MUMBAI, 22 December 2006 — Keep it up Sreesanth. This applause is as much for your great-hearted bowling, as it is to your righteous hostile attitude, that quite clearly has lifted the confidence of the Indian team to a new level.
You and your team need not bother about the 30 percent fine imposed on you because your commitment toward India’s ultimate triumph was more than 100 percent. It is unfortunate that your tit-for-tat act was considered a breach of the code of conduct for players.
Over the years, ICC’s draft code of conduct for players has generally appeared to be one-directional. It is, most of the time severe on players from the sub-continent and lenient on others. This happens even when it comes to branding bowlers a “chucker..”
It was match-referee Roshan Mahanama, of Sri Lanka, who warned and fined Sreesanth on two counts, one of glaring with a grin at dismissed batsman Hashim Amla and secondly, for improper dress code. The second is just a front for Sreesanth’s act of twirling the bat, as he ran all the way to the non-striker’s end, after hitting Andre Nel for a six.
This was in retaliation to apparently an unpleasant remark directed at him by the bowler. Nel had gesticulated by thumping his heart, suggesting that the batsman was a coward. While the first act may or may not come under the purview of a breach of the code, the second was spontaneous act and no different from what Nel was wont to do every now and then with impunity.
How could Mahanama overlook the many acts of disgusting behavior of the demonic Andre Nel. One has to go by just lip-reading to know what the South African bowler mouths after almost every delivery. But Indian players do not hide the fact that the words and mannerisms of the South African are provocative enough to upset their concentration.
They were all glad that Sreesanth gave it back to a player on whom the umpires on the field and the match referee invariably turn a blind eye.
To all those who watch Nel’s antics from the stadium and over television would, agree that it is not a pleasant sight to see a cricketer behave like an ill-mannered schoolboy. Almost all the commentators have made this point. Sunil Gavaskar, in particular, expressed surprise that this South African cricketer could get away with his antics.
If only Mahanama had shown similar courage, while dealing with the Sreesanth incident in the Wanderers Test, a stern warning would have gone to a cricketer who is the cause of all the provocation on the field of play in the ongoing series.
