What's fair game?

Will Luke

What constitutes “fair game”? For that matter, what signifies “unfair game”? Today, Ricky Ponting was labelled a ‘disgrace’ and a 'smart arse' by former Test umpire Lou Rowan for Australia’s sledging and general misdemeanours in the recent series against South Africa. Is this simply a bitter old man with nothing better to do than slag off the younger generation, or does he have a point?

Rowan isn’t the first to voice his disapproval at Australia’s apparent nasty antics. Bob Simpson joined in the fun the other day, condemning Australia's behaviour saying that the players are acting like "small children". If it’s the sledging these nit-pickers are complaining about, then they haven’t a leg to stand on; sledging is as part of the game as much as the green grass it’s played on.

Their point, we assume, is in the players’ treatment of the umpire: running down the pitch; roaring crazed appeals; demanding a wicket; intimidating the officiates into crumbling, weakly, and forcing them to raise a finger. I do agree that this aggressive approach is unnecessary. Umpires have a rough deal these days, aren’t afforded much respect and deserve a better go. Watching Shane Warne, red-faced and veins bulging from his neck, scream at an umpire might provide great entertainment – it is a great spectacle – but it’s ugly and, dare I say it, simply not cricket. Play it hard, but play it fair. The old man has a point.

Will Luke writes for Cricinfo.com, edits The Corridor of Uncertainty and runs several other blogs.