Of all of the great non-American sports in the world, cricket still commands the greatest derision and incomprehension. Ironically, it is probably the sport that should be most easily understood by a country with such a fascination for facts and figures. The American preoccupation for statistics is incredible – just turn on any TV and consider the numerical analysis contained within the coverage for proof.
Cricket fans spanning the globe – from Trinidad to Sri Lanka, Australia to England, will today discuss the Australian victory over The West Indies. Not because it represents the continued dissention of Windies Cricket; not because it coincides with the announcements that Brian Lara has again fallen in the International Cricket Council (ICC) batsman standing (from a position of virtual messiah status); and not because it gives the Ozzies a 2-0 lead in the series.
The significance of the test victory is that it gives Australia a record-breaking run of 12 successive test wins. Moreover, the sheer style of the victory was irrefutable. Glenn McGrath, the Australian opener, surpassed the magical figure of 300 test wickets with the capture of the West Indies’ three senior batsmen – their captain, vice-captain and ex-captain. Even more incredibly he took all three wickets in successive balls – a hat trick.
From the highs of a great sport it is sad to also note the lows. Two world-renowned cricketers fell this week, one to a stroke after a legendary career. The other took the money and will now take a seat, permanently and in disgrace.
Colin Cowdrey, who died at the age of 67 earlier this week, was the personification of the ‘English Gentleman’. Cowdrey is considered by many to have been one of the greatest batsmen of all time, standing alongside Bradman, Lloyd and Boycott.
England captain Nasser Hussain led the tributes to Cowdrey describing him as “one of the most gifted batsmen of his generation”.
Hussain added: “He was also one of the nicest people you could meet in the game and a good friend to the England team – he will be much missed.”
Then there is the other side of cricket, a sport spiraling downward thanks to money and greed, and it has hit the sport again as former Indian Test Captain Mohammad Azharuddin and fellow Test player Ajay Sharma. They have received life bans from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
The reason why – Azharuddin admitted to fixing three one-day international matches.
The 38-year old Azharuddin was one of India’s greatest ever batsman, having scored more than 15,500 runs in Tests and one-day matches during a 15-year international career. But, unfortunately he is just another in an ever-growing list of cricketers that has fallen as the sport seems to be in turmoil because of its worst scandal ever.
It started in May when former South African Captain Hansie Cronje was banned from the sport earlier this year for throwing matches. Cronje had named Azharuddin as the cricketer who introduced him to an Indian bookie, but the former Indian skipper has denied this. But an investigation has led to his dismissal.
However, the trouble might not end there with Azharuddin. An Indian Government Investigation last week has led to six current or former Test Match Captains being named as those who have had regular contacts with bookies.
These players include former England captain Alec Stewart, former West Indies captain Brian Lara, former South African captain Hansie Cronje, Australia’s Mark Waugh, Pakistan’s Salim Malik, and Sri Lanka’s star batsman Arvinda D’Silva, along with former captains Martin Crowe of New Zealand and Arjuna Ranatunga of Sri Lanka.
In fact, the Pakistani National Board has already banned Malik for life for fixing matches as well. The news of these great test cricketers being named along with the paranoia of this past year’s events has led to worldwide concern over the sport and how many and who have been involved with throwing matches. And, of bigger concern, how long will it take for the sport to recover.
The newest allegations show that there is a long way to go before this situation will be fully taken care of. But the scars that this scandal will have on the sport might last forever.
David Rose and Tom Frazer are Collegian columnists.