Media and the modern player

On his website, Adam Hollioake says modern sport is too policed by its officials, modern players too often tow the party line, and that this state of affairs is also because of the modern media.

George Binoy

25-Feb-2013

On his website, Adam Hollioake says modern sport is too policed by its officials, modern players too often tow the party line, and that this state of affairs is also because of the modern media.

Example 1998 Dhaka ICC trophy match vs South Africa, I suffered a massive loss of fluid and almost wound up dead. Due to this I experienced massive dizziness and outer body experiences. When asked to describe it by the media, I could have said the party line, “Yes it was tough but that’s what playing for your country is all about” instead I chose a little more risqué approach and came out with a throw away very tongue in cheek comment about feeling like I was as high as a kite. Everyone in the room knew what I meant (they weren’t idiots) but one particular moron went away and I ended up on the front page ‘Adam Hollioake in Drug Scandal”. I mean please! Yes you got your headline well done. But now you have ruined it for everyone. Now I will give you cliché nonsense. Why, well because professional sport brings its own pressures and we don’t need to be bringing more upon ourselves.

George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo