luckyeddie
Cricket Web Staff Member
Translation:FaaipDeOiad said:Define "taking a player out"? If you set out to injure someone so they can't play, then yeah, it's pretty dirty, but going in hard and fouling is hardly cheating, it's just physical play. If it's too rough it'll be carded, and given how harsh the ref was on Australia yesterday you can hardly complain that he didn't crack down enough on the fouls.
Diving in an attempt to win a free kick or penalty when there isn't one is cheating, pure and simple. It's just like a goal scored from a deliberate handball, kicking a player when the ref isn't looking or whatever else.
Mind you, almost all teams dive to some degree or another, but there's a big gap between Australia and Japan or Argentina in that regard.
When they do it, it's low-down skullduggery and cheating worthy of a red card.
When we do it, it's over-exuberance and good physical manly play worthy of a playful yet brusque slap across the thigh.