Do you think a sledge involving his mother and his wife would be acceptable if a player made it? Of course not. We'd all be moralizing about how it "went over the line" and how the player should apologize etc. I don't really think it's that offensive, but why should the BA be exempt from the "no sledges involving family" line that players are expected to adhere to? Because there's no one person who can be held accountable?
I'm genuinely amazed.........none of that is offensive towards the wifes or girlfriends, or or they not even allowed to be mentioned?? And since when have they been off limits for sledges anyway??
I don't mind sledges person to person, on the cricket field. It gives you the opportunity to sledge back as well. When the media start photographing someone's personal life, or the BA start singing about someone's personal life, you can't really sledge them back, and they are making it very public. It's not like a one on one sledge in the middle of a cricket ground is it? No I don't think the Johnson song was terrible by any means, but with great songs comes great responsibility.
On the other hand, Dave Warner deserved all he got.
I can hear the pots and kettles clanging about in the cupboard.
...calling each other convicts, scousers, pikeys, mingers and chavs.
1000x this. Warner calls Trott out for being terrible on the field and we get a barrage of comments on how he's out of line, over the top etc. BA calls out Johnson's family situation and they're calling for a spoonful of cement, it's a big boys game etc.
Does any other sport hold fans to the same standards of decency as players?
Yes, this. Either make it a no holds barred contest where anything goes or just keep your mouths shut and play cricket. If an Australian fan called Trott weak the English fans would (rightly) take umbrage. By the same token, you cannot drag mothers and girlfriends into the conversation, that is very, very personal. The same applies to the players too.
Certainly has, almost scoring at will now..
I always thought the rule was that sledges about things that were happening on the field were fine but dragging in off-field stuff was in poor taste.
Yep, spot on.
To be fair, I think it's obvious, and fairly understandable, why McGrath took such offence to that.
I really don't know what he expected Sarwan to say in response to his own question. Can't really be surprised that the batsman went onto automatic pilot in response to his own contribution. Obviously dreadfully regrettable given his wife's state of health, but no-one forced him to indulge in this level of unpleasantness in the first place,
Yes, it is obvious. McGrath was a hypocritical asshole in that instance who wanted to dish it out but didn't want to take it. Much like Jimmy Anderson recently. Bottomline, you run your mouth, you prepare for the worst in return.
We come back to: 'you don't cross the line' thing. Where is the line? who draws the line? McGrath brought that on himself and I think he felt pretty awful afterwards. I read his book a couple of years ago and Sarwan said that he didn't even know McGrath was married let alone the fact that the poor girl was seriously ill (correct me if I am wrong). Didn't McGrath apologise to Sarwan?
Really? The two women closest to you in life having a very public and bitter dispute wouldn't have some effect on you? 100s of people joyously singing about it while you're playing cricket wouldn't strike you as a bit off colour?
