The umpires reported both players although the main incident took place off the field outside the changing rooms where Anderson admitted he verbally abused his opponent and pushed him. The exact details of Jadeja's indiscretion or provocation have not been fully admitted although we can assume there were enough verbals flying around for the mouthy Anderson to take offence. Perhaps a bit ironic given that Jimmy is well known for his sledging and on the balance of fair play you shouldn't give it if you can't take it!
But where's the fair play in how this matter was dealt with?
Both players escaped punishment because there wasn't enough clear evidence presumably arising from 13 written statements most of which took a bias one way or another depending on their allegiance, umpires excluded. Or was it the tactful way of keeping the series alive and England potent as Anderson is by far their best strike weapon and to have lost him may have dealt a terminal blow to their chances of winning the series. Anderson has duly obliged since with several rousing performances and widespread praise. But Holder is not impressed;
"For me there is no place in the game for bad behaviour, abusive language towards opponents or dissent towards umpires, and there certainly is no place in the game for players making physical contact. There is a developing culture of bad behaviour in the game that needs to be stamped out by strong management. If fines don't work, then bans. If the players know the ultimate sanction for bad behaviour is suspension, they will stop doing it."
Many former players in local cricket have been saying the same thing for years and there's no doubt our umpires have taken the brunt of this unwelcome deterioration in behaviour. Thankfully more of the guilty players are being report and action has been taken against offenders, but more needs to be done within the game on the field. As Holder goes on:
"Player behaviour is awful. There is a lot of inane chatter, dissent towards umpires and the use of the "F" word has become far too prevalent. It needs to be stamped out by strong management and bans on players."
Even chirpy old Geoff Boycott couldn't avoid a sideswipe:
"Jimmy should reflect on whether he wants to be remembered as one of the all-time great English seam bowlers or a foul-mouthed abusive bowler," Boycott wrote in the Daily Telegraph.
But perhaps the biggest contradiction came from ICC Chief Executive David Richardson who warned players about using offensive language towards opposition players;
"International cricket is tough, competitive and uncompromising but we must reiterate that there is no place in the game for the use of offensive language that is personally insulting of one player by another," he said.
"It is imperative that all captains, players and coaches as well as umpires and referees are reminded of and do not shirk their responsibility to one another and to the game."
Now that's a bit rich from the man at the helm who declined to appeal following the Independent Commissioner's decision to drop the charges against both players!
Handbag stuff some people will argue and perhaps they are right, as these prima donnas love to be in the limelight. But the underlying problem remains because they set a bad example to everyone playing cricket. Captains must take the responsibility on the field and legislators off it to clean up the game and clubs more and more people need to publicly stand up and declare zero tolerance for sledging and abuse.
Real men don't need to abuse a batsman to get him out.
Part of the modern game? You must be having a laugh. It is disgusting, cheating and disrespectful. That's not what cricket is about.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
