AUSTRALIA'S MOST WANTED

In Australia we love a villian. A few summers back most of the continent became infatuated with the antics of South African hard-man Andre Nel. He loved the contest and generously dished up his aggressive and abrasive brand of cricket to both the Australian team and crowds. He naturally received plenty in return but always saw the humour of the situation and knew that the theatrics were just that, a bit of fun. Many a hot confrontation was defused with a devlish grin.

At a packed partying MCG under a hot holiday sun Brett Lee repeatedly bounced big Andre. It was great entertainment as Lee exaggerated his follow-through after each delivery that Andre had to duck, fend and swerve. Every time their eyes locked, the combatants, although in a tense battle, would exchange a few well chosen words followed by a smile.

It was wonderful and extraordinarily competitive cricket and the crowd and the players enjoyed it immensely. It never detracted from the contest because there was respect on both sides. Respect for themselves, their opponents and most importantly, for wearing their nation’s cap on one of cricket’s grandest stages.

Keith Miller, Australia’s finest allrounder, when asked by English chat-show host and unabashed fan Michael Parkinson to describe the secret to his success not only on the cricket field but during fierce mortal air battles during World War II, leaned forward and replied in a soft self-assured tone, “Respect yourself and your efforts for self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both of these qualities then you have real power at your fingertips”. This is a lesson that Indian opening bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth seems destined to learn the hard way.

Sreesanth’s behaviour against the Australians during the last three encounters has been, to put it mildly, bizarre. He cannot fathom that there is a difference between hard aggressive cricket and immature petulance. It’s understandable that he wants to take the game to the Australians but the young man seems confused at what this exactly entails.

His exaggerated send-off of Hayden and Gilchrist in South Africa earned him a monetary fine and left Hayden seething and Gilchrist bemused. His crazed send off at Kochi, his home ground, and childish unsporting attempt to run out Symonds left the Queenslander indignant and feral.

Sreesanth is a hero to millions of kids and their parents in his home province and the example he set during the second ODI was perhaps the most appalling behaviour I have ever seen on a cricket field. Despite assurances from a clearly frustrated Indian captain MS Dhoni that all was well Sreesanth was deservedly dropped for the next encounter, a match India won by eight runs, their first ODI win against Australia in three years.

The Indians complained about sledging on their recent tour of England and again against Australia but the evidence on this tour is that the Indians are the instigators and most blatant offenders. They cry foul that their opponents have spoken ‘harsh words’ on the field but when they trangress themselves they are full of excuses and empty platitudes.

Australians do play hard on the field but without exception they shake hands, congratulate or commiserate with their opponents at match end and extend an invitation for a shared and well-earned cold beer. This pattern of behaviour is evident at all levels of Australian sport and it is a proven, healthy and respectful way to treat your opponents. Never would behaviour like Sressanth’s be accepted or excused.

Sreesanth through his petulance is now Australia’s most wanted and I predict that his time Downunder later this year will not be a pleasant one. He has earnt the ire of Ponting and the nation and there is little doubt that if he plays in Test matches then he will be targeted by Tait, Lee, Clark and Johnson. Perhaps they’ll knock some sense into him. Time will tell.