speaking) did the job a bit more quietly, they'll often get far less credit than they deserve.
I still say if you had watched them play you would have no doubt:wacko:

And nothing against GSC he was a great player, had every shot and classical style, but I would be surprised if you could find one person who watched both who did not think Richards was the better player:)
 

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