Guide to Cricket Sledging

Yorkshire v Somerset

Wednesday 24 September 2014 Day 2

Twitter @ball_sup

Right. I'll have a go at the Andrew Gale thing.  I'm a big fan. He's Yorkshire Captain. He's Regent. Appointed by a Higher Power.

I was present at both spats which cost him his suspension. I particularly did not enjoy his body language when Peter Willey gave him out. I'd prefer it if he didn't have spats. But, there is a disciplinary procedure & he's been brought to book under it.

I was actually pretty relaxed that Gale couldn't take part in the Championship celebrations in Nottingham. Upset for him, naturally. But I'll recall the big picture. Yorkshire won it. He was the Captain.

The ECB were in no win. Once he had been suspended, they would have been criticised for allowing him to participate. On balance, I think the ECB were right on that one.

And then, it's very difficult for everyone. A high profile, national organisation such as the ECB must have a "racially aggravated" clause in this day and age.

Once it has got one, when a cricketer sails close, it has to be invoked. Be seen to act.

And then it's easy for things to spiral out of control. I won't rerun the exact wording. But Gale and others like him are charged by their governing body with saying or doing something racist. They are not charged with being a lifelong, unrepentant, died in the wool, cradle to the grave, out and out racist.

Generally we need more balance. Come down hard on the action. But have an exit strategy. Instead it degenerates quickly into heels dug in name calling.

What has & hasn't been said seems to be all over the media. As it changes day to day, I'm not going to dissect that.

I like my cricket hard. Bowl him a bouncer. Go down the other end. Tell him there's more of that to come. Tell him he's not good enough to be out there in Big Boys Cricket. But don't swear at him. Don't tell him he's fat. Don't tell him he's ugly. Don't tell him he's so fat and ugly his wife is having an affair.

I like my cricket hard. Drive him through the covers. Tell him to go back to his mark so you can do it again. Tell him to go back to the nets. Tell him to go back to the 2s. Tell him to retire he's done. But don't swear at him. Don't tell him to go back to his own country.

I wish Umpires would clamp down on bad language & personal attacks. Attack his skills & lack of.

But I remain a big fan of Andrew Gale.