What’s cricket without sledging

In the last few years, quite a few matches in the lower leagues and club games—where they will first introduce the rule—had to be abandoned due to players’ misbehaviour, which they believe begins with verbal exchanges. So they have proposed the clause by which a player would be send off from the field immediately if he threatens the umpire, verbally, racially or physically abuse an opponent, fellow player, spectator or official at the ground.

The punishment can also be given retrospectively, like in football. For threatening and intimidating behaviour, or bowling a deliberate beamer, the umpire will wave an yellow card and the player will have to sit out of the match for 10 overs. Offences like time-wasting, dissent or deliberate physical contact, such as shoulder-barging, would bring an immediate five-run penalty.

MCC’S DEFENCE

“It was felt that now was a  good time to review this whole area and perhaps try and find leagues, competitions and schools willing to trial means that act as a deterrent.”

Fraser Stewart, the MCC’s head of Laws, told Daily Telegraph.

COOK’S REBUTTAL

“Fans enjoy watching sides go at each other sometimes. They want to see a competitive edge. The danger of becoming too politically correct is that every time a batsman or a bowler sledges you, the umpires get involved. I think that’s a little bit too much of a nanny state for my liking.”

“But it almost inflames a situation when, if a bowler says something to a batsman, the umpire gets involved straightaway. It makes the situation a lot worse. We have got to be careful because some of the great stories come from sledging.”

Alistair Cook told The Times in response to the idea. And he wasn’t done…

“Cricket needs characters — Ben Stokes getting fired up in an 11-over spell (in the Test series against South Africa last month). No wicket, heat and altitude, (Temba) Bavuma played lovely shots, but inside-edged past the stumps and [Stokes] showed emotion.”

Story continues below this ad

“Be worried if we take all that out of it, which is the danger. It is so important we don’t go over the top.”

He clarified before sharing another anecdote, involving England and South Africa at Trent Bridge in 1998, during a charity event:

“Allan Donald, was he sledging, no, but he was really fired up, when (Mark) Boucher dropped that catch (off Michael Atherton). He screamed at the top of his voice. I’m sure it wasn’t particularly pleasant what he screamed, but it added to the drama and the theatre of that iconic moment, which people now love, him saying a few words to Athers, and Athers staring straight back at him.”

“I was chatting to fans in South Africa and they enjoyed watching sides go at each other.”

CRICKET’S LOSS

If the law gains global approval, it could leave the sport (as such long and tedious) poorer, for sledging (or euphemistically speaking, verbal disintegration) has led to some memorable one-liners over the years.

WHAT WOULD BE MISSING

“I’ve smashed enough of you, so now go and bowl.”

– Virat Kohli to James Faulkner after the latter exchanged a few verbals when Kohli played four successive dot balls in Melbourne.

“Are you fast asleep?”

– Kohli to Faulkner after the latter missed a run out in Canberra.

“I’ll get you a piano instead – see if you can play that.”

– Merv Hughes after Graham Gooch played and missed at several deliveries.

“That’s anywhere inside a three-mile radius.”

Story continues below this ad

– Ian Healy after Steve Waugh told Ricky Ponting to field at silly point.

“The only fellow I’ve met who fell in love with himself at a young age and has remained faithful ever since.”

– Dennis Lillee to Geoff Boycott.

“Sachin has more centuries than your age.”

– Virender Sehwag to Michael Claek