Tuesday 16 March 2010

Fuck off, says Graeme Swann

After almost 24 hours without a wicket, post-lunch, following a 167-run stand during which the batsmen had, according to the game analyst, played and missed at or edged almost 10 per cent of the balls they faced, coming to the end of a 49 over spell on a road of a pitch in the Chittagong heat, Graeme Swann got Junaid Siddique out. And then told him to 'fuck off'.

It might not have been gentlemanly. It lacked a little decorum. Maybe there was a touch of hubris about it. But it was understandable. It wasn't crime of the century. In fact, the only reason we knew about it was the stump mic.

The players are entitled to a bit of privacy out in the middle, strange as that seems in the era of super slo-mo and High Definition and mic-ed up fielders. There is an internal code amongst them, in terms of what they say and how they say it. They're human beings. They have the right to tell one another to fuck off every now and again without the world demanding an explanation.Or folks posting odds on the number of profanities used. It's one area of the game that the players should be allowed to police themselves.

New Zealand players have apparently decided that sledging Michael Clarke about his break-up with his fiancee won't happen, partly because Clarke isn't a sledger himself. That seems right, somehow. Players pretty much know where the limits are, and there will be plenty willing to tell Swanny to fuck off on occasion.


7 comments:

Howe Zat said...

Exactly. Far too many are asking if Swann deserves a fine. Surely he, if anything, ought to be flipped off next time he switch-hits straight to cover?

Howe Zat said...

P.S. it was more than the stump mic, you can see it for yourself on replays, Swanny just screams at him. Am I the only one that finds this hilarious?

Anonymous said...

Privacy in the middle? If the writer thinks that "Fuck Off!" is ok to say, but I bet he wouldn't have the ball to tell his head of company that.

Crappy England...Take 5 days to beat an developing side and have the conversation from the gutter. I am English, but can't wait till they get stuffed by top tier opposition.

Brit said...

Top tier opposition can fuck off.

Anonymous said...

take 5 days to beat a developing side with some talented batsmen on an absolute road of a pitch you fucking tool. Learn a thing or two about cricket before you spout nonsense on the internet.

Anonymous said...

Normally Kangroos are considered masters of sledging but English men also had their share. It is sad thing. Had any Asian player used this, he might have been fined by International Criminals Council. The Bengalis have fucked off English chicken in World cup 2011 and then Sri Lankans raped them in quarterfinals. (sorry for my words' frank dear Old batsman")

cost per head said...

hahaha well at first hand I was a little bit shocked by the title of your post, but after reading it, i was not that much ;)