On The Cricket Pitch

A gentleman’s game

by Philip Hackett

Monday,  September 5, 2005

Last week I promised to comment on the much-publicised Ricky Ponting incident. The Australian cricket captain was fined 75 percent of his match fee after the fourth Test that was won by England. Ponting’s punishment resulted from his behaviour after substitute fielder Gary Pratt ran him out in Australia’s second innings as the world champions fought to avoid defeat.

While waiting for the decision of the third umpire, Ponting was seen in animated discussion with umpire Aleem Dar, and as he left the field Ponting appeared to be shouting comments in the direction of the England dressing room. He later apologised for the incident and explained it resulted from his concern over the use of substitute fielders by England.

“I was disappointed with my dismissal given that it was a crucial stage of the game and I’d worked hard to get to that position,” Ponting said. “I let myself down with my reaction and for that I apologise to those who see me as a role model. My frustration at getting out was compounded by the fact that I was run out by a substitute fielder, an issue that has concerned us from the start of this series and one we raised before the series.”

Substitute fielders are generally allowed to replace fielders who are injured or ill, but the decision to allow a substitute rests with the umpires and the opposing captain has no right of appeal.

The Australians, who had played against the English in two one-day tournaments prior to the start of the Ashes series, believe the English camp was guilty of using substitutes to give their fast bowlers a rest. Ponting and the Australians believe this is contrary to the spirit of the game.

The issue of substitute fielders is nothing new in international cricket and the laws have been addressed in the past to deal with loopholes in the system. If the current strategy employed by England, if in fact it is a strategy, continues, it could be copied by other countries and become a negative element in the sport. It is something probably worth investigating by the ICC, and if the current system is being abused the matter should be dealt with before it gets out of hand. 

I believe the reaction of Ponting, while certainly inappropriate, was not simply sour grapes because of his dismissal. I respect his prompt attempt at damage control through his public statement. It provides a good example for our cricketers here in Cayman.

Discipline in local cricket is one of my greatest concerns. Sometimes our human weaknesses cause us to overreact to situations in ways that are not pleasant. The code of conduct, as it does at international level, is designed to control the behaviour of those associated with the game. 

What I have noticed with some of our cricketers is a lack of remorse when emotion does get the better of us. Some of our local cricketers seem proud of their disgusting behaviour and when they are able to beat the system and go unpunished it is cause for celebration. Similarly when they are punished there is abuse aplenty for those whose task it is to enforce the rules. It was therefore refreshing to see Ponting accept responsibility for his mistake. 

Hopefully Ponting too will learn from the experience. His concerns should not be dismissed, as it was hardly a coincidence that Pratt and Trevor Penney, two of the most outstanding fielders in England, found themselves on the field with such regularity, though there was a genuine injury to Simon Jones. Ponting can now put himself in the position of those who have accused the Aussies of not playing in the spirit of the game when they adopt their popular sledging tactics.

The Ashes series is the ultimate cricket experience for Australian and English cricket. With so much on the line neither team is likely to pull punches at this stage. Nevertheless it is a time for reflection in the interest of cricket. According to reports out of England this series has sparked renewed interest in the sport. Cricket does not need to be associated with the ugly scenes that have become familiar in other sports around the globe.

This is the appropriate stage to promote cricket once again as the ‘gentleman’s game’. It is a time to show that the elements of good sportsmanship can still be embraced even with a passionate desire for success.

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