![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.cssgroupsite.com\/lighthouse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Sledging-is-not-Just-for-Children.jpg\" "\\"Sledging-is-not-Just-for-Children\\"")
When I was a youngster I spent many happy hours, with my friends, building a sledge out of bits of wood. Somehow we managed to fly down slops, in summer sledging over short grass and in winter across firm snow, without breaking our necks! However, in recent years,\u2018sledging\u2019 has gained greater prominence with cricket aficionados.This term apparently originated in the 60\u2019s when Australian bowler Grahame Corling wasserenadedby some players singing \u2018When a man loves a woman\u2019- at that time a hit by USA soul singer Percy Sledge.\u00a0 It was attempt to taunt Corling so as to distract him from focusing on his play. Since then this practice, of trying to weaken an opponent\u2019s concentration, has taken on the surname of Percy Sledge by being called \u2018sledging\u2019. Other sports have methods of distracting a competitor\u2019s attention but the technique in cricket is unique. To understand thisit is necessary to explore cricket\u2019s history. Despite the apparent recent popularity of sledging, the practice of witty banter between players is as old as cricket itself. Therein lies the difference between cricket and other sports. Ever since John McEnroe\u2019s infamous outburst, on the tennis courts in Stockholm in 1984, the nature of goading in sport has risen to a level at which no genuine cricket fan would approve. The reason for this is based in cricket\u2019s past.\u00a0 The first recorded cricket match took place in Kent, England in 1646. The game quickly became popular with the first \u2018laws of cricket\u2019 being established in 1744. The thrust of them focused on \u201cgentlemen\u201d playing the game. Subsequently conduct, on and off the pitch, required that all participants, players and spectators, behaved in an acceptable gentlemanly manner. Honour and integrity were at the forefront of play. A player never argued with the umpire. If you were given out \u2013 you walked! Generations of UK schoolboys had it drummed into them that,even if you felt you had been wrongly dismissed, you did not argue with the umpire\u2019s decision. It probably made-up for all the times you should have given out and weren\u2019t! Accordingly gentlemanly conduct ruled supreme. There is now an on-going debate, in the cricketing world, as to what constitutes poor sportsmanship or good humoured banter. Anything which descends to abuse is unacceptable. This is not what sledging is all about as it should never cross the sportsmanship line. Sledging should be kept to humorous, sometimes slightly off the wall remarks and clever verbal attempts in order to distract an opponent.<\/br>Sledging has always been a part of cricket as even the legendary W G Grace did it. Grace\u2019s determination to stand his ground would have made Sunil Gavaskar proud. When a ball knocked off one of his bails Grace replaced it and told the umpire that it was the wind which took the bail off. The umpire replied, \u201cIndeed Dr. Grace and let us hope the wind helps you on your journey back to the pavilion\u201d. Grace walked with good humour.
<\/br>Interestingly it is usually accepted that Indian cricketers, unlike the Aussies who love it, don\u2019tsledge very much.\u00a0 There is one notable occasion, when the tables were turned and Ravi Shastri sledged Mike Whitney who was the Australian 12th man. Trying to snatch a single run Whitney shouted, \u201cIf you leave the crease I\u2019ll break your blinking head\u201d. Shastri quickly retorted, \u201cIf you could bat as well as you can talk, you wouldn\u2019t be the blinking 12th man\u201d.\u00a0 You do, of course, have my permission to assume that the language used was slightly more colourful!
<\/br>I always prefer and chuckle at the short, sharp retorts. This is why I choose, as a favourite, one from\u2018Fiery Fred\u2019 Trueman probably the most revered English bowler. As an Australian batsman was walking onto the field, he opened the gate and before he could shut it, Trueman shouted, \u201cDon\u2019t bother shutting it son, you won\u2019t be here long enough\u201d.
<\/br>Cricket remains a game where many of us still hope our children are taught that it is not winning that counts the most.\u00a0 Rather it is playing a sportsman-like match which matters more. An extract from a poem by former UK Prime Minister John Major, an ardent cricket enthusiast, sums up this cricketing ethos. It was written as a tribute to England test cricketer, Colin Cowdrey, who was born in Bangalore.
<\/br>\u201cThe mellow sound of bat on ball,
\nThe wherewithal to enthrall,
\nThe master with a Corinthian touch,
\nTo whom victory mattered, but not that much\u201d.
<\/br>Hopefully, with this in mind, you will agree that sledging should remain as witty banter that enhances the traditions of the cricketing spirit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"