The Hindu : Sport : Chattering away without rancour

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport

Chattering away without rancour

Special Correspondent

Nottingham: The Test series between India and England thus far has been characterised by some excellent swing and seam bowling from both sides, skilful batting in between, and a lot of chatter.

Dinesh Karthik was upset by the English fielders chirping as he took stance — “they can say whatever they want before I take stance, but I wanted them to keep quiet once I took stance; Zaheer Khan gestured with his bat towards Kevin Pietersen; and M.S. Dhoni slipped in a sharp line to Michael Vaughan — “it’s not easy without Freddie is it?”

The line on the spirit of the game is a nebulous one. What’s offensive to one man may be the favoured means of expression of another.

As long as it doesn’t get personal and nasty, seems the consensus among the cricketers — and both sides insist the chatter has been without rancour.

Matt Prior, who has led England’s chorus, said, “It’s important to have 11 people hunting together on the pitch, creating an intensity and an environment that’s uncomfortable for people to bat in.

“It’s even more important on a flat wicket — you might still lose the session, but by holding onto that intensity you might not lose it as heavily.”

Prior said what was said on the field, was best left on the field, but added he hadn’t done or said anything that breached the game’s spirit.

“It’s never nice when it’s you batting,” said Prior, “and 11 blokes are giving you a barrage, but it comes with the territory. It’s Test cricket, it’s a hard game.

“We all want to win, we’re all playing to win. You’re going to try anything to get one-up on your opponent, as long as it’s within the spirit of the game,” he said.

Sourav Ganguly, a past master at getting under the opponent’s skin, agreed.

“It does get intense in Test cricket, it has happened in the past as well,” said Ganguly.

‘It happens’

“It happens when both the teams are competing to win, I am sure it is going to happen in future as well. I have not seen anything that I think will spoil the series.”

Both captains, Rahul Dravid and Michael Vaughan, had said before the start of the second Test here at Trent Bridge that the spirit between the sides was good; the chatter was just the intensity seeping out.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport