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Craig HillEgotistical cricketers live in a cultural bubble
February 1st 2007 05:39
Comments this week by Kiwi batsman Lou Vincent that the Australian cricketers have big egos and thought that they were bigger than the game itself come as no surprise. After all it has been going on for years.
To hear Ian Chappell speak about the mid-seventies, as he so often does during his weary commentary, it was hardly an era for a jovial chat about the weather during the between overs break. More recently Graeme Smith pointed out the daunting nature of the experience after his debut match against Australia and lived to regret his running commentary for years to come.
While Lou Vincent is entitled to his opinion he will be unsurprised to find himself subject to a little more attention during the next Australia NZ fixture. He does however make a valid point about the way the Australian team works and how it is seen by many outsiders.
From the moment young cricketers are identified with sufficient talent to perform at the highest level they are taken into inner realms of that very team dynamic that Matthew Hayden admits is a very close knit group. Often these talented youngsters have experienced little else in life save for junior cricket camps and time spent with equally ambitious coaches.
It is difficult to be a normal person with normal attitudes to hard earned success when your formative years, where influences are most easily felt, are spent in such a strong culture. Stuart Clark is a notable exception in the way that he plies his trade. He has achieved much in life, and not just on the cricket field. Young players and those in positions of responsibility take note, a little perspective outside of the cultural bubble goes a long way to gaining respect.
Ponting’s silence on the comments may be indicative of the ACB’s view on the situation despite the undeniable notion that as the senior player on the field he is responsible for maintaining disciplinary standards according their team’s own code of conduct, one that has been interpreted liberally in the past.
To hear Ian Chappell speak about the mid-seventies, as he so often does during his weary commentary, it was hardly an era for a jovial chat about the weather during the between overs break. More recently Graeme Smith pointed out the daunting nature of the experience after his debut match against Australia and lived to regret his running commentary for years to come.
While Lou Vincent is entitled to his opinion he will be unsurprised to find himself subject to a little more attention during the next Australia NZ fixture. He does however make a valid point about the way the Australian team works and how it is seen by many outsiders.
From the moment young cricketers are identified with sufficient talent to perform at the highest level they are taken into inner realms of that very team dynamic that Matthew Hayden admits is a very close knit group. Often these talented youngsters have experienced little else in life save for junior cricket camps and time spent with equally ambitious coaches.
It is difficult to be a normal person with normal attitudes to hard earned success when your formative years, where influences are most easily felt, are spent in such a strong culture. Stuart Clark is a notable exception in the way that he plies his trade. He has achieved much in life, and not just on the cricket field. Young players and those in positions of responsibility take note, a little perspective outside of the cultural bubble goes a long way to gaining respect.
Ponting’s silence on the comments may be indicative of the ACB’s view on the situation despite the undeniable notion that as the senior player on the field he is responsible for maintaining disciplinary standards according their team’s own code of conduct, one that has been interpreted liberally in the past.
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Comment by Anonymous
For some reason probably ignorance they tend to feel they are" better than " the rest of the world is all aspects.This is a very disapointing narrow minded view unique only to Australians.Do they understand that in actaul fact most Europeans or Americans wouldn't have a clue who Shane Warn was or any other carping big mouth Aussie cricketer!
Australians seem to have a morbid obsession with the game, this is a down side to the Australian culture.
They do live in a cultural bubble.