Topic: Confrontation and sledging overrated at club level cricket (Read 6289 times)

Blazer · « **on:** May 24, 2013, 07:49:07 PM »

I have seen some players being confrontational in the name of being competitive. Do club cricketers really need to be like that when we don't have the ability to back it up nine times out of ten ?. These players are often revered by clubs and stories passed on to the upcoming generation during changing room chats and teatimes. Is this the right way forward ?.

ajm90 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 24, 2013, 08:00:57 PM »

Nothing wrong with a bit of friendly banter, but past that stage when it can become personal and aggressive it is totally unnecessary, heard some horrible things said in some games and I think their should be a disciplinary procedure for such occasions.

acko109 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 24, 2013, 08:01:39 PM »

depends what standard your playing id say and what your team plays for .. if your team plays to get in to your top division and play against pros who play county and even international its usually pretty serious so tempers can flare , and words can be said. but if your playing 2nds 3rds its pointless as most of them simply arent good enough so feel they need to tell everyone how much better they are.

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 24, 2013, 08:38:25 PM »

Friendly banter is fine and good for the game as it's amusing most of the time. When some wicket keepers,slips, close fielders step over the line is when they start getting personal and attacking a batsmen. I think even if you are playing 'high level' it's still pointless as it's still rare to be able to back up your gob full of rubbish.

At the end of the day we all play low level cricket unless you are signed to a county or payed to play (and not just �100/150/200 a game!). Yes we all would prefer to win and generally want to win but it's really not the be all and end all that some seem to think it is. Play hard, play fair but respect everyone on the field and everyone whether you win or lose will enjoy their cricket.

Surely we want people to WANT to play cricket, not get put off by some grown men thinking they are Shane Warne or KP's!!

PedalsMcgrew · « **Reply #4 on:** May 24, 2013, 08:42:56 PM »

There's no place for it at any level. The worst perpetrators tend to be the worst players usually.....if you want to keep up the pretence of being a good player (at least until they see you bat or bowl!) then just keep quiet. It's the way the game was meant to be played

alexhilly1492 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 24, 2013, 08:45:04 PM »

as people have said it depends what level, but i think at all levels there is nothing wrong with a bit of banter, i know for a fact i don't mind being sledge it drives me and i feel as though if its got to the stage that fielders feel as though they can say something then i need to up my game and 9 times out of 10 i will do, and I'm not afraid to give it back, as long as its friendly and doesn't go too far then its not a problem for me.

The on 2 times its been a problem is when we were reported to the league for being "violent and abusive" because our opener hit 130* to win us the game and apparently he was intentionally hitting the ball at fielders and so they were getting abusive towards us, we had a few 12/13 year olds playing to make up numbers, in my opinion swearing is never on in sport especially with kids about, this "act of violence" came from them bowling short and wide and getting smashed all round so they weren't happy.

The second was my own fault and i was slightly naive however it bought us the lads wicket, i was at slip and made a comment how he had been beaten for pace 2/3 times by a 15 yr old lad and was asked if i wanted to "(no swearing please) step outside" , my reply probably wasn't the smartest, but was something along the lines of we are already outside.

However after these 2 instances i made sure the i shook hands with every single person involved first and as the games were over that was that.

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 24, 2013, 08:53:06 PM »

I don't bother with sledging oppo's. At the end of the day I don't care about what they are doing, I'm only interested in gee'ing up my team mates so I leave them alone. I don't understand why people actually think commenting on a batsmen is 'banter'. If they respond or start it then fine but if they don't say a word then leave them alone to play their own game, concentrate on your game/teams game and enjoy it. Not everyone finds it amusing or 'banter' so respect that and shut the hell up.

Of course, that will fall on deaf ears most of the time as peopel do seem to think it's acceptable to abuse a batsmen for whatever reason (poor technique, playing and missing, maybe leaving a lot etc etc)

Vitas Cricket · « **Reply #7 on:** May 24, 2013, 09:02:35 PM »

My standard reply is to turn and look them in the eye, and calmly say:

'You are mistaking me for someone who gives a *&%! mate.'

Generally anything very direct, strongly worded (whilst not being overly offensive) and said to them while you stare them down will shut most of these 'sledgers' up.

After that, i ignore everything, not even turning to look at them when they say or ask things. And i'll start walking away from the crease after each ball, returning when they close their gobs. In our league the umpires are quite hot on over rates, i saw a team docked 5 points from a game last season due to a slow over rate. So if they want to lose points gobbing off to someone who isn't even listening, they are welcome to.

The best sledgers are the ones who get into the batsmens heads without the batsmen even knowing. The more common approach of a wall of noise and abuse is almost toally ineffective in my opinion.

acko109 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 24, 2013, 09:44:21 PM »

personally theres nothing better than winding a quickie up (even if there sharp) by the usual i thought you were quick mate. or just plain and simply laughing when they give you grief. i love it . although some people do over step the mark on occasions

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 24, 2013, 09:48:11 PM »

The issue I mainly have with it is what constitutes stepping over the line. I've had this debate at work with some cricket friends and some of them think almost anything goes as 'it's a man's game' and then others think it should only occur if both players involved want it.

I personally now just ignore it so don't really care BUT I'd much more enjoy my saturday cricket if players wouldn't comment on my technique (or lack of), my shot selection or indeed my weight etc. However, others see all that as fair game. At what point do you decide to say to the umpire about it and potentially get laughed away etc.. surely in this day and age if you personally find it offensive then it's offensive??

(not saying I'd go walking up the umpire but hypothetically)

trypewriter · « **Reply #10 on:** May 24, 2013, 09:55:04 PM »

best anti-sledging I saw was silent. Batsman got a bouncer, got into position to hook, then played it with a straight bat in front of his nose and dropped the ball dead at his feet. Class.

tim2000s · « **Reply #11 on:** May 24, 2013, 10:50:00 PM »

I've found that I don't actually notice sledging when batting. Am I missing something?

In the field its also not acceptable unless a team is cheating, when they are fair game.

Sent from my HTC One SV using Tapatalk 2

LMQ21 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 24, 2013, 11:43:06 PM »

I only have one issue with sledging, and that is younger players who think it is acceptable to sledge every ball regardless of game situation e.t.c.

Often found to be a young 14-18 year old who has got no runs batting low down the order or is likely to get no runs and bat low down the order.

It is annoying when the senior members of teams do not prevent sledges by younger players especially when it is a sledge that is heard a thousand times and often not very fitting.

Such as a batsmen pulling for six. " Ohh Lads look we have got him edging!"

There is a time and a place, but as commented on this thread, it depends on the standard, and the situation.

Wooly · « **Reply #13 on:** May 25, 2013, 06:31:53 AM »

Quote from: PedalsMcgrew on May 24, 2013, 08:42:56 PM

There's no place for it at any level. The worst perpetrators tend to be the worst players usually.....if you want to keep up the pretence of being a good player (at least until they see you bat or bowl!) then just keep quiet. It's the way the game was meant to be played

Couldn't agree more mate.

Manormanic · « **Reply #14 on:** May 25, 2013, 08:16:43 AM »

There is a type of sledging that is downright inappropriate, but I don't think a bit of casual banter is a bad thing and you can definitely get inside the batsman's head that way.

Author Topic: Confrontation and sledging overrated at club level cricket (Read 6289 times)

Blazer

Confrontation and sledging overrated at club level cricket

ajm90

Re: Confrontation and sledging overrated at club level cricket

acko109

Re: Confrontation and sledging overrated at club level cricket

ProCricketer1982

Re: Confrontation and sledging overrated at club level cricket

PedalsMcgrew

Re: Confrontation and sledging overrated at club level cricket

alexhilly1492

Re: Confrontation and sledging overrated at club level cricket

ProCricketer1982

Re: Confrontation and sledging overrated at club level cricket

Vitas Cricket

Re: Confrontation and sledging overrated at club level cricket

acko109

Re: Confrontation and sledging overrated at club level cricket

ProCricketer1982

Re: Confrontation and sledging overrated at club level cricket

trypewriter

Re: Confrontation and sledging overrated at club level cricket

tim2000s

Re: Confrontation and sledging overrated at club level cricket

LMQ21

Re: Confrontation and sledging overrated at club level cricket

Wooly

Re: Confrontation and sledging overrated at club level cricket

Manormanic

Re: Confrontation and sledging overrated at club level cricket