Posted by srriaj317 on (March 24, 2013, 6:39 GMT)

Pretty unfair comments from most people. Where do they go missing when people like Harbhajan, Sreesanth, Kohli, Ishant curse and scream on the field? Do they say anything when Tendulkar and Dhoni selectively walk and when Dhoni doesn't get a warning for running down the middle of the pitch? They are quick to say Australians are the only bad boys on the park. But sledging is a part of the game and Indians talk a lot as well. Remember the trask talk from Kohli and Ishant and Perth and all the send-offs they gave previously in this very series? Obviously they don't!

Posted by   on (March 24, 2013, 6:29 GMT)

You all have very short and selective memories. Harbajan in Sydney a few years ago demonstrated Indian crickets wonderful character.

Posted by   on (March 24, 2013, 6:27 GMT)

sportofpain - McGrath lost it because Sawran made reference to his wife who had just been diagnosed with cancer... so that argument is dismissed...

Posted by Scallopian on (March 24, 2013, 2:25 GMT)

@Sam- "sledging is as much a part of cricket as the pad and the ball itself"- that statement is ludicrous. Sledging is an unnecessary addition, not an intrinsic part of the game. It is physically impossible to have a cricket match without "the ball itself," but it is clearly possible to have a game without sledging. Yes, you are right in suggesting that sledging frequently takes place in cricket matches, but that does not mean that it is a positive thing. We have learned to TOLERATE sledging, that does not mean that we should encourage or embrace it. Just because it is a "regularly practiced exercise," does not mean that it should be. In fact, players should strive to speak with their bat/ball instead of deliberately trying to provoke their opponents. Dravid is 100% right in pointing out the case of David Warner: he had a lot to say for a person who got out for a duck off his fourth ball in the first innings.

Posted by   on (March 23, 2013, 22:50 GMT)

Sam Steele,could be the sledging is the culture in Australia but its not in Indian Culture and I think Australians are knowledgeable to understand that the GAME OF CRICKET is supposed to be Gentleman's game and not otherwise.

Posted by   on (March 23, 2013, 21:47 GMT)

Sledging is NOT part of sportmanship and you don't need to sledge in order to win, The legendary West Indian sides of the 70s and 80s didn't need to sledge to demolish their opponents. India and Australia had a rather strained relationship since the Sydney fiasco of 2008 and the IPL has changed it and made the players rather chummy towards each other. Its amazing what people can do for money. So the aggression shown yesterday has obviously unsettled the Indians, as they were not expecting it. I have never liked Australia when they were under Waugh or Ponting because they used sledging as a tool to make the opposition lose hope of winning . But that has changed with Clarke taking over as captain. Plus he doesn't gripe about the Indian pitches when he loses unlike Ponting. Yes of course Dravid would not accept sledging because remember what Michael Slater did to him in the Mumbai Test of 2001 ? That was completely uncalled for and a black mark for Australian cricket.

Posted by   on (March 23, 2013, 21:33 GMT)

Dravid is totally right. India are 3-0 up in the series, and here are the Aussies, cursing the opposition in the hope that it will make things better. Sledging might have worked when they had Warne, Ponting and the legends of the game, but honestly, now I couldn't even put them above West Indies or Bangladesh, etc (no offence). Their attitude is lacking.

Posted by   on (March 23, 2013, 20:45 GMT)

It is very funny to read the comments of some of our Aussie friends here. Sledging should NEVER be part of sport, especially in the game of gentlemen - Test cricket. Rahul is RIGHT. Aussies need to keep quiet and put up some commendable performances, not behave like school kids by mouthing off meaningless words against a better opposition. Now I understand the quality of Michael Clarke who clearly is an outstanding leader. He demanded better performances from his team and not foolish behaviour on the park. Too bad, his team weren't as good as he thought. Being 3-0 down, the Aussies have to be the ones quiet on-field. It's all a little too late as far as this series goes.

Posted by sportofpain on (March 23, 2013, 19:42 GMT)

@SamSteele: The Aussies are good at sledging but very poor at getting it back. Witness how Glenn McGrath lost it when Sarwan sledged him back. It is a double edged sword and can slay you. That said it was a sad sight to see Patto abuse Pujara when he got hit on the finger - unacceptable because that shows him up as being mean spirited which he probably is not. He should have gone to Pujara and asked if we was ok. I was at Chepauk in 1984 when Bob Willis bounced Vengsarkar and hit him flush on the head. Vengsarkar went down clutching his head and Willis stopped in his follow through, changed direction and sprinted to Vengsarkar to see if he was ok. Big difference!

Posted by   on (March 23, 2013, 18:38 GMT)

Sam I definitely do not agree with you because sledging never part of sports psychology.teams with good sportsmanship should never sledge.