Murali's run out and the spirit of the game.

[Jono]

Cricket is a professional sport. The days of being charitable to the opposition are fading because players are under more pressure to win due to increased media coverage, increased money in the sport etc.

Trying to dig up the "Spirt of cricket" in this scenario is old-fashioned.

SL allowed for Symonds to come back on the ground when he was given out LBW in a ODI back in 2004.

There are many instances of sportsmanship, this whole idea that it doesn't exist because of sledging is so stupid.

In my opinion NZ didn't do anything wrong, but all these people crying that sportsmanship is a bunch of rubbish and doesn't belong in test match cricket is forgetting what the sport is about, and what makes it distinct from other games.

 

[Jono]

If anything Murali was breaking the spirit of cricket by going to congratulate his partner too early.

Haha, that's just a stupid statement.

 

[silentstriker]

SL allowed for Symonds to come back on the ground when he was given out LBW in a ODI back in 2004.

Doesn't mean they should have.

In my opinion NZ didn't do anything wrong, but all these people crying that sportsmanship is a bunch of rubbish and doesn't belong in test match cricket is forgetting what the sport is about, and what makes it distinct from other games.

What does make it distinct? Deifying the umpires? Since the professional era, cricket hasn't been any different from other professional sports.

 

[silentstriker]

If anything Murali was breaking the spirit of cricket by going to congratulate his partner too early.

LOL....what?

 

[_TiGeR-ToWn_]

I had a similar experience when I was playing a few years back. When i was a junior the ball was thrown in and was coming straight at me and so I decided to jump out of the way, which took me out of my crease. The keeper whipped the bails off which meant I was out, but the two dads umpiring thought it was a bit stiff and they called me back in. Interesting to say that I should of taken that way of getting out as I was soon bowled by a girl, heh

I have no problem with the Murali incident as he knows the rules and it was his own stupidity that saw him being run out like that.

 

[Jono]

Doesn't mean they should have.

There is no should and shouldn't. Stop acting like you are the be all and end all of cricket. Almost everyone, no matter who they support, praised Atapattu and SL as a whole for bringing Symonds back. The umpire asked Atapattu if he could call Symonds back because he just made a howler, knew it was a mistake and it was in the best interest of the SPORT to bring him back to the crease. If Atapattu said no, it wouldn't have been against the law, nor would it have necessarily been bad sportsmanship, it would have just been him doing what is in his team's best interest. No harm in that.

But by calling him back, he did the game (cricket as a whole) and the sport a huge favour.

40.1 Dharmasena to Hayden, no run, drives back to the bowler
40.2 Dharmasena to Hayden, OUT: backs away, goes inside out over wide
mid off, brilliant catch running to his right

Australia 190/4, Partnership of 20
ML Hayden c Jayawardene b Dharmasena 93 (116b 5x4 1x6)
A Symonds 10* (17b 1x4) HDPK Dharmasena 7.2-0-28-1 (2w)

Perhaps a match turning catch??
40.3 Dharmasena to Symonds, no run, quicker ball, underedges a pull,
very quick lbw decision - unfortunate for Symonds, but he's been
called back, splendid stuff from Atapattu and the umpire
40.4 Dharmasena to Symonds, no run, defends
40.5 Dharmasena to Symonds, one run, forced to long on
40.6 Dharmasena to Gilchrist, no run, tries to work to leg, leading edge
to the bowler

End of over 41 (1 run) Australia 191/4 (RR: 4.66 RRR: 55/9 = 6.11)
HDPK Dharmasena 8-0-29-1 (2w) - Press Box End
A Symonds 11* (20b 1x4) AC Gilchrist 0* (1b)

Great sportsmanship there, brilliant stuff there by the Sri Lankans

The Sri Lankans would have had 2 wickets on the trot, with Hayden and Symonds both back in the shed. They ended up winning the game by a run anyway, but they could have made it easier on themselves. The game was better for what they did.

 

[Josh]

The Pro-kiwi clan here is approaching this in a fundamentally flawed way.
'spirit of cricket' is not about 'rights' and 'wrongs' but a gentleman's code of conduct on field.
Your wife has the 'right' to sue you at anytime....but it sure would be a 'low blow' for her to do it unless you really deserved it.
Technically the Kiwis were right to run out Murali but it was a gross violation of the spirit of the game because they knew Murali wasnt attempting a run.

Absolutely.

 

[silentstriker]

There is no should and shouldn't. Stop acting like you are the be all and end all of cricket.

I didn't mean to come off like that - I meant that I don't think its right to do anything that will decrease your chance of winning.

 

[Jono]

Well the law says you can't run out a batsman who thought he was dismissed (say for eg. he was caught off a no-ball). Now assuming that law didn't exist, would you run him out in such a scenario? Say he nicked the ball to slip, simple catch, didn't hear the no ball call and was walking back to the pavillion which means he's stepped out of his crease walking ot the other side of the ground.

 

[Dasa]

I had a similar experience when I was playing a few years back. When i was a junior the ball was thrown in and was coming straight at me and so I decided to jump out of the way, which took me out of my crease. The keeper whipped the bails off which meant I was out, but the two dads umpiring thought it was a bit stiff and they called me back in. Interesting to say that I should of taken that way of getting out as I was soon bowled by a girl, heh

I have no problem with the Murali incident as he knows the rules and it was his own stupidity that saw him being run out like that.

Your incident is not out anyway. You can't be run out if you're taking evasive action.

 

[_Ed_]

Tell Inzi that.

 

[Merv]

There is no should and shouldn't. Stop acting like you are the be all and end all of cricket. Almost everyone, no matter who they support, praised Atapattu and SL as a whole for bringing Symonds back. The umpire asked Atapattu if he could call Symonds back because he just made a howler, knew it was a mistake and it was in the best interest of the SPORT to bring him back to the crease. If Atapattu said no, it wouldn't have been against the law, nor would it have necessarily been bad sportsmanship, it would have just been him doing what is in his team's best interest. No harm in that.

But by calling him back, he did the game (cricket as a whole) and the sport a huge favour.


The Sri Lankans would have had 2 wickets on the trot, with Hayden and Symonds both back in the shed. They ended up winning the game by a run anyway, but they could have made it easier on themselves. The game was better for what they did.

Who was the umpire in question?

 

[gregb]

There is a clear distinction between underarm and this runout. The laws did not say anything against underarm because they did not think of it, or didn't think anybody would try it, and the law was changed to ban underarm right away. You won't see them making a new law for Murali's situation.

Thats not right. Underarm bowling has been around since day dot of cricket. There were fulltime underarm 'lob' bowlers still going around in the 20s. There was also an over of underams bowled in a firstclass game in the UK in 84/85 (after the 'underarm incident'). Check out wikipedia for more instances.

I am very happy that the black caps have done this, because now I don't have to take any more garbage from all the Kiwi's I work with...Except for their gripes about Paul Carozza cruelly slamming his nose into poor Richard Loe's elbow in the Bledisloe Cup match in the 90s...

 

[Jono]

Who was the umpire in question?

Peter Manuel

Incidentally, he's Sri Lankan.

 

[shortpitched713]

In 1882 WG ran out Jones for leaving his crease to perform some gardening, that was condemned at the time and this should be condemned now

Good to see your not living in the past.

The game has changed fundamentally in the last 124 years, and IMO if the spirit of cricket isn't already dead its in its in last throws.

 

[JBH001]

In my opinion NZ didn't do anything wrong, but all these people crying that sportsmanship is a bunch of rubbish and doesn't belong in test match cricket is forgetting what the sport is about, and what makes it distinct from other games.

Completely agree.
Sportsmanship still exists and has existed, past and present.
It is just that it did not exist much then, and exists even less now.

Sportsmanship is more than about just winning and losing.
It is an expression of respect for an opponent or a team, especially if that opponent or team has put up a great performance and is undeserving of it.

Let me be clear on this. Murali had a brain implosion. McCullum may have reacted on instinct and appealed on instinct - but if so, Fleming should have called him back.

It is true that the laws of the game are the laws, but all laws are subject to interpretation by umpires and captains, and should be judged mainly on the circumstances in which they operate - rather than for purely black and white instrumental reasons.

 

[JASON]

Having seen the voting trend, I have to seriously ask questions as the genuineness of Chaminda's origin... Is he really Sri Lankan ?

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Having seen the voting trend, I have to seriously ask questions as the genuineness of Chaminda's origin... Is he really Sri Lankan ?

What a ridiculous post. As if someone can't disagree with your absurd vitriol against the New Zealand side and still be from the same country.

 

[C_C]

So, how does calling the mother of the batsman in the middle a slut fit into the whole gentleman's code of conduct? I don't think such a code exists really, and it shouldn't be a factor.

It doesnt and personally, anyone who'd talk to me that way would be wearing my bat for a helmet.
I am not in favour of sledging either.

 

[_Ed_]

Having seen the voting trend, I have to seriously ask questions as the genuineness of Chaminda's origin... Is he really Sri Lankan ?

He is, and he's an excellent poster. Supportive of his team while still retaining some objectivity. Always enjoy reading his posts.