Why it's ridiculous to demand life ban on Steve Smith over ball-tampering row
All those demanding a life ban on Steve Smith, please get a grip and stop drawing ridiculous equivalences with match-fixing.
You do know that this is not a major offence in the firmament of cricketing misdemeanours? It is a level 2 misdemeanor with the standard punishment of a one-match ban, which the ICC has meted out.
You are aware of who else has been guilty of this? Our very own paragon of cricketing virtue - Rahul Dravid, in 2004, for which he was fined (Steve Bucknor even tastelessly made fun of him in a later match, much to Dravid's annoyance). Didn't hear shrieks of "life ban" from you then, did we? How come not a single TV "debate" these days brings this up?
By the way, our superhero with the spotless shield - Sachin Tendulkar - was found guilty in 2001 for the same in South Africa. After quintessential Indian media and officialese hysterics (which manifested even more famously in 2008 in Australia, where Tendulkar's prodigious hearing ability came into play), the charge was taken back, but the next Test deemed unofficial.
You do know that the erudite Michael Atherton in 1994 was accused of this? Even though he wasn't eventually charged, he was rather tellingly fined £2,000 for carrying sand in his pocket.
The current South African captain Faf du Plessis was actually found guilty of this twice (2013 and 2016). Life ban? Anderson and Broad were publicly accused of it in 2010. Inzamam ul Haq's Pakistan team in 2006 was penalised five runs for this before they refused to take the field. Shahid Afridi bit on the ball in 2010 and was banned for two matches. John Lever in 1976. Chris Pringle in 1990. Wasim and Waqar in 1992. Waqar Younis again in 2000. Shoaib Akhtar in 2003. Marcus Trescothick in 2005. Vernon Philander in 2014. These are just the more notable moments, when players crossed the line rather publicly.
Every single cricket team at any level tries to use the ball to their advantage, by "looking after" the ball. "Ball-tampering" has been going on since cricket began and the common practice of polishing the ball evolved to polishing only one side, which led to the birth of reverse swing - one of the most exciting art forms in the sport today. Some have actually made the case of making ball-tampering, or "ball-managing" within limits, legal, to even out a batsman-dominated sport.
Unfortunately, cricket is one of the most backward-thinking sports in the world and does not take to innovations easily, especially those pertaining to laws and that can result in moments like this where the line is often left to individual interpretation. Just like in runouts, that line belongs to the umpire, even though it is much less clearly drawn out here. Perhaps there is a case now to clarify this law better - either loosen or tighten it.
None of this, of course, justifies what the Australians did. Smith displayed poor thinking and worse leadership qualities by initiating this. He and his team members were perhaps aggrieved about Rabada getting away with manhandling in the middle and figured they needed to push the boundaries a bit too. But they emphatically crossed the line, which absolutely certainly deserves punishment, but it should fit the crime.
The extent to which the Australian press and public have gotten hysterical is actually understandable. Contrary to what our pathbreaking media tells us, Australia is actually relatively the cleanest nation in cricket history. Their forays into sledging notwithstanding, they pride themselves for high standards of sportsmanship and integrity, which is why occasional incidents involving their cricketers are blown out of proportion there.
But what, pray, is the Indian public and media going apeshit crazy over? With our record in these matters, perhaps a little moderation could be in order? But no, suddenly the IPL is too good for Smith and Warner. Sure, I'll hold your smoke till you finish laughing.
Removing Smith from captaincy is absolutely the correct punishment; to give out a strong message and to set an example, he needn't be considered for captaincy ever again (the way Shane Warne wasn't). But anything beyond that would be completely potty at this juncture.
Rajasthan Royals removing him from captaincy is also the right move; Warner will probably not captain Sunrisers Hyderabad too. But to drop them from the IPL would be like chopping their hands off for shoplifting. Although, to be fair, in many respects the cricket world is indeed as backward as Saudi society.
(The post first appeared on the writer's Facebook page.)