Should the 2013/14 series be the final Ashes series held?

[Dan]

 

[JontyPanesar]

Impressive Bot

 

[Spark]

Was a multi ftr.

 

[benchmark00]

Of whom.

 

[Jono]

Of whom.

of "penultimateashes"

 

[Spark]

Of whom.

Someone who I guarantee you will never have heard of.

 

[wiff]

Someone who I guarantee you will never have heard of.

Dave Warner's girlfriend?

 

[benchmark00]

Someone who I guarantee you will never have heard of.

A decent Richmond supporter?

 

[Jono]

dont ignore my joke bitch

 

[TNT]

I would rather they get rid of twitter.

 

[Red]

A decent Richmond supporter?

 

[morgieb]

A decent Richmond supporter?

Good **** from this ****

 

[sprintman]

I have been absolutely disgusted by the common abuse and outright hostility on display by both sides both during and after the 1st test. Whilst all the media focus has been on Australian players (i.e. Clarke and Warner), it would appear that English players are also just as guilty, if it is the case that Anderson threatened to punch Bailey. Regardless of which side these players represent or which side is the more guilty, these players should be banned - forever. It is revolting. It is clear that so called "sledging" has become more than just humourous banter. It has been allowed to degenerate into common abuse, outright hostility, and nastiness. What kind of example does this set to our children? It is simply not acceptable and the ICC need to ban it. A few years ago, a local man in our area was beaten unconscious by a gang of out of control feral youths. He died as a result of the attack. He was killed by a mindless act of violence by children who clearly had lost all respect for authority. At the trial, it became pretty clear to me that a contributory factor in the loss of respect had been the appalling example that has been set by some so called sports 'stars' who are supposed to act as role models - mainly footballers. Well, they are role models - role models for bad behaviour and open contempt for rules and authority.

In the UK, we have long had to live with the appalling example set by many footballers, but at least that game has been trying to put its house in order in recent years (i.e. the punishment handed down to John Terry, the crackdown on racism, etc). But, now it appears that the disease is spreading to cricket. I am disgusted that Australian TV have apologised for exposing Michael Clarke's appalling behaviour, and failing to report James Anderson's alleged behaviour at the time that it occurred. What they are saying is that they should have covered up for breaches of the rules. Absolutely disgusting. If players break the rules, then you report it to the authorities. You don't cover it up and allow it to continue. That way, the mindless morons think they can get away with it, continue, and then it degenerates even further into something even worse (which it obviously has).

I also note from Darren Lehmann and Peter Siddle's comments today, and the activities of the gutter press, that they seem to think that common abuse and outright hostility is a legitimate tactic for winning, and that it is okay to literally win at all costs. Well, it isn't. There is a word for this kind of behaviour - it's called cheating. There is only one legitimate way to win and that is to play the best cricket on the pitch. Mitchell Johnson's match winning bowling (and I would add, his impressive batting) is the way to go (and nobody has any problem with good honest, tough hard cricket). The role of sport is to foster good relations between people, communities, areas, countries, whatever, and to set a good example to the next generation in how to behave fairly (and win/lose fairly). The example being set by Mr Lehmann, Mr Siddle, and the gutter press, is the complete opposite. What they are saying is that personal attacks, common abuse, threats of violence, and outright hostility is absolutely fine and a legitimate tactic for winning. Clearly, it is not. And if that is the way things are going, then clearly the sport is no longer worth playing, as it then becomes more of a problem for society, than a benefit.

It has become obvious in recent times that the Australian and English teams absolutely detest each other. That is the fault of the ICC for allowing the more unsavoury elements in both teams to get away with abusing each other over a long period of time. That appalling behaviour by players and the attitude of the gutter press is setting an appalling example to our children. Accordingly, I think we should make this the final Ashes series. Its continuation would cause far more problems than it is worth, and it no longer acts as a vehicle for fostering good relations between both countries. On the contrary, as things stand, it is poisoning relations and generating ill will.

In terms of finishing the current series, the ICC need to send a strong and unequivocal message to both sides that common abuse, threats of violence, and open hostility will no longer be tolerated and that if anybody is found to be guilty of it in future, then they will receive a lifetime ban from cricket. The ICC also need to eliminate the hostile atmosphere that seems to have pervaded this series, and the media regulators in both countries need to start prosecuting media outlets that have been trying to whip up the hostility levels. I am sure that there are some within the cricketing and media fraternities who have been whipping up the hostility levels deliberately to generate interest in the series, and make it more profitable. Capitalism is no excuse, because society as a whole ends up paying for it in the end in terms of violent crime and juvenile delinquency

Let's make this the final Ashes series. I certainly would not want this kind of sporting event going to England in 2015, where the mindless morons that run the British gutter press try to create a similarly hostile environment for the Australians, so that they can 'give it back' and 'reap the whirlwind' as it were. At some point, this kind of nonsense has to stop, and it should end by making this the final Ashes series.

In terms of the outcome of the current series? I couldn't care less. For me, it has already been irretrievably tarnished by the appalling behaviour of both sides. They are as bad as each each. There are no heroes in this - just villains - poster people and role models for disgusting behaviour. As stated, it sets an appalling example for our children, and society ends of paying for it in the end with mindless acts of violence and juvenile delinquency.

You must be one of those 'chinless wonders' we hear so much about............

 

[sledger]

Down with this sort of thing.

 

[Viscount Tom]

Suspect he's a PEWS multi trying to stir up feelong between us and the colonials.

 

[mullarkey]

I can understand why you are disappointed, believe me so am I, not only with England's heavy defeat but also the open hostility that seems to exist between the two sides. I think back to the first day at Trent Bridge and how excited I was, a feeling that was enhanced by the wonderful atmosphere between the supporters of both teams. The press in England talked of how soccer fans could learn something from this, a sentiment I agree with (and I speak as a seasoned soccer fan). I must say I despise (the 's' word) but it depresses me that I seem to be in a minority when I speak with other fans about it.
We must hope that common sense prevails and the players of both sides will conduct themselves in a better manner. To me Michael Clarke's on-field words are merely silly and childish while Jimmy Anderson's behavior, even in low key county championship matches, is extremely irritating, he is the new Glen Mcgrath who's behavior I also despised. Adelaide can't come quick enough for me though because England and Australia? Nothing like it.

 

[Red]

Actually I agree. They should end a long standing, exciting, traditional rivalry between two nations inextricably connected by their past because someone said a bad word to someone else.

 

[wiff]

I want to ban the English team from ever coming to Australia again because this morning my son came to the breakfast table with earphones. When I asked him something he answered "LaLaLA I can't hear you". I then said "How do you know I'm saying something if you can't hear me?" which was followed by silence. True story.

 

[zaremba]

Ok a bit of devil's advocate here.

There seems to be a common consensus that the OP is completely wrong, the writer's head is in the clouds, cricket has been Total War for a hundred years or more, and maybe even that the OP is by a wind-up merchant. Well, all that may be true. The author was a banned multi and the OP a bit too long to bother reading fully.

But I have two questions:

1. Is it really the case that the sort of sledging and behaviour that we see now, and that's been seen since the 1970s onwards, has always been there? I'm sure that in the 1900s there would have been the odd comment passed ("a fine ****ing way to start a series" etc), but my impression is that it's nothing compared with what we see nowadays. I'd be interested in what our more historically-minded folks (I'm thinking archie and fred, but there are many others) have to say about this.

2. Why is it that sledging - "mental disintegration" or whatever you want to call it - is regarded by everyone as so fundamental to this sport? I mean, isn't it meant to be a test of batsman against bowler? Of how these players execute their skills? Instead, it seems to have become a test of how they execute their skills while the opposition is trying to put them off. Now you can say, "it's a man's game and if you want to be a ****ing pansy you can try needlework", as if that's some kind of answer. But is it really somehow more manly to try to put your opponent off when you're playing sport?

Now I like a bit of needle* as much as the next guy (and have enjoyed a fair amount of on-field banter in my time), but I am genuinely interested in the answer to those questions.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Really, though, the premise of the OP is beyond risible. People are going to go beating randoms up because they might have heard Michael Clarke sledge on TV?

Really? Come on. Don't demean our and everyone else's intelligence like so.

I walked through the Brisbane CBD yesterday and got bounced by no fewer than 10 people, all seemingly trying to break my arm with a six stitcher after seeing the First Test on TV.