Aussie cricketers bring shame to the game
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326434)
Rockingham, Australia
April 7, 2018 2:58am CST
Cricket has always been regarded as a sport for gentlemen – a sport with high ideals. It has always been a perception that cheating simply doesn’t occur – or occurs at least rarely.
A few weeks ago, three Australian cricketers were found to be cheating by tampering with the ball. The whole country was in uproar with calls for a lifetime ban on the trio. The parent body, Cricket Australia, lost mega bucks in sponsorships. Various companies which had advertising deals with the three dropped them like hot cakes.
The trio seemed truly devastated by what they had done and there were some very emotional interviews with a lot of apologies. They admitted to the affair and in the end two received 12-month bans and the other nine months.
I was horrified that these players had tried to cheat in this way and that they had put such promising careers at risk for the sake of a win. But after seeing how upset they were it was hard to stay so angry. However, if they hadn’t been caught, they would have continued on their merry way.
I can’t decide what I should think. Sometimes it seems that cheating is just part of any sport. The attitude seems to be that if you can get away with it, well and good. No doubt, the Australian cricketers won’t be the last to try to cheat but I hope these individuals have learnt a lesson.
I chose a twisted tree for my photo
23 people like this
25 responses
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
7 Apr 18
Cheating in a game isn't right, they should not do this kind of thing
3 people like this
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
7 Apr 18
@thesupersingh very well said dear
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21746)
• Canada
7 Apr 18
When money is involved.....people feel they won't get caught. Then they can be oh so remorseful when they do get caught.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Apr 18
All three are rich in their own right with lucrative sponsorship deals etc so I can'f for the life of me work out the reasoning behind the action. I guess they really badly wanted to win. One was nearly in tears when interviewed saying his father was devastated by his actions, etc, etc. He should have thought of that before he did it.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
7 Apr 18
It's a shame that they destroyed a very good career. Why would they even cheat? And I think it's good that they got caught. This should also serve as a good lesson to those who are considering cheating.
3 people like this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
7 Apr 18
sport has become big business so lots of money goes to winners which makes cheating more likely and also makes cheating criminal fraud
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
9 Apr 18
@JudyEv pretty sad that they did that
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Apr 18
@arthurchappell It's terrible. And worse that it comes to be expected/accepted that this sort of thing is going to continue.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Apr 18
I suppose that was my feeling too. I was stunned and mortified although I've got over it a bit now. 
And do you remember the terrible day Greg Chappell ordered his brother, Trevor, to bowl underarm so your country had no chance of getting the six it needed to win? It was the last ball of the match but what a great match win or lose with such a cliff-hanger of an ending. That was another shameful day for us.
And do you remember the terrible day Greg Chappell ordered his brother, Trevor, to bowl underarm so your country had no chance of getting the six it needed to win? It was the last ball of the match but what a great match win or lose with such a cliff-hanger of an ending. That was another shameful day for us.2 people like this
@prakashj256 (926)
•
7 Apr 18
Yes, they are cheaters and how they learn from a game that is important. But I want those 3 players to see up and running for cricket as soon as possible. They are good people but they have done a bad thing. They deserve punishment.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Apr 18
@prakashj256 Hopefully they have learnt their lesson. They always seem to think they won't get caught.
1 person likes this
@prakashj256 (926)
•
7 Apr 18
@JudyEv yep..right, they are too afraid to loose. I just hope good for them.
2 people like this
@allknowing (130233)
• India
8 Apr 18
I have talked about this here. It is sad that this happened.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130233)
• India
8 Apr 18
@JudyEv Others have done that too and yes this penalty is harsh, As In Africa they say rob but do not get caught.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Apr 18
@allknowing If they hadn't been caught they would have no qualms about what they'd done. That bugs me.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
7 Apr 18
I saw this on the news. Australia have always been held in high regard when it comes to cricket so I was surprised to hear about the cheating. It seems that it is more important to win any way you can now than to win honestly.
2 people like this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
7 Apr 18
@JudyEv Well hopefully they've learned from it.
2 people like this
@Letranknight2015 (51537)
• Philippines
7 Apr 18
Practice and commitment isn't enough anymore? This really makes people loose interest in the sport.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
7 Apr 18
It does seem very unsporting to cheat but then look at what has come out with the Olympic games even years after. Depriving the true winner is awful in the first place but nothing can make up for being awarded second place when you should have in fact got Gold. They have stolen that moment which can never be replaced. Shame on them and anyone else who thinks it is ok!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Apr 18
My thoughts exactly. Only once in my young life I won 'Champion Pony' at a small country show but there had been some hiccup and they didn't have a champion ribbon for my pony to wear as we went out of the ring. Getting a ribbon later really meant nothing.
1 person likes this
@franxav (13632)
• India
7 Apr 18
Many of our young people in India love them and were looking forward to watch them play in the upcoming IPL(Indian Premier League).They are sad. Last year, Steve Smith brought a new team Pune Super Giants to the Final and they nearly lifted the cup.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Apr 18
@thesupersingh @franxav They have so many fans and they are earning plenty of money so why on earth do they feel they have to cheat? It seems so stupid.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Apr 18
@thesupersingh That's true and even if they get the chance in a year's time, I should they would be very nervous for a while.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Apr 18
How did they tamper with ball? In baseball, it is illegal to scratch, put Vaseline or anything greasy or employ spitballs as it alters the pitch.
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Apr 18
@JudyEv Oh yes sandpaper is illegal in baseball. A pitcher would be suspended if caught.
2 people like this
@lynnief (1203)
• Australia
7 Apr 18
I don't even like cricket, but I was disgusted by this incident. It's not just themselves and their game that they have brought into disrepute, it is our nation, and that is not acceptable. And yes, I can't help but wonder whether they are really sorry for having done it, or just sorry that they got caught and are losing a large chunk of their over-inflated pay packets as a result.
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (45579)
• India
7 Apr 18
Steve Smith - one of the best contemporary test cricket batsman (a shade above Virat Kohli)
David Warner - a great Odi and T 20 cricket player
Why they did so is unpardonable as well as shocking and illogical.
Even if they had lost the series by 0-3 score it would not have been that bad. Winning and losing fairly is part of the game. But winning unfairly is much worse than losing fairly.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (45579)
• India
8 Apr 18
@JudyEv yes and they must be feeling very bad.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (99021)
• India
13 Jun 18
@JudyEv I think many did wrongs, these people were unfortunate, they got caught. Everybody is a good person until they get caught. Imraan Khan used to use Coke bottle lid to tamper with the ball I heard. My mind forgives both Steve Smith and David Warner for this. They were just unlucky because of better technologies around.
1 person likes this
@hostessman (11871)
• Tucson, Arizona
8 Apr 18
there is always someone going to try to get away with something
1 person likes this
@zainkhan121 (710)
• Pakistan
8 Apr 18
The three "gentlemen" thought, "Oh, since we are Aussies, no one will notice that and nothing will happen". And this is how it would be if the South African commentator hadn't brought that into focus. He kept talking about it. And the cameramen had to show the footage in replay so now it was almost impossible for them to ignore it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Apr 18
That is all true. With so many cameras focussed on players nowadays it is very hard for such practices to be hidden. I read that they thought something was happening so they focussed on the bowler to try to find out what was going on. Well, they have come home in disgrace.
@Bullshark (3477)
• Netherlands
7 Apr 18
I saw it on the news the other day. It was dubbed 'sandpapergate', wasn't it? What a terrible shame!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Apr 18
@Bullshark That's true. They shouldn't be wearing them.
1 person likes this
@Bullshark (3477)
• Netherlands
8 Apr 18
@JudyEv Bancroft and Smith should have taken off their baggy green caps when they fronted the press...
1 person likes this
