Sledging in cricket - an anomaly in the 'game of gentlemen'

And they said, cricket is a gentleman’s sport! Miandad and Lillee sharing a “heavier moment”

Cricket is a unique sport. Unlike most of the fast paced sports like soccer and hockey, it requires patience. Even the shortest version of it takes double the time of a long soccer match.

It is also said that patience is a virtue of gentlemen. Perhaps, that is why the game is often deemed as “the game of gentlemen”.

Since its inception, with the first official Test match played in 1877, we have seen some true gentlemen grace the ground.

Over the span of time, this “game of gentlemen” idea has become largely clichéd.

The incidents of verbal violence have increase gregariously on the field in the past decade.

This art of assaulting the opponents verbally either for humour or out of rage is known as “sledging”.

Though the verbal tit-tat has been prevalent throughout the history of the sport, term ‘sledging’ was coined in the mid 1960s.

About the origin of the word “sledging” BBC’s famous journalist, Mr. Pat Murphy notes

“My understanding is that it came from the mid-sixties and a guy called Grahame Corling, who used to open the bowling for New South Wales and Australia… apparently the suggestion was that this guy’s wife was [having an affair] with another team-mate, and when he came into bat [the fielding team] started singing When a Man Loves A Woman, the old Percy Sledge number.”

The media is said to accept the term finally during the 70s.

Sledging is said to originate in Australia and the players down under have always been notoriously famous for setting fire in cold waters.

Michael Clarke and James Anderson getting a little “uncomfortable” out there!

The most recent incident which has again reignited this ever debated topic was during the lately concluded Ashes. The legendary series in which Australia registered a fairytale five-nil victory over there sworn enemies, had a plethora of abusive exchanges.

Whether it was Michael Clarke’s use of the ‘F’ word against James Anderson or Mitchell Johnson’s chilly sharp remarks every now and then, it was definitely not a series which shall be remembered for the friendliness of the two sides. Also, the fact can’t be denied that those little steamy chitchats made the entire test series a treat for the viewers.

A little controversial line here and there spoken on the field not only rattles the feathers of the one who is on the receiving side but also intensifies the atmosphere.

By the way, going through the history of the sport, we find some really hilarious and interesting incidents.

During the 1974-75 era Aussies were known as “Ugly Australians” due to their rash bowling and attitude on the pitch.

Former English cricketer Tom Graveney exclaims,

“Behind the batsmen, Rod Marsh and his captain Ian Chappell would vie with each other in profanity. It was an open secret that Chappell used to encourage his players to give a lot of verbal abuse to rival batsman when they were at the wicket in an attempt to break their concentration”

Merv Hughes was one lanky Aussie who was particularly famous for his antiques. He was an aggressive pacer not only with the ball but with his tongue too. He would intimidate the batsmen and rattle their concentration every time he would be on the pitch.

One incident where he had this spat with Javed Miandad is worth a mention.

Miandad was himself famous for his chirpy remarks every now and then. Once while facing Merv, he called Hughes a “Big Fat Bus Conductor” for his bulky structure and gestured like tooting a horn. He did it for five overs continuously until Merv got caught out in gully. He then ran to the dismissed Pakistani legend and stretched his hand asking “Tickets Please.”

Though they are the untouched kings of whacky words, the Australians are not alone.

The Caribbean players were also pretty popular with their thick accented baritone assaults of their pity opponents. They didn’t do it often but when they tried, it was fun.

Vivian Richards had a reverse effect though. His bat spoke so loud that the opposition skippers and bowlers would fear to ever enrage him. Similar was the case with Sachin Tendulkar.

The Sub-Continental teams have been rather meek but every now and then a Miyandad, Ranatunga, Sangakkara remind the world of our abilities in this art.

The Indian team during the course of history has always been on the receiving end.

That all changed with the Harbhajan Singh-Andrew Symonds feud on the field during 2008 Sydney Test where Harbhajan was allegedly accused for calling Symonds “Monkey”, which caused a huge stir worldwide. The facts about the incident are still debated but it was a landmark incident because it brought sledging into serious limelight.

Harbhajan-Symonds incident shall remain a landmark event in sledging history!

The present Indian team has also made quite a name for itself with the likes of Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan showing their own verbal skills.

Sledging is like beer. It comes in different qualities and degree of ribald wit varies.

There is a said ‘fine line of acceptance’ but it’s still imaginary. It should not be personal or involving family but well, that rule doesn’t apply when the festivities happen on the field.

Whether it’s good or bad for the game is a topic good for debate and the answer indeed is ‘blowing in the wind’ but sledging shall stay till cricket lives.