Lienking - 31/3/2018 18:29
I didn't enjoy their public humiliation, but why were they all wheeled out? This wasn't diving, or picking up a bit of soil, or rubbing the ball on a zip. This was pre-planned organised cheating. I remember sport from the days before the money ruined it . You are entitled to your opinion, but it is no more valid than mine. I don't gloat on what has happened, but these people are being paid millions. They should be setting society an example. Sportsmanship should be brought back into sport. Players seem to be beyond doing this themselves, so as I have said before teams should be docked points for cheating.
And that's the point, it doesn't matter how you do it, the team is tying to change the ball to a condition that suits the bowlers and the conditions they are facing. It's a pre-planned team effort, always has been and always will be, whether it's a zip, soil, sweet or sandpaper.
To believe these guys plotted outside of the rest of the team, that it hadn't happened before, and that the whole playing side administration wasn't aware is frankly ridiculous. These guys should have faced no bigger sanction than those caught previously.
I also remember sport before the 'money', it was just as unscrupulous then. Our football club employed a very successful manager who was an expert at manipulating the situation to his clubs needs, ask Juventus.......
I agree that money has made a difference, but I don't believe it's as big, or bad as is made out. Social media has, in my opinion, made a far bigger and more negative impression on sport. Again the events of the last week.
I played cricket at a good level, and like many others, I maybe had the ability, but not the attitude to take it further. The guys at the very top don't care about money, it's about winning, that's what drives them, at the very top it's obsessive.
The difference between 'them' and us is enormous, and I don't believe you can fully appreciate it if you haven't been involved first hand, it's actually a very sobering experience when you realize what is needed to be a top sportsman.
Nothing that has happened this week will change the attitudes of professional cricketers to winning, they will just try and do it better.
Meanwhile 3 players have been hung out to dry by their own administration, whilst many others who have committed the same offense continue on with their careers unaffected. That's is not right.