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The legacy of Steve Smith

Shady Slim

Shady Slim

International Coach
duffer said:
C'mon man. 'Test cricketer roughing up ball' is about as scandalous as 'pro wrestler taking roids.'

The punishments were insane
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i think the way they did it, the vibes were just so off - for me it went beyond the realm of what you'd call "illegal but don't ask don't tell violation" and into the realm of super cheating, but i also acknowledge that's a capricious and arbitrary line for me to draw
 
Chubb

Chubb

International Regular
There are books to be written on the national psychodrama of the sandpaper incident, why it became so overblown.

I love Australia. I live in Australia and this country has been very good to me. So I say this knowing some people will not like my view of it.

There’s a general assumption across Australian culture, sometimes voiced openly but more often just a background understanding, that its sportspeople win by playing fair and criticism of how they play, or the things some of them do to win, is motivated by jealousy.

In other cases where Australian teams have done something unethical or controversial, there is always some ambiguity about what happened which means this general assumption can be maintained. Even underarm was within the rules at the time.

But in this case, there was no ambiguity. Everyone knew it was wrong. Aussie cricketers cheated. Yes, you can rationalise the reason why they did it and there were other factors involved, such as crowd behaviour, Smith's mental state, Warner's righteous anger, Bancroft's desire to please the older boys. But that can’t change the essential point, that they were caught cheating for everyone to see. That’s why the reaction was so extreme.

Since it happened Cricket Australia have completely botched how they’ve dealt with it and that’s just made it worse.
 
Burgey

Burgey

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Chubb said:
But in this case, there was no ambiguity. Everyone knew it was wrong. Aussie cricketers cheated. Yes, you can rationalise the reason why they did it and there were other factors involved, such as crowd behaviour, Smith's mental state, Warner's righteous anger, Bancroft's desire to please the older boys. But that can’t change the essential point, that they were caught cheating for everyone to see. That’s why the reaction was so extreme.
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I have it from a reasonable source close to the team that the motivation for it was they knew SA were ball tampering through the whole series.

Terrific post from Chubb though. Pretty spot on.

Mostly because Aus sportspeople DO dominate fairly and squarely in all endeavours. Always have and always will.

there’s never been a more sporting people or country. I know a lot of people find it odd when Australians look down our noses at other people and countries who aren’t good at sport, but those people and countries deserve it for being inferior physical specimens and lacking in the requisite ticker.

If you aren’t adept in the surf and the pool, at running, in at least three of the four football codes, at cricket, hockey or tennis then you are quite rightly mocked and bullied during your schooling until you get better and fit in. That then continues into adulthood, as it should.

There’s no place here for the unfit and unsporting. That’s why we excel and don’t need to cheat.
 
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S

subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
I thought Smith would go the Ponting route based on his shallow 2020-2021 returns. But no, this year he has returned to great form almost under the radar. If he has a similar 2023, I will waive the white flag and crown him the best since Bradman title.
 
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The Sean

The Sean

Cricketer Of The Year
subshakerz said:
I thought Smith would go the Ponting route based on his shallow 2020-2021 returns. But no, this year he has returned to great form almost under the radar. If he has a similar 2023, I will waive the white flag and crown him the second best since Bradman title.
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After who - Sobers or Tendulkar? Or someone else (Richards, Lara)?
 
TheJediBrah

TheJediBrah

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Burgey said:
I have it from a reasonable source close to the team that the motivation for it was they knew SA were ball tampering through the whole series.

Terrific post from Chubb though. Pretty spot on.

Mostly because Aus sportspeople DO dominate fairly and squarely in all endeavours. Always have and always will.

there’s never been a more sporting people or country. I know a lot of people find it odd when Australians look down our noses at other people and countries who aren’t good at sport, but those people and countries deserve it for being inferior physical specimens and lacking in the requisite ticker.

If you aren’t adept in the surf and the pool, at running, in at least three of the four football codes, at cricket, hockey or tennis then you are quite rightly mocked and bullied during your schooling until you get better and fit in. That then continues into adulthood, as it should.

There’s no place here for the unfit and unsporting. That’s why we excel and don’t need to cheat.
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Great analysis but you lost me at hockey. When I was at school the kids that played hockey were (rightfully) relentlessly bullied. It's the sport you play if you are a relatively poor physical specimen and can't play any real sports
 
Burgey

Burgey

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TheJediBrah said:
Great analysis but you lost me at hockey. When I was at school the kids that played hockey were (rightfully) relentlessly bullied. It's the sport you play if you are a relatively poor physical specimen and can't play any real sports
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Nah, lot of tough country blokes play it
 
TheJediBrah

TheJediBrah

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Fuller Pilch said:
Ross Taylor and the real AB (the Saffa) were both quality hockey players.
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Ok but I'm guessing both would have been good rugby players and obviously cricketers as well.

It's the kids that play hockey as their main (or only) sport that make good a target for reprisals
 
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