Cricket Fallout

Melissa and I have quickly adopted Cricket as our summer sport to watch. There are a couple of reasons: (a) we only have 7 channels and Cricket usually plays on half of them and (b) its amazing that a sport can be played for 5 days and there may not be a winner. Cricket is bizarre.

This weekend's events will explain. The Aussies are playing India in a Test Match. This is basically a month long, best of 3 matches international friendly. The first Test was in Melbourne - our entry for Boxing Day. The test that completed over the weekend was in Sydney. Controversy arose when an Indian player called one of the Aussie players a monkey - mind you, he is the only black on the team. The controversy mounted when the Aussie captain filed a complaint again the Indian player. An Aussie bowler (pitcher) was also sacked (dropped from competition) for calling one or more Indian players bastards. As if the school-girl name calling isn't bad enough, the final day of play was riddled with horrible officiating.

Now, I understand that I don't know much about Cricket. I've done my best to learn the game quickly so that I can understand what I am watching. But I do understand sports. Cricket is a gentleman's game. The captains of opposing teams meet prior to the start of a match or series and determine 'how the game will be played'. They decide if players can challenge the calls of the on-field umpire. And by challenge, I don't mean throw the red challenge flag like in the NFL. I mean appeal the the ref as you would for a foul in basketball, a possession after the ball went out of bounds, after you thought you were being held in football, etc. They decide how to handle discipline for actions on the field. I'm confused because they have rules of the game just like any other sport.

So the biggest news story this week thus far is the suspension of the Indian player for calling the Aussie a monkey - which i agree with and is wrong on so many levels. India threatened to withdraw from the final (3rd leg) to take place next week in Perth if the officials were not dealt with. This I agree with as well. The officiating was horrid. Now understand, Cricket is akin to baseball, but the ruling are much more subjective. In baseball, its a strike, a ball, an out, etc. In Cricket, a bowl (pitch) can result in so many things. An out can occur without the player swinging based on his body position. The umpires really have control over the play. Repeatedly, the umpires called Indian players out that were not out and did not call Aussie players out that looked out. And they have instant replay, so there is no excuse.

I think that there is just not that much news out there so they make a big deal about the littlest things. And after all this, I'm still not convinced Cricket is a sport. We'll keep watching and keep you posted!