http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A29757144
A SAD DAY FOR CRICKET (updated)
by SuperKanga 02 December 2007
What a shame there will not be universal celebration of a great sporting achievement in the world of cricket today.
What a shame the game's leading wicket taker has a questionable action. What a shame he polarizes opinion. What a shame he provides a band wagon for the do-gooders to ride on. What a shame his 'achievements' will always carry an asterix.
Muttiah Muralitharan is listed as a right-arm off break bowler. But is he? Has there ever been an 'offy' in history who delivered the ball with such a peculiar action?
Sure the hollow 'tributes' will flood in. Warne, the previous owner of the record, will add his congratulations. But what do the purists really think? How happy are they to have an illusionist sitting atop the pile?
What of Bishan Bedi, Abdul Qadir, Clarrie Grimmett, Derek Underwood, Lance Gibbs, Hedley Verity, Anil Kumble, Jim Laker, Bill O'Reilly? Great spinners all. Apologies if I've missed anyone. But what do they really think?
Bedi's views are well documented. 'A shot putter' was one of his kinder descriptions. A bit harsh maybe, but you get his point.
Richie Benaud, a voice of calm in many a storm, was asked to name his top 10 spinners of all time. Muriel was not in it on the grounds that the doyen said he 'was too controversial to be included'.
Those of us not caught up in the mood of Murielmania, and there are great many of us, are vilified as racists and extremists for having our opinion.
Biochemists will revel in the impact their 'findings' had on prompting the ICC to change the laws of the game.
This is a victory for political expediency and correctness. Dare we say what we really think? Dare umpires enforce the letter of the law and rightly no ball the doosra for fear of being non-conformist?
This is not about colour, creed or culture. It is not about Warne v Muriel. It's not about sack loads of cheap Bangladesh and Zimbabwean wickets on home soil.
It's about common sense for the good of the game. It's about level paying fields not one rule for one and one rule for the rest. Cricket's flex laws were set in concrete long before Muriel arrived on the scene. He didn't change the course of the game, he forced the rule makers to change the laws under which we all play it so he could be 'accommodated'. And guess what, they obliged.
The sad reality is that the spirit of the game will be lost to the magic circle, the art of deception, and optical illusionists forever. Or at least until another bowler with a legitimate action comes along to wipe the slate clean.
A SAD DAY FOR CRICKET (updated)
by SuperKanga 02 December 2007
What a shame there will not be universal celebration of a great sporting achievement in the world of cricket today.
What a shame the game's leading wicket taker has a questionable action. What a shame he polarizes opinion. What a shame he provides a band wagon for the do-gooders to ride on. What a shame his 'achievements' will always carry an asterix.
Muttiah Muralitharan is listed as a right-arm off break bowler. But is he? Has there ever been an 'offy' in history who delivered the ball with such a peculiar action?
Sure the hollow 'tributes' will flood in. Warne, the previous owner of the record, will add his congratulations. But what do the purists really think? How happy are they to have an illusionist sitting atop the pile?
What of Bishan Bedi, Abdul Qadir, Clarrie Grimmett, Derek Underwood, Lance Gibbs, Hedley Verity, Anil Kumble, Jim Laker, Bill O'Reilly? Great spinners all. Apologies if I've missed anyone. But what do they really think?
Bedi's views are well documented. 'A shot putter' was one of his kinder descriptions. A bit harsh maybe, but you get his point.
Richie Benaud, a voice of calm in many a storm, was asked to name his top 10 spinners of all time. Muriel was not in it on the grounds that the doyen said he 'was too controversial to be included'.
Those of us not caught up in the mood of Murielmania, and there are great many of us, are vilified as racists and extremists for having our opinion.
Biochemists will revel in the impact their 'findings' had on prompting the ICC to change the laws of the game.
This is a victory for political expediency and correctness. Dare we say what we really think? Dare umpires enforce the letter of the law and rightly no ball the doosra for fear of being non-conformist?
This is not about colour, creed or culture. It is not about Warne v Muriel. It's not about sack loads of cheap Bangladesh and Zimbabwean wickets on home soil.
It's about common sense for the good of the game. It's about level paying fields not one rule for one and one rule for the rest. Cricket's flex laws were set in concrete long before Muriel arrived on the scene. He didn't change the course of the game, he forced the rule makers to change the laws under which we all play it so he could be 'accommodated'. And guess what, they obliged.
The sad reality is that the spirit of the game will be lost to the magic circle, the art of deception, and optical illusionists forever. Or at least until another bowler with a legitimate action comes along to wipe the slate clean.
