Line and Length
Cricketer Of The Year
Sledging has been around for far longer than the term has been in use. It is used as a verbal distraction to break a players concentration. These "sledges" have varied from the clever to the downright crude - but we won't go into that.
Obviously some players are more susceptible to verbal distractions and some set themselves up as targets for abuse. What I'm interested in is those players who are affected by sledging and those one should avoid sledging. One in the latter category was, apparently, Doug Walters. Any form of abuse saw him grit his teeth and determinedly apply himself to foiling his opponents. He was more likely to succumb to friendly chatter about his card game in the shed.
Another player to avoid attacking verbally was Ken Barrington. He was once described as being like a bulldog with a Union Jack wrapped around his shoulders and any form of sledging would see him become more resolute in his application.
I look forward to reading other perceptions regarding individuals and the effectiveness (or otherwise) of sledging.
As a footnote, it was a sledge that indirectly led me to call stumps on my own playing career. I was 50 but still opening the bowling (in our lower grade side). I rarely, if ever, spoke to opposing batsmen preferring to glare or give a shake of my head to express my feelings. After he'd played and missed a few times I gave an opposing batsman a "look". He responded with, "What are you staring at grand-dad?" I thought, "Right! Time for a quicker short one." The young Turk turned his back on my intended bouncer only for it to hit him in the backside. I couldn't help myself. I marched down the wicket and said, "Sunshine, if you're scared of that and I can't get it up any higher we should both give the game away." I retired at the end of the season with the Association bowling award for that grade.
Obviously some players are more susceptible to verbal distractions and some set themselves up as targets for abuse. What I'm interested in is those players who are affected by sledging and those one should avoid sledging. One in the latter category was, apparently, Doug Walters. Any form of abuse saw him grit his teeth and determinedly apply himself to foiling his opponents. He was more likely to succumb to friendly chatter about his card game in the shed.
Another player to avoid attacking verbally was Ken Barrington. He was once described as being like a bulldog with a Union Jack wrapped around his shoulders and any form of sledging would see him become more resolute in his application.
I look forward to reading other perceptions regarding individuals and the effectiveness (or otherwise) of sledging.
As a footnote, it was a sledge that indirectly led me to call stumps on my own playing career. I was 50 but still opening the bowling (in our lower grade side). I rarely, if ever, spoke to opposing batsmen preferring to glare or give a shake of my head to express my feelings. After he'd played and missed a few times I gave an opposing batsman a "look". He responded with, "What are you staring at grand-dad?" I thought, "Right! Time for a quicker short one." The young Turk turned his back on my intended bouncer only for it to hit him in the backside. I couldn't help myself. I marched down the wicket and said, "Sunshine, if you're scared of that and I can't get it up any higher we should both give the game away." I retired at the end of the season with the Association bowling award for that grade.
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