Goughy
Hall of Fame Member
In a previous thread we have discussed walking or not as a habit.
Im including this as a different thread as I find it a very different take on the situation and also falls under the category of showing that 'old' cricket was not always the gentlemans game it was made out to be.
This incident was taken from 'Its not Cricket' by Simon Rae.
The Incident
The 1964-65 England tour to South Africa was a very tense affair. Relations between the teams were not good and words were spoken by members of both teams.
Things came to a head in the Third Test.
Peter Pollock bowled a ball to Barrington. There was an appeal and the umpire, Jack Warner, quickly gave Barrington not out. Barrington then proceeded to leave the crease and walk as he believed he nicked the ball to the keeper.
Now all hell broke loose.
The Aftermath
Quotes regarding Barrington walking included-
"Ugly new low in sportsmanship"
"..an ostentatious act which bordered on gamesmanship"
"All Barrington succeeded in doing was hold the umpire up to ridicule and contempt"
"..appeared to pass a public vote of no confidence in the umpire"
"..it seems the England players are quite capable of umpiring the match themselves"
The South Africans and the press beleived that by walking, Barrington was usurping the role of the umpire and embarrassing him.
Ill end with a quote from former SA captain, Jack McGlew, who having witnessed the incident said "You must never take control of the game out of the umpires hands"
In Conclusion
Im not saying I agree with anything the South Africans said or did but nothing is cut and dry. The walking issue is not just as simple as non-walkers are cheats and walkers are saints.
Im including this as a different thread as I find it a very different take on the situation and also falls under the category of showing that 'old' cricket was not always the gentlemans game it was made out to be.
This incident was taken from 'Its not Cricket' by Simon Rae.
The Incident
The 1964-65 England tour to South Africa was a very tense affair. Relations between the teams were not good and words were spoken by members of both teams.
Things came to a head in the Third Test.
Peter Pollock bowled a ball to Barrington. There was an appeal and the umpire, Jack Warner, quickly gave Barrington not out. Barrington then proceeded to leave the crease and walk as he believed he nicked the ball to the keeper.
Now all hell broke loose.
The Aftermath
Quotes regarding Barrington walking included-
"Ugly new low in sportsmanship"
"..an ostentatious act which bordered on gamesmanship"
"All Barrington succeeded in doing was hold the umpire up to ridicule and contempt"
"..appeared to pass a public vote of no confidence in the umpire"
"..it seems the England players are quite capable of umpiring the match themselves"
The South Africans and the press beleived that by walking, Barrington was usurping the role of the umpire and embarrassing him.
Ill end with a quote from former SA captain, Jack McGlew, who having witnessed the incident said "You must never take control of the game out of the umpires hands"
In Conclusion
Im not saying I agree with anything the South Africans said or did but nothing is cut and dry. The walking issue is not just as simple as non-walkers are cheats and walkers are saints.
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