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By Will 4 years ago, mid-December Add your comment below
Here’s a video of Muttiah Muralitharan being run out in contentious circumstances. More info from Scott. Click here if you can’t see the video below. And click here to cast your vote.
Tags: brendon-mccullum, cricket-videos, muttiah-muralitharan, new-zealand, sri-lanka, sri-lanka-in-new-zealand, video |
Murali shouldn’t have left his crease until McCullum had received the ball.
You can see Murali watching Chris Martin pick the ball up and lob the ball in. As the ball is still in flight Murali decides to turn around and stroll down the wicket – I have no idea what he was thinking. Any batsmen knows that after the ball is returned to the keeper is the only safe time to leave the crease.
best…wicket..ever..
It looks disturbingly like the umpire eggs McCullum on to remove the bails. Watch: the ball comes in, McCullum gathers, the umpire makes a gesture that looks like removing bails, McCullum does so and the umpire’s finger goes up immediately.
I suppose to be fair to the umpire, he could also be beckoning Muralitharan to get back in his crease
Would be even be discussing this if it wasnt a sub continent team involved?
how many tests has murali played now just plain dumb.
What was the square leg umpire doing by walking to the centre?. He was in no way beckoning Murali to get back to his crease. Obviously it gives the batsmen the impression that they were changing for the next over.
Shame on you kiwis that you stoop to such a low level even to get a No.10 batsman out. At least this should have been rectified by New Zealand captain. Their eventual win would not have been so tarnished!
trevor chappel’s underarm ball was a similar incident, it was at the time perfectly within the rules of the game whilst being against the spirit of the game.
Murali having played so many tests should not have walked out, it is clearly out as per the rules… ooops I mean laws. Well that much is pretty obvious. What is also obvious was that Murali was never attempting a run. This is also not the first time McCullum has been involved in a similar incident. Sadly common sense in cricket has been lacking in the recent past and hopefully this trend would not continue.
I believe NZ would have won the match anyway. It is sad that they saw the need to resort to something like this. This is exactly the same as not running out the non-striker who backs up too far or not taking another run when a throw deflects off the batsman. It’s within the laws of the game, but it’s just not cricket.
As Murali was not seriously trying to score a run,although it is still within the laws of cricket to run him out as the ball was not dead,surely it is not in the spirit of the game.It looks as if the tables have turned,as the underarm ball incident was against the Kiwis,and we all remember how upset they were at the time.
While agreeing entirely with the fact that Murali was more than a little silly to just wander off like that we need to look at his actions within the context of what was going on. Sri Lanka were in dire straits and Sangakkara had done brilliantly to get that battling century with the lower order for company obviously murali saw this as quite the achievement and just plain wanted to congratulate his team mate. We can see Murali ground his bat very Decisively and furthermore he looks at the umpire and sees him WALKING TOWARDS THE PITCH quite obviously to signal the end of the over. While ot beingable to offer any form of an argument to back murali within the rules of the game I must say that the dismissal was a very cheap and cheeky one. Reminds me of sri lanka in new zealand some time ago when ken rutherford threw the ball at duleep samaraweera in annoyance which saw the batsman taking evasive action and the ball hitting the stumps to eventually leave the batsman legally out. How crazy is that?
The umpire was just walking to the other side of the pitch because one batsman was a left hander and the other a right hander.
One of the most unsporting behaviour by a team, I have witnessed. They did this to take wicket of Murali. Kiwis couldnt stoop to lower levels than this.
Firstly the umpire was walking towards the other end that should have confused murali.more than that this was the last wicket and the kiwis should have had the self confidence about taking that wicket. Kiwis..there is something called “THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME”.
that is schoolboy from murai…ball’s clearly not dead…any 7 year old would keep their bat grounded until the ball is in the keepers gloves and the ball has moved back to a non-active fielder! Doh!
To our great shame, Chapell’s underarm ball may have been legal at the time, but it was so unsporting.
How many test Murali has played. What is he doing in Sri LAnka Team When he dosent know the rules of the game. Ask Any kid he will say u that when ball is returned to the keeper is the only safe time to leave the crease.
I think one should not read too much into it – it was a foolish thing done by the batsman and equally unsporty thing by the opponents
That was real unfortunate to say the least. It was very clear that Murali after completing the run paused and then moved over to congratulate Sangakara. The umpire ought to have negatived the appeal. At what stage the ball is pronounced dead is a matter of interpretation and the Umpire knowing the circumstances could have easily ruled not out. Spirit of the game is equally improtant as the laws. Where are the laws when there is no game?
This is truely against the spirit of the game.The NZ mentality is somewhat like selling the pants to get a penny.
it WASN’T the end of the over.
That’s an odd signal from the Ump.
But what a schoolboy mistake. Murali has to take responsibility there.
It is quite clear that the square leg umpire was walking in which indicates the ball is dead-at least by his actions….and it’s so dumb to give him afterwards. What bollocks!
Very un-sporty of the kiwis…..
I feel murali thinks that is a sportsman. Does McCullum really represent NZ ?
The umpire is going to the other side ( can he just walk while the ball is live ? ).
McCullum and Fleming (in his post match defence of his keeper) have esnured that no Kiwi will ever be able to whinge about the underarm bowlers from across the Tasman.
As for the Sri Lankans, they own the high road given Sangakara’s warning to Astle at the recent Champions trophy in Indian when Astle could have been run out. The moral advantage is compunded by the value of Astle’s wicket as opposed to that of Murali.
New Zealand would have won this test anyway and this desperate act has taken the shine off the victory and the face of Kiwi cricket. Whilst McCullum and Fleming should be ashamed of themselves, Astle’s silence is deafening.
McCullum and Fleming (in his post match defence of his keeper) have ensured that no Kiwi will ever be able to whinge about the underarm bowlers from across the Tasman.
As for the Sri Lankans, they own the high road given Sangakara’s warning to Astle at the recent Champions trophy in Indian when Astle could have been run out. The moral advantage is compounded by the value of Astle’s wicket as opposed to that of Murali.
Whilst McCullum and Fleming should be ashamed of themselves, Astle’s silence is deafening.
New Zealand would have won this test anyway and this desperate act has taken the shine off the victory and the face of Kiwi cricket.
Subcontinent team or not, its a crying shame!the kiwis should be ashamed of themselves, there was never an intention to take another run. I am not a Lankan and its plain and clear that murali was merely moving towards his mate to congratulate him. Sure shorn of talent the kiwis have to be “competitive” and take every chance that comes their way, no matter even if its some underhand dismissal against a No.11! From now on it would be interesting to hear a Kiwi talk about cricketing spirit and the chappel incident.
There are Australians and then there are the Chappell brothers. Copetitive men in a hard game, but despite their efforts will be rembered for a dark legacy. They defintely put the “c” back into cricket, and sledge into slips.
Tony Greig, Ranatunga, Jardine and even Mankad will be remembered more as slick lawyers looking for loop holes than skilled althletes within this great game. All within the rules, but with no soul.
It would appear Mr McCullum with the tacit and disappointing approval of his supposedly respected captain, desires such infamy (second time he is up to this, first time on a No 10 in Zimbabwe). He even cynically pats the stunned spinner one the tummy, was it “bad luck” or “sorry, mate”. I guess this all hints to a desperation to close out a game tht was embarrasssingly drawing long due to stout lower order batting, boring field placements, and poor line bowling.
A good win? Maybe for NZ, but not for cricket.
I am no a fan of Murali as I still thinks he chucks it. But the batsman face him. Sad to see him stabbed in the back, while the umpire moves to change ends/slides. Dead ball for me.
Wonderdog out.
The paradox there is that, the umpire was motioning for Murali to go back in his crease, whilst walking towards wicket. when the umpire starts walking that usually means that the ball is dead. So when he starts walking Murali thinks the balls dead. He then tells Murali to get back in, but I doubt he sees or understands his gesture and is then run out.
Just a comedy of errors really. Personally I think Fleming should have revoked the appeal and brough Murali back as rather than getting him out, it was a general confusion caused (unintentionally) by the Umpire. So Murali should have been called back.
NZ didnt act in the ‘Spirit of the Game’, in my opinion anyway.
Elliot said: “The umpire was just walking to the other side of the pitch because one batsman was a left hander and the other a right hander.”
how can the umpire change ends before the ball is dead? the umpire was the one who confused murali. very unsportsmanlike incident. lets hope for a fair play in the rest of the series.
Murali never gestured to the Umpire that he was safe and not attempting a run. However the umpire did wave his hand which judging by murali’s expression and body language, seemed like a gesture for him to get back to his crease. What made it worse was the fact that he was dismissed just as Sangakkara got his 100. I dont know why the kiwis ever appealed. within the next 5-10 overs they would have got murali out so it wouldnt have mattered. Either way this needs to be made clear that you dont leave your crease until the ball is returned to the keeper or bowler.
The Sri Lankans would probably have lost any way. BUT the important point is that the kiwis will now lose all rights to complain about unsporting/unsportman like behaviour by any other team – this will always be thrown back at them! At least the kiwis should have got a better batsman with this type of unsporty behaviour!
How can we blame Kiwis. Its a low scoring match and the last partnership was one of the best of Srilankans side in that innigs. Also Keeper didnt notice what was going on the crease between the batsmen. While he collecting the ball , the batsman was not in the crease and without spending a fraction of second and appeal for out. If u were noticed closely then there may be even a close chance for two runs. So why some peoples are blamming the Kiwi side, really meaningless
no doubt murali shudnt have left the crease….he really acted dumb….great innings from sangakkara….but how unsporting the kiwis and mucculum are….talk abt ethics and sportsmanship….!!!!!!!!!!
It will go down as one of the most un sporting incidents in cricket history.Some one had posted a comment stating that we wouldnt be discussing this if it werent a sub continent team…well a naive question What if the roles were reversed…if Sri Lanka had got a run out in the afore mentioned manner there would be a hue and cry of epic proportions…Its high time teams like Aus ,NZ and England get down from their self professed moral high ground.The spirit of the game has been marred like never before.
Who said cricket is a gentlemen game?
I suppose now the kiwis shouldnt complain about Chapell’s underarm. Pot calling the kettle black type thing.
thats just v unsporty mate.
SHAME on you New Zealand and McCullum…True thats within the Law of the game but am sure not within the spirit of the Game..This is what happened during the Champions trophy as Mahela Jayawardena puts it…
“We play the game in the spirit in which it is meant to be played. At the recent ICC Champions trophy in India, there was a similar situation, where the batsman was Nathan Astle.
“With the ball not yet dead, Astle was walking out to tap the wicket, when Sangakkara who was the wicket keeper asked the batsman whether he was not aware that the ball was not yet dead and that he had every right to stump him, but in keeping with the spirit of cricket he would not do it. So why did it have to happen to Muralitharan and us’, asked a visibly annoyed Jayawardena.
The Sri Lankan cricketers have been nurtured on the adage that it is not the winning or the losing that matters, but on how one played the game, this ploy by the Kiwis was unacceptable. I would like to tell the Kiwis that for us Sri Lankans, the Game’s the thing.
Unsportsman like. But you can expect it from England, Australia and New Zealand.
What’s all the whinging about? Silly move by Murali, NZ took the chance – the last two wickets had been worth 71 runs – and were able to win the game (albeit for the loss of 5 wickets trying to get 119). I thought it was a bit off when I read about it, but when I saw it, it’s as plain as day that the ball wasn’t dead. And to all those people saying that this is tut tut unsporting – every team has it’s moments – dirt in pockets, jellybaby spit on balls, chucking etc etc – this wasn’t up there with any of those – nobody made a big fuss when it happened to Zimbabwe, and I think that Murali is going to be more careful before celebrating his partner’s runs in the future.
DUMB move Murali – remember all those backyard games or out on the street when you protected your crease like it was your last breath? And you were playing with your best friends and relatives!!!!!!!
I disagree with blasphemic comparisons to te underarm of 1981 also. That was a far darker day IMHO.
This was more a spontaneous move, where McCallum thought “Silly bugger thinks he’s safe!” and tok the wicket.
I dont like the lack of ‘gentlemans conduct’ – it was a bit rough on Murali, but it was HIS fault!!!!!
Sportsmanship, gentlemen and cricket….mmm…. bribes, match fixing, performance enhancers, ball tampering…..
And someone was talking about pots and kettles?
Of course I am a one eyed kiwi who loves cricket of all nations, but I thought there needed to be some other eyes pried open too.
as a sri lankan, ive got to admit that murali was so dumb not to stay in his crease till the ball came in, and also I don’t blame Brendan McCullum for takin the bails off
What if Martin had thrown the ball over the wicketkeeper’s head and it had gone for 4 overthrows? Would Sri Lanka have refused the runs?
I remember that Srikkanth got run out in an equally strange way in a match in India against England….. he played a ball to a fielder and promptly left his crease to do a bit of gardening on the pitch. Bang came the throw in and Srikkanth was declared out! Come to think of it, it was really stranger than this, because the difference between a “live” and “dead” ball was in that case was really tenuous!
In Murali’s case it was plain stupid to the point of being unprofessional. The man has played so many matches; he acted like a confused little boy playing his first match. I agree completely with Douggy above!
After this, let’s hope we never hear the Kiwis whinge about the Trevor Chappell incident again.
Shame on the Kiwis and Shame on McCullum. Firstly they prepare rotten pitches(say when compared to neighbouring Australia) and as if that is not enough they stoop to such cheap tactics to win games. What next…Try bribing the ICC to gift the 2007 World cup to Kiwis?
Though Murali went Mad in the heat of the moment, It is obvious that Murali had grouded the bat and had no intention to take another Single as he went to appreciate Sangakkara on a superlative effort.
The fitting reply for KIWIs would come when they are knocked out of the world cup in the first round.
Why does the single count ? It wouldn’t have counted, would it, if they had both been running for the second run and the run out had occurred before they crossed ?
Very stupid of Murali undoubtedly but shameful behaviour on the part of McCullum too. This is the team that won the ‘Spirit of the Game’ award from ICC, it is a disgraceful act, and unbecoming of any cricket player.
I think it is batsman’s mistake,Murli should have taken the umpire’s permission or atleast wait till the ball becomes dead.On the other hand it was last wicket so the damage would not have been too much,for the sake of good cricket in spirit the captain of News Zealand should have called him back.
The rules are very clear what indicates when the ball is dead. The (square leg) umpire made a mistake starting to cross-over too soon, but clearly this does not indicate that the ball is dead. Further, the footage is very clear – neither the umpire (watch Jerling’s glance at Martin) or McCullum (and presumably Martin) ever considered the ball dead.
Accusations of unsporting behavior are unfortunate – accusations of bias (hints of racism even) or cheating (such as views on Jerling’s attempt to get Murli back in his crease) are shameful. Basic mistake by Murli – should be out every time.
I find this hilarious….firstly, Murali must be the most unprofessional batsman in first class cricket, a child is taught to not make that mistake… and hearing all these aussies and sub continent supporters going on about the lack of ’sportsmanship’ being shown… what a bunch of hypocrites…
Think Mankad, think continuous appealing, think over turned drugs rulings, think grassed catches, think sports betting, think bottle tops….
But then again….. the LAWS of the game dont apply to everyone equally, do they!
Watch that video without thinking of who the teams involved are. And record your first impression. If you see anything other than a clear mis-judgement by Murali, and a fair run-out, then I think we have a serious problem with the viewing public.
I am from the subcontinent. But this runout seemed fair and square.
Hi all. Click below to cast your votes
http://www.cricket.mailliw.com/archives/2006/12/11/video-of-muralis-run-out-v-new-zealand/#v
Oh please! Give up on the underarm thing.
Murali brought this situation about by his stupidity. There is no other way to simplify the situation.If he hadn’t done what he did, he would not have got out.
In 1981, Brian McKechnie and Bruce Edgar did nothing to bring that situation about other playing good cricket.
Murali was not playing cricket, he was celebrating it, try doing that in the dressing rooms maybe – he forgot one of the very basic fundamentals.
Lets face it cricket is a modern professional game played to the rules. Do you see guys called back because they were caught out after the ball came off their shoe? Or when the ball is held over the boundary in mid air, tossed back into play and caught? What about the 5 runs off the helmet?
This was not the most shameful moment in sport or cricket as some are suggesting – the rot set into cricket a long time ago – this is quite tame indeed,and will blow over.
Pitch preparations: have you prepared a pitch in NZ weather? How many teams go to the sub-continent and play on things resembling roads that are for batters, and then conveniently break up and take wild turn for usually th local teams benefit.
Both sides are right – one according to the rules, one according to the spirit. This will only polarise opinion, and I think most can see both sides. I will now move on to new cricket, and hopefully better quality of both play and sportsmanship.
Cheers
It’s unsporty. Winning is not the main thing of a game. Sportmanship is most important. The wicket keeper of New Zealand is need more experience to be that state.
Thanks
Muttiah Muralitharan was on the field of play in a cricket Test match; not on safari. He should not have gone walk-about.
The fielding side took the correct sanction against him for going AWOL by claiming his wicket by the run out route.
Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lakan captain, can chirp as much as he likes about the Kiwis not playing to the spirit of the game, but there is no mitigating rider attached to LAW 38; a(i)or a(ii)of the Laws of Cricket, extolling the “spirit of the game.”
Plainly and simply, the Law deals with the circumstances under which either batsman is out Run out.
Regards,
Othniel
Anyone who has ever played cricket knows that you don’t leave the crease until the ball is dead. Murali did a very dumb thing and got punished for it, end of story.
A similar thing happened in a game of very low-grade cricket that I played in. In that case the batsman (my cousin) was abused by his own team-mates for being so daft as to leave his crease before the ball had been returned to the bowler. No-one ever considered the opponents unsporting for running him out. I think this is a case of people who don’t know the game well enough leaping to wild assumptions.
According to cricket laws Murali is clearly out, and no one is arguing that isnt the case. The question however is whether what McCullum did was sporty or not. What McCullum did was clearly not sporty and not within the games spirits. Its no better than a batsman knowing the ball hit the bat, but not walking off the ground when an umpire turns down an appeal for a catch – Legally batsman didnt do anything wrong, but morally its shamefull. Shame on kiwis for supporting this. I thought they were better than this, but guess being too close to Aussies have influenced their ideals. Then again I doubt even Aussies would go this low to take a wicket.
FLEMING QUOTE…
But Fleming argued it was within the law. “It was pretty disappointing that it takes the gloss off what I thought was a fantastic 100 by Sangakkara, but the ball was still alive and the game doesn’t stop when a player gets 100,” Fleming said. “You can’t just wander off when the ball’s in mid-air and if we’d had an overthrow I’m sure they would have taken that.
“To my mind the ball’s still alive and .. certainly in the cut-throat environment of this competition it’s a mistake you can’t afford to make on their behalf.”
TOO BLOODY RIGHT THEY WOULDVE TAKEN AN OVERTHROW IF THE CHANCE AROSE, OR IF THERE WERE 4 OVERTHROWS U IDIOTS THINK THEY WOULD SAY “NO WE DONT NEED THOSE, TAKE THEM RUNS OFF THE TOTAL”!!!!
IS CRICKET NOT A PROFESSIONAL SPORT????
U GET PAID YOU DO YOUR JOB, AMATEURISH PLAY BY MURALI!!!!!
I think Murali must have stayed in his cease untill the ball was dead because Fleming is dead right in saying that the Srilankan’s would have gone for an extra run incase of an overthrow as the ball was still alive. So in my opinion its a kind of careless attitude from murali as nothing was gonna stop him to congratualte Sangakara for his 100 after the ball reached Mccullum.
Pretty typical of the Kiwis- and they still complain about the under arm episode. But, having said that, I can only add, BAD LUCK MURALI!!!!!
Perhaps Murali had a bit of coin on Sangakkara scoring 100 or less? Wouldn’t surprise me these days. Ever since the bookies became involved in cricket, you can no longer trust any result – game fixing is rife!
venbas said …
“Shame on the Kiwis and Shame on McCullum.
Firstly they prepare rotten pitches(say when
compared to neighbouring Australia) and as if
that is not enough they stoop to such cheap
tactics to win games. What next…Try bribing the
ICC to gift the 2007 World cup to Kiwis?”
The NZ cricket team has nothing to do with the preparation of the pitches. This is at the hands of the NZ groundsman and the NZ weather. Australia is a rediculous model to compare NZ too – do you know anything about these two countries?
MURALI SHOULD NOT HAVE LEFT CREASE!
This was not club cricket. This is professional sport and the NZ players are paid between $45,000 and $125,000 a year to represent their country. They would not make the same mistake.. EVER.
P.S. Douggy is right – this is a DIFFERENT situation to the underarm delivery.
“Murali brought this situation about by his
stupidity. There is no other way to simplify the
situation.If he hadn’t done what he did, he would
not have got out.
In 1981, Brian McKechnie and Bruce Edgar did
nothing to bring that situation about other
playing good cricket.”
The NZ batsmen were vitually taken out of the game by Chappel – and all they had done was take their stance for the next ball.
Murali, on the other hand, was playing poor cricket – and he was punished.
I think it was the umpire’s mistake more than anyone else’s. And he should be taken to account for it.
By motioning to Murali to get back in his crease, he effectively told McCullum that this is a chance to run Murali out!
It may not have been intentionally done by the umpire. But he should have taken responsibility and revoked the appeal.
Boo hoo. Murali was wrong, they definately would have taken any runs if there were overthrows. How does McCullum know what Murali is doing? All he knows is that the ball is live and Murali is out of his crease, its a tight game so take the wicket. Apart from Sangakkarra’s hundred and Murali’s bowling Sri Lanka played poorly and Murali’s brain fade just confirmed the sloppiness of the team. Bring on the second test, both teams should be well fired up
“I think it was the umpire’s mistake more than anyone else’s. And he should be taken to account for it. ”
This is probably the line I would take if I was trying to justify Murali’s mistake – I don’t believe it for a second though! Yes, the umpire made a mistake starting to cross-over early, and yes, I can’t readily recall any previous occasions where the umpire has tried to help a particular player like that (incidentally, McCullum clearly wasn’t looking at the umpire when Jerling made the gesture, and Murali shouldn’t have!). The rules for when the ball is dead are very clear…
… imagine that in the press conference if Murali let slip (which he didn’t), “I thought I should get ready for the second run [since we needed them so badly] so I grounded the bat and turned, ready. At that point I saw Jerling walking in, my teammate celebrating, and Bond preparing for the next ball, so I forgot about staying in my ground”. Is that OK still? From Taufel’s point of view is that situation any different from what happened? The dead-ball rules are defined to prevent such ambiguity – I see no grey area here where ‘sporty’ behaviour comes into play.
Incidentally, I think professional cricket games should be managed by the professional umpires, and thus I agree with Steve Bucknor (for example, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/other_international/4034859.stm) that ‘walkers’ provide a headache.
I am huge fan of Murali…but I think this is the dumbest things anyone could do. There are basics of cricket. I cant believe someone playing for so many year can foget this…It would just become second nature to draw your bat into the crease until the ball is dead..you can clearly see on the video that the ball hasnt even reached the wicket keeper…and murali takes off. That was really stupid of him, and I fully support the umpire and kiwis in their call.
For a nation so keen to teach others sporting morality with that buffoon Martin Crowe trying to lecture others on fair and unfair play at the MCC annual lecture – here is an example of true unsportiness. Running out someone who is walking to congratulate his partner!
A bunch of true losers morally and on the field of play.
Way too big a deal is being made of this, ok it wasn’t the best way to get him out, but it is down to Murali making a daft mistake; and I’m sure Ranatunga would have done it.
By the way, i’m an Aussie and would love to say that it cancels out the underarm thing, but they do not come close … unfortunately!!!!! Damn Chappels!
He was out.
He shouldn’t have left his crease.
The umpire shouldn’t have started walking in.
McCullum shouldn’t have ran him out.
Stop sledgind Australia in these posts. We have nothing to do in with this. We continually raise the standard of world cricket. If it wasn’t for us 1.5 would be an acceptable test run rate and 220 would be a good ODI total.
Whilst acknoledging that Murali was silly to and too ambitious to congratulate his cappy. It just shows how desperate the Black caps were to get the 10th wicket.
Who knows what would have happened if they had gone on to add a further 25/50 runs.
The Kiwis could not trust their batsmen.
Common guys, this sport does need sportsmen….
Philip
Why did umpire start walking??..If the ball was live, then he should have stayed in his position till the ball is dead. That created the whole confusion!…after all now we know about Kiwis and their so called SPORTSMANSHIP!… For SL, nothing to loose. But for Kiwis this will haunt them in the future!!!..Good on ya Murali!
New Zealand have lowered the bar again, i have never seen a team so inept and driven to win sink to lower depths to beat the muppet team that is sri lanka. the fact that cricket has some form of conduct and class must stand and new zealands continual cheap, negative and essentially dirty tactics undermine the ethos and prestige of this great game. they would best be described as the don king of the cricketing world; cheap, grimy, poorly groomed (and i can only assume educated) despots who would stop at nothing to get a win. Granted they don’t get that many but they must feel hollow at some stage. For a team which clings to the infamous (and undefendable) chappel underarm as precedent of poor sporting and an apparent escape clause for any of their indescretions (too numerous to mention) this kind of behaviour is inexcusable and the height of hypocrisy. Forget muralis idiocy the primary facet of this is pure cheapness and a complete disdain for the kind of manners that make this game so much more noble than any other. Instead of figuring out the dirtiest most underhanded ways of ‘earning’, nae getting a dismissal focus on your cricket apply yourself at training and learn from other quality sides whose b team wouldn’t have trouble beating sri lanka at home. if you can’t do that kiwis, its simple, neck up you parrots.
Congratulations NZ. After years of (rightly) taking the moral high ground re: the undrarm incident, one of your players has done something equally against the spirit of the game. I trust we’ll hear no more moaning about the Chappells?
Nothing happened, according to the rules*, that indicated the ball was dead. Nothing. Nada, Stop blaming Jerling, stop blaming McCullum. No sympathy required – simply a mistake by Murali. 9I for one was hoping for a Sri Lankan win).
Whingers – there is no ‘grey area’ here, so… move along, nothing to see here… and stop pretending that it was unsporintg.
* When you actually read the rules, you’ll find something detailing how the ball is only dead when both the umpires are convinced that they and all the players think the ball is dead. Clearly this did not happen. Clearly.
Yes – clearly
And Murali should have known this. As does every cricketer aged 7 and up.
Sure Murali is living proof that not everybody in the sub-continent is an IT wizard. His talent is in his big heart and spinning finger and that’s why he hasn’t made captain of the side. He clearly saw the umpire start walking and he assumed wrongly. The law allows for him to be ruled out and I’m sure he’d never make the mistake again.
That said, Fleming and all these online pundits are going out on a dangerous hypothetical limb by insisting that the Sri Lankans would have taken the overthrows. I wonder what their response would have been if the Sri Lankans had stumped an unsuspecting Kiwi tailender? Shh… listen!!! Cant you hear the shouts about sub continental rule pushers and cheats and how they are taking the sport out of the gentleman’s game? Hypothetical hypocrites, the lot.
McCullum is a rat’s behind. Accept it and move on.
“He clearly saw the umpire start walking and he assumed wrongly.”
He also clearly saw the ball flying back into the keeper – why did he not wait for it to hit McCullum’s gloves?
Being a keeper myself – if I recieve the ball and the batsmen is out of his crease… those bails are off.
Is this the way we teach our children the sportsmenship?
Do any damn thing to win…..
Good luck Kiwis…..
Your children will sell you if you teach them like this ….
I follow both Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
I’ve seen close catchers apealing for LBW when it clearly hit the bat, or for bat pad when it clealy didn’t (off both Murali and Vettori’s bowling actualy) so many times.
Against the spirit of the game? Maybe. But there have been so many incidents against the spirit of the game from every test side, it has lost the justification to say so.
Would’ve loved to see Ranatunga captaining that match though!
Robots will play like Kiwis.
Feed the game rules and work .No human touch.
No common sense. No spirit of the game.
No judgement what looks right.
Truely robots. Kiwi robots.
It certainly wasn’t unsporting on the part of the Kiwis – our underarm effort was, but this was nowhere near that. Simply put, Murali ballsed up – yet again. It seems many here are trying to obscure the issue, which is that Murali had a responsibility to both himself and his team to try to stay in. Yet again, he wasted his wicket.
Incidentally, to those subcontinental cricket fans who are moaning about the Spirit of Cricket – did any of you feel the same when Pakistan tramped all over it by letting the two drugs cheat off the hook. Or when they refused to take the field against England?
The sporting public of New Zealand should hand its collective heads in shame. Not so long ago the entire Kiwi nation rose up as one to critisize the Aussies for the underarm incident. To all those kiwis who lined up to critisize that decision, and to quote what you are saying now “it’s perfectly okay as it is within the rules”. What a turnaround form what you said on that issue!! Even your Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon said that “it was a display of cowardice by the Aussies”.
It is clearly not the umpires fault. They have to give Murali out when the wicket was broken and the appeal was made.
However, we are forgetting one basic point. Stephen Fleming is supposed to be a soprtsman, and he is supposed to show leadership.
I’m afraid he displayed neither trait with this issue. The Kiwi’s were going to win the match, to stoop to this sort of behaviour was completely unnecessary.
Come on Fleming! Get some coaching on how to be a good leader from the likes of Tana Umaga or Richie McCaw.
Just seen this… why were people saying Murali only left his crease to congratulate Sangakkara? He doesn’t seem to do anything of the sort – doesn’t rush up to the batsman with arms out or anything, he just strolls away from his crease. Goodness knows what he was doing, or what McCullum thought he was doing; but I have to say the keeper’s action looked exactly right to me. A batsman wanders off while the ball is clearly live, and gets stumped. Just from watching the video, I can’t see that the spirit of cricket comes into this at all.
Can somebody tell me what the ICC’s Spirit of Cricket Award has to to with New Zealand’s consistent conduct on the field? Or is this how its defined?
13thMan brings up a good point.
This incident is a fairly minor blemish on the face cricket’s ’spirit’. What about Pakistan? they didnt even take the field.
HUGE fan of Murali as a cricketer, but the fact is he was sloppy!!!!!!!
Re Nathans comment : How does McCullum know what Murali is doing? All he knows is that the ball is live and Murali is out of his crease, its a tight game so take the wicket. Apart from Sangakkarra’s hundred and Murali’s bowling Sri Lanka played poorly and Murali’s brain fade just confirmed the sloppiness of the team.
That sums it up, Macca whipped off the bails instinctively…
Think some of the sub-continental posters r just blindly supporting their team in the face of all the facts.
ICC Spirit of Cricket Award is a joke by the way, Remember we won that when Flem was “mentally disintegrating” Graeme Smith the whole series before?…
I hope all the ppl who say the Kiwis are right have a look at the votes…..Its a real Disgrace and say bye bye to the chappel incident…I dont think i have to say much more
Thanks
Unfortunate incident….. But as they say: Everything is fair in Love and War (sports included these days)
This was clearly not a run out. I higly respected Fleming and the New Zealand team before this incident. The umpire is moving, murali touched his bat in the crease, he was walking not running nor was sangakarra interested in a run. Also if it was a run out, by the so called laws, shouldn’t sangakara be given out instead of Murali? This is stretching the cricket “laws” to the max. And steve, the Pakistan incident was clearly different which had been dealt with accordingly. Kiwis should thank God that inzi wasn’t playing in the Champions Trophy.
Funkmaster, ur an idiot… worst comment ever.
Underarm is in a league of its own, to say this tiny incident (running out an aloof number10 instinctively +legally+professionally) is even similar is a joke!
Just an aussie attempting to wind up us kiwis! Lol!
It seems like most of the people who have made comments are in their own Sri Lankan fantasy world- Murali was out completely within the laws of the game. The spirit of the game has not been tarnished either. In fact if you want to talk about the spirit of the game being tarnished do a player search on Arjuna Ranatunga.
It is absolutely not ‘exactly the same as the bowler running out the non-striker if he backs up to far’ as one commentator put it. In that instance a warning is fair because the batsman has an intention within the play of the game to gain a bit more ground, but there is no accounting for stupidity in Murali’s case and therefore! I don’t care how many wickets you have taken or tests you’ve played, why should the Kiwis have reprieved him when every schoolboy knows that you can’t leave your crease until the ball is in the keeper’s gloves and therefore ‘dead’?! I bet if you asked Murali himself his honest opinion would be that he was a bit of wolly.
Comments about ‘bringing the game into disrepute’ and unsportsmanship are totally unwarranted and smack of short-sighted Sri Lankan fans who are just peeved that they lost the match: in fact that goes for all Asian supporters who seem to have a blind support for their team and belief that people like Murali can do no wrong when in fact they are still human and make stupid mistakes like the rest of us. The legacy of this dismissal is a simple one: it will go down as one of the most comical and idiosyncratic dismissals in the game’s history and will certainly not be remembered as an example of Kiwi unsporting behaviour.
Peter
No one’s questioning about the legality of the umpire’s verdict. He was out. That’s that. The fact that one of the side’s most experienced players should make a mistake like that is a cardinal sin.
HAVING SAID THAT
Jeez what a cheap trick mate! Our keeper (who was incidently the man who just got a 100) had the decency and the balls to let off Nathan Astle (one of your best ever batsmen)with a warning during the Champion’s Trophy sadly the favour wasn’t returned. Sangakkara’s easily a much better & more savvy keeper and player than McCullum (sorry brendon) and if he could do that why couldn’t McCullum?
At the end of the day the Black Caps had the game in hand let’s face it even though it was a great rearguard action we all know that the kiwis would’ve won. Well done to ‘em and as someone said ‘bring on the second test’.
Ed (UK) sorry mate but when exactly did Arjuna Ranatunge tarnish the game? That’s rich coming from a country who’s greatest cricketing hero put up the stumps again after being bowled out.
Wow. At first I was sure the umpire was motioning for Murali to get back in his crease, as the commentators suggest. But watch who the umpire is looking at when he makes that motion with his hand. He is looking at McCullum, as if to say “take the bails off”! I’m not a conspiracy nut or anything, but combined with the fact that he was walking in and he put up his finger up without hesitation, it looks really suss to me.
And it wasn’t in the spirit of the game. Murali was not trying to get an extra run. Yes, it was stupid, but it shouldn’t have cost him his wicket, or Sri Lanka their innings. It was well within the laws, but the umpires have a responsibility to make the right call. They have taken back decisions and reinstated batsmen in situations like this in the past. I don’t think you can really blame any of the Kiwis, despite the fact that I’d love to (I’m an Aussie), because instinct tells a keeper to take off the bails when a batsmen is out of their crease. They even do it when they’re obviously in! My point is that it was the umpires who should have intervened and let Murali play on.
I am not sure whether NZs know that cricket is gentlemen’s game.
The sad and pinching day 3 of Test cricket. Kiwis should behave theirselves. This is not cricket…..
Blame fleming because mcculum did the right thing that every keeper would do, but since sangakara let astle off in the champions trophy fleming should have called back murali. A careless mistake by murali, dnt blame mccullum, dnt blame the umpire, blame fleming for being a cow!
Cor what a bunch of whingers. It’s a small incident and had no bearing on the game. To all those who still harp on about “the Gentlemans Game” and the spirit of cricket – the origins of the game are steeped in gambling history, England have tried to win by knocking Australian heads off, the Australians would do anything to win as long as they think that nobody is noticing (and they are lauded as the greatest team in the world for it – no arguments there), the South Africans have sold their souls for a few rupees, the Pakistanis and Sri Lankans won’t take the field if the umpire makes a decision they don’t like, the Indians public will burn down the stadium if things aren’t going in their favour – and well, if you dare print anything bad about Zimbabwe these days… So this incident is just part of the rich tapestry of cricket. Not pointing the finger or anything, but this is part of what we love about following the game. The players are representing their countries, and we want ‘em to do what it takes to win (as long as it’s within the rules).
And just to reply to the stupid comments about pitches in NZ. Trying to prepare a good strip in NZ spring or early summer can be like trying to prepare a good strip in Mumbai in October or whenever it’s wet – without the benefit of the heat. You just can’t tell from year to year. If your batsmen can’t adjust to the conditions, we’ll that’s a problem of their preparation perhaps. I bet if you ask your average subcontenent seam bowler if they like bowling in NZ – the answer will probably YES!
Alastair….Alastair…. common. We all can winge as much as we like. “the gentlemens game” is all weve got. Not only that, Aussie heads fall off by themselves, and they know everyone is watching them, the South Africans are cheap, umpires pick on the Pakis and the Sri Lankans, Indian stadiums are very flammable, and you couldnt print anything in Zimbabwe if you wanted to. This is why we all love our game. It brings out our uniqueness.
Erm, would it be ok to suggest that it was “Murali wrong”?
*ducks for cover*
Every cricketer at every level of the game would have run the batsman out in that situation. It has nothing to do with SL being from the sub-continent or getting some perverse revenge for Chappell’s underarm bowling.
It is a crucial point that if overthrows had occurred the batsmen would have taken them – there’s no question about that. The keeper had no alternative – the ball is live and the batsman is out of his ground.
It’s a no brainer really!!!
Murali was out. Simple. The laws state it as such.
The NZ players are d1cks for doing it though. Hes not trying to run. His leaving the crease wasnt an accident. Not the first time NZ have done this either. The wheel turns, Mr Fleming. It always does.
Murphy,
Dont generalize it. In champions trophy Sangakara didnt run out Astle even though he was out of the crease. Sangakara was gentleman enough to ask Astle to come back to his crease.
Wow, there really are a lot of whingers here! Why do people put supporting their team above the rules of cricket? Why?!?
For the benefit of the whingers, maybe they should now amend Law 23 (dead ball) to include…
Law 23 (Deal Ball)
1(a) The ball becomes dead when
(xi) – Murali thinks so
1(b) [amend by removing 'fielding side']
2 Whether the ball is finally settled or not is a matter for the umpire [and Murali] to decide.
3. (b) Either umpire shall call and signal Dead ball when
(x) a Sri Lankan batsmen starts celebrating a century
(xi) the square leg umpire blinks, or any other bodily movement
(xii) there is a likelihood of whinging fans trying to spoil our beautiful game
Dan_Boy ur nothing more than a buffoon..I still say this is worse than the chappel incident..Murali is out..no doubt abt that!!..and no one is saying he’s not out!!!..but all am trying to say is that there is a thing called sportsmanship…sadly the kiwis lack it..if u guys had the balls to say the aussies were not being sportsmen at that time..i say now the kiwis are not being sporty..simple as that..
well said IAmTheBear…THE WHEELS TURN MR.FLEMING!
Infact doing this to a team that let Astle bat even when he could have been run out is so sad!!..
All the very best to the Sri Lankan Cricket Team…This should fire you guys up…
Funkmaster RE: “I still say this is worse than the chappel incident..”
REALLY?
“Murali brought this situation about by his
stupidity. There is no other way to simplify the
situation.If he hadn’t done what he did, he would
not have got out.
In 1981, Brian McKechnie and Bruce Edgar did
nothing to bring that situation about other
playing good cricket.â€
Worse than the underarm???? Give me a break!
I would rate the underarm 1st equal with BODYLINE if not 1st outright (in terms of unsporting behavior).
The kiwi’s needed six off the last ball – and Chappel purposly denied them even the slightest chance of winning the game.
Hitting a 6 off the last ball is not easy under any situation. Especially at the MCG!!!! where the boundaries are massive.
The Murali run out did not deny SL much, as he was a tail-ender holding up the end of an very lackluster innings (aside from Sangakarra).
Sangakarra’s knock has been vastly overshadowed by this – I watched it, and he was amazing.
There’s been well over a 100 posts on this and you still get the odd joker coming along and explaining why the ball was not dead and that Murali was legally out. I found the dude trying to amend the dead ball law quite hilarious. Hellooo, nobody, I repeat NOBODY is disputing that fact.
We are talking about the spirit of the game and sportsmanship in cricket. Bottom line – it was cheap shot by the Kiwis… and what makes it even more stupid is the fact they did not need to do that to win the game. You can call Murali stupid for leaving his crease while the ball was alive, but does it take a greater lack of intelligence to behave unsportingly when you really don’t need to? (same as trying to amend the dead ball law when nobody has questioned it)
Murali was out, but New Zealand was “OUT OF ORDER”. As a pom, we normally expect this disgraceful lack of sportsmanship from the Aussies, not kiwis.
As for bodyline being disgraceful, that’s just another Aussie whinge, which has unfortunately removed Jardine from his rightful place as a great captain and moderniser of the game.
Do you really wish the game was still played without a little “chin music”? Were players in the 1930s really incapable of ducking?
Cant blame the keeper. He was watching the ball come in. Whipping off the bails the instant he suspects the batsman is out of his crease is any keepers first instinct.
Cant blame the umpire. Laws are laws and we dont want any (more) grey areas to unnecessarily come into the game.
Can definitely blame Murali. What on earth was he thinking!!??
Cant help but feel sorry for the Lankan captain. He didnt deserve that after getting his century.
I have to side with the Kiwis here. At least until I hear about the recent warning given to Astle. Fleming or Astle (was he playing in this game?) should have remembered Kumar’s classy and honourable deed and called the batsman back. It is a pity that such sportsmanship was not repaid.
Piss off VHG. Bodyline was a disgrace, and the single most unsporting act in cricket history. A ‘little’ chin music? Six-ball all-bouncer overs is not ‘a little’. Deliberately trying to injure a batsman – not intimadate, injure – was a weak, desperate gambit from a second-rate side. Jardine is rightfully remembered as a prick.
So you expect Aussies to be unsporting, yet you excuse this? This is about NZ and the SLs, yet you managed to drag in that old-fashioned yet still-prevalent British racism, which is why Aussies love crushing you so much. Wanker.
Does Chuckerdaran get to call the ball ‘dead’ in mid-air, like some powers acquired in ‘The Matrix’?
Just plain dumb. If Sri Lankan cricket wants to claw back some credibility it needs to stop blaming everyone else and smarten up. They’ve already wasted a generation.
Funny game – and equally funny perspectives. If the shoe was on the other foot, and SL had run out a Kiwi in a similiar manner, it would have been termed “unsporting” and “against the spirit of the game”, but in the current circumstance, its “within the law”. I guess the debate between “laws” and “spirit” will never end – I also wonder how the Kiwis had felt when they were at the recieving end of the famous “underarm bowling incident” – again within the laws of the time but so totally against the spirit of the game. It makes me rethink my opinion about Fleming, who till yesterday I considered a shining example of the gentleman’s game, who has now proven that he is also merely a mortal like the rest of his cricketing fraternity and a willing participant in actions that contravene the spirit of the game, as long as it is in his best interest. After all, when a win is at stake, who cares about spirit – I’ll take mine in a glass please – on the rocks!!
13th man…
The 1932/33 England side was no weaker (It had at least 4 all time greats in Sutcliffe, Hammond, Verity and Larwood) than the mid-seventies Aussie teams. So I dont see how you can call it second-rate. If I remember correctly, one of the test matches was won by Verity’s left arm spin and I dont think bodyline was used in that test at all.
Lillian Thomson broke more bones (Actually bodyline didnt break any…Oldfield was hit while no bodyline field was in place) than bodyline. I remember they broke a few bones then.
Who was it who said that they preferred to see blood on the pitch than to get a wicket? That was a certain Australian fast bowler from ‘75. So it is a bit rich to go back 70 years to complain about another team trying to injure people.
andysensei, bodyline was cited by someone else – I merely responded. Had the English team been as good as they – and you – thought, they’d have not come up with bodyline in the first place. Irrespective of other examples, bodyline was unsporting, and should be remembered as such. That doesn’t negate the fact that other acts perpetrated by other teams have also been unsporting.
Lashan – I thought thr post you were refering to was actually quitee witty, and i just wsh a few more people (like you) would have more a sence of humor. I guess you didnt realise that the joke was on people like you? as for people comparing this with Bodyline and underarm – they know NOTHING bout cricket.
I wished people would realise that there is no g round for sporty/unsport behaviour or debate here; The umpire was not mistaked or unsighted, the cricket laws are very clear and unambiguous (and the dead-ball rules are most improtant), the players did not try ANYTHING underhnd, the umpire did not cheat, Murali was not unsighted, it was not end of over. As someone said earlier – unsporty behaviour needs a greay area. Here no greay area. Anybod thinking this unsporty is either terrbily bias (pro-Lanka, anti,NZ), or does not care for profesional cricket.
in addition, i wish people would realize cricket is now a professional sport, played by professionals, umpired by professionals. We are not talk garden cricket here.
Also, i think the sangakkara -Astle incident did not happen in Champions Trophy, but i could be wrong. Astle says has no recollection, and I can find no match report at time referring to this incident.
The outrage over this incident is why I’ve become less-and-less a fan of cricket and ready to throw my fandom toward baseball.
Rules are rules. In baseball if a runner wanders away from his base, then a pitcher and first-basemen would be unprofessional idiots not to use that advantage and make the out.
I want to see a contest, not eat cucumber sandwichwes and patronize players with “jolly good show” pats on the back. Anything else is a waste of my time. If Murali wants to go walkabout when the ball is still alive and in play, then fair game to the NZers for taking advantage of an unprofessional dunce.
Do we not see bowlers and fielders forever screaming LBW appeals at the umpire? Are they not trying to get an edge? Are these fielders not exhibiting “unsporting behaviour” by unduly attempting to influence the judgment of the umpire?
Then how is that in any respect different from taking what Muralitharan gifted them? If Muralitharan’s leg pad prevents a bowl from hitting the stumps, NZers would be stoopid not to scream for LBW. And if Muralitharan goes walkabout, those same NZers would be equally stupid not to make him pay the consequence.
Rumour has it that Murali chucked a real hissy fit in the dressing room, but the SL management denied it saying he bowled one instead 
Gav – LOL!!!
Kyle, agreed – the post was quite witty, but totally missing the point. I was merely trying the highlight to all the people insisting that the ball was not dead and the dismissal was legal that they are absolutely right, nobody has disputed that.
On the subject of professionalism, well I am of the opinion that sportsmanship and playing the game in the right spirit is an integral part of being a professional. The two are not mutually exclusive. And I am pretty sure that people would have noticed by now that cricket is a professional sport.
This incident along with the series of incidents over the past few months, not to forget the controversial run outs of Inzamam and ball tempering issue at the Oval-England together with the disgraceful incident with Indian cricket board’s president on the reception ceremony of the champions trophy India, are enough to indicate that the growing influence of Asian block countries in the domain of cricket has have incensed the colonial minded bigoted lunatics, who are exposing their culture and democratic values to everyone with the passage of time.
[http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/nzvsl/content/current/story/272565.html]
Fleming’s most recent interview performance demonstrates why thrashing about is not the best option in the quicksand of embarrassment.
Top marks to the Sri Lankan Captain who continues to take the high road, much to the envy of Fleming.
It was awful to see Kiwis getting Murali out like that. Umpires should have taken a UUI and drug tests (UUI = Umpiring Under the influence)
Lashan – glad you founf the pst funny too. I still think post didnot miss point – hence it made fun of the whiners on this bored,. If anyone thinks this was unsporty, then I thnk they have to identifie where is grey area. For exampel, if was a precedence of wicketkeeprs NOT running out playrs accidentally leaving their crease (the allaged Sangakkara-Astle is not a precednt!), then OK, we can talk.
Remember diCanio in Premiership? This was grey area because DiCanio thought that referee miss the goalkeepr with injured head. That was very sporty beaviour.
Moreover, I think people claiming unsporty here also have to shw that NOT running Murali would NOT have unfortunate side effects. What if ball had been overthrown for four runs?… do the rules allow for Murali to not accept the runs? This is what the humourous post was saying (I think). And i wish people stop talking Gilchrist walking – he vehemently claims many wickets as wicket keper that are clearly not out…
Whiongers – stop pretending we playing amateur sport just to cover up disappointment with Lanka msitake.
Stephen fleming is gay
It was unsportive action by the Kiwis
The umpire was really biased and prejudiced to be so stupid, so we can excuse him.
well well well…The Sri Lankans are firing all cylinders!!…and Gosh!!..poor McCullum..hahahaha what?? someone broke his leg!!!..and finger??..hahahaha…WHAT A FUNNY GAME!!!…CRICKET LOVELY CRICKET…GO SRI LANKA…
If it were a kiwi that was so dumb as to leave his crease in that situation and get out, I, and most the kiwi cricket supporters I know would be spewing – at the batter, not the other teams keeper. he batter would be getting hell from all the kiwis in the crowds for the next few matches.
There would be some pissed at the keeper, but the facts would speak for themselvesd and we would be venting on the batter.
‘Sportsmanship’ today, especially in cricket, is very very subjective. All the teams that have hit the headlines for ‘unsportsmanlike’ behaviour ahve laid the foundation for what we see on and off the field today.
So if the game isn’t gentlemaly enough for you now, then perhaps Bodyline, tampering, bribery, drugs, sex (and probably some rock and roll in here somewhere),underarm bowling, bent arm bowling, refusing to play (despite the public – those who pay the cricketers, having already paid for tickets!)have all had something to do with it.
An instinctive and clever piece of cricket to run out Murali is so far down the list of sportmanship sins, in my humble and subjective opinion. So, perhaps it is time to let go of the ‘kiwis are the most evil team in the world” sentiments?
New Zealand would have won anyway? – it was a low-scoring test and there were no guarantees. Sangakarra was on fire, farming the strike brilliantly.
On the cricket – Sri Lanka are playing brilliantly right now, and good on them.
Murali was naive, no doubt, but how can the whole of New Zealand defend (unsporting) McCullum? (Fleming should get a lesson or two on sportsmanship from Tana)
Gayath – its wrong to tar brush New Zealand as a nation of single cell organisms. Writing for the NZ Herald, Dylan Cleaver presents a more balanced view of the whole episode and of Kiwi cricket. Check it out [ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/author/story.cfm?a_id=193&objectid=10414673 ].
Moving on to the second test that’s in progress, one can’t help but speculate that the Sri Lankans have responded to the McCullum episode and Flemming’s stupid comments at the start of the second test.
A Sri Lankan tour of New Zealand just prior to the 1996 World Cup triggered a similar reversal of resolve. The Sri Lankans arrived in New Zealand as a clutch of bunnies and endured a horrid time in the field. Before the tour was over, they’d won the two test series 1-0 (first overseas series win) and even though they lost the ODI series 1-2 they went in to the World Cup campaign with a determination never before seen in Sri Lankan cricket. In one of those interviews, post-World Cup, Arjuna Ranatunga credited the Kiwis for helping him marshal his troops.
This time around, the Sri Lankans may not win the World Cup but they will thank the Kiwis for helping them try. It looks like Malinga has already sent a thank you card or two to McCullum.
Apologies Vasee, I was referring more to the kiwi’s (NZ cricket team).
Fleming’s just couldn’t swallow it I think (the ’spirit of cricket’ award).
Fleming is the villain in this piece as was Greg Chappell in “The Underarm Incident” (apparently it’s capitalised in New Zealand). A few deep breaths and a withdrawal of the appeal is all that was needed to put this to rights. Unfortunately no amount of bravado and rule-quoting will restore NZ to the high moral ground.
Is there a rule that says the umpire cannot move during play? I don’t think so. If the umpire wants to move (as long as it doesn’t obstruct the fielding side, the bowler during his delivery, or the batsman during his stroke) what’s the problem? Watch the players in the current Ashes series from both sides. They stand with their bats inside the crease until they are CERTAIN the ball is dead. They look around to check where the ball is and where the fielders are. ANY side (Australia, England, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, etc.) would have taken that wicket. I’m a staunch Australian supporter, and even Ponting for all his talk about upholding the spirit of the game would have taken that wicket, regardless of who the opposing team were.
The reality is that Murali was out of his crease when THE BALL WAS STILL IN PLAY. It doesn’t matter what he thought was happening, or what the umpire was doing, or that he was confused. The ball had not been returned to the keeper, and if the return throw had gone over the keeper’s head, therefore presenting the opportunity for another run, I have no doubt Sangakarra and/or Murali would have called for it – regardless of the fact that Sangakarra was already waving his bat around and Murali was 1/4 of the way down the pitch. They’re trying to win a match (and a series) not sit around and play nice.
PS – I don’t think this incident can be viewed in the same light to the underarm incident. Now that WAS against the spirit of the game. However, I think that 25 years later New Zealand should find something else to focus all their sporting attention on. What about Fleming outright admitting he had used the bonus point system in the 2002 VB series to give NZ the greatest opportunity to reach the final. This was summed-up as:
“Not only has it produced play far away from the spirit of the game…”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/specials/australia_v_south_africa/1797490.stm
Now the Cricket communite should look at this and need to ban the umpire for atleast 6 months. I’ll responsible bahaviour of the umpire. The cricket communitie always put the prusurre to the players. Now the time is come to punish or ban the umpires who have a very bad eye view.
Very very unfair to Sri Lanka….
I’m embarrassed to see this type of work done by my countrymen. Why do we need umpire to play for us? It is the last wicket….Couldn’t our team get this wicket in the next few overs… ??? And it is a moment of celebrating partner’s century… Even opponents great men !!! Cricket is known as the Gentlemen’s game.
Don’t encourage this type of things… This only gets us a match victory. But it kills our nation’s pride.
Sam
Eat S_it kiwis, you made a fatal mistake in the first test but getting murali and sangi angry and you got FLOGGED IN THE SECOND!!
NZ CRICKET IS BORING AND I HATE WATCHING THE KIWIS PLAY!
So Elliot, Doesn’t that mean that the umpire has already declared that it’s time for the next ball…. meaning that the previous ball is dead? I hope anybody is not an idiot to see this is nothing about laws and rules in cricket… It’s just the manners that matters in such a situation… and it seems that the kiwis’ don’t have it!
Dear freiends,
We should cut the crab as the kiwis got the severe punishment in Game-2……
This is really unsporting.
Hi all,
This is not that much rediculous act of Kiwi Wicket Keeper. Murali has to be there in the crease as far as the ball not dead in state.
It’s Murali’s own mistake and he is over enthusiastic to congratualte his teammate. That’s secondary thing to do, first he has to be not out for his team.
Regards,
Srikanth.
Mccullum is the man
New Zealanders have a deep psychological need to feel done-over unfairly by the Aussies … thus the “outrage” at the underarm bowling episode. It provided them with a cultural inferiority-complex-indignation-symbolic THING. This incident of running out Murali is so much worse it doesnt matter.
Go to NZ .. watch their news.. its all “Australia This.. Australia That”.. “Australia-Australia-Australia … we hate Australia”
It reminds me of a little dog running back & forth along a neighbours fence barking furiously at the big dog next door. The big dog .. he’s not in the slightest bit interested.. He’s got a lot more important stuff on his mind.
Australians hardly give New Zealand a second thought .. in fact.. where is New Zealand anyway.I dont know.
Come on Kiwis… get over it. Grow up. Get a life.
But I’m glad in some ways about the Murali incident .. if some pathetic Kiwi brings up the Underarm incident again .. I can whack him down with this one.
As for the underarm ball.. I say.. right ball for the right time. Nothing.. nothing … nothing wrong with it at all. Aussies .. get over it too. It was never wrong in the first place.
In response to now what was that silly little aussies name thats right john wilkins had to look that one up so many australian failures lately i get them confused.
Murali is just a cheat who gets away with murder because he is from the sub continent plain and simple i say good on mccullum for running out the little git.
As for the underarm incident i bet the west island(australia for those not up to date with new zealands prison colony) wished it could have sent down a few more in the latest chappell(isnt that the name of that drug smuggling cow) hadlee series even when resting 4 of our front line players you still couldnt defend 300+ weak girls weak.
I think its about to retire grandads army they have a pop gun attack thats about as accurate as johny howard on the Iraq war.
Sleep well ozzies as come world cup time you wont be.
Yohan – sad sad little man just because you team is going the same path as the ozzie team dads army no go to the corner and cry
I really dont mind who wins a game… as long as it is a good one. I actually love New Zealand.. the country and the people and the great style of cricket (let alone their Rugby Union)… I’ve spent several months walking NZ tracks, and admire NZ sport… for a small country they kick arse. I just get dissapointed by the endless need to express anti-Aussie rhetoric. You Kiwis are good enough… be proud of it… you dont need to go down this track of whinging … it’s getting to sound more like the Poms every day.
This is not the first time McCallum stooped to this level. He did a similar thing with the Zimbabwe number 11. And that match wasn’t even close. It’s nothing but downright disgraceful behaviour. The Kiwi’s have no right to complain about the underarm ball etc after this lot!
HA HA HA – what goes around comes around Kiwis!
Damnit Matt, beat me to it.
Kiwi hypocrites.
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