‘What is Sree’s aggro?’

The Trent Bridge Test made as much news about India’s win as about the on-field spats. Javed Miandad, who had mastered the art of sledging, is surprised by the turn of events in the 2nd Test. Miandad asks Nihal Koshie why

A veteran of many on-field confrontations, the former Pakistan skipper feels the young Indian paceman can’t afford to let his mouth do the talking, especially when he is struggling to counter batsmen.

Former Pakistan skipper Javed Miandad has taken on formidable pacemen; those who were equally adept at delivering a nasty bouncer, following it up with sharp stare and then shooting from the lip.

Remember WACA, 1981. Miandad, who claimed that Australian paceman Dennis Lillie had kicked him while he took a single, raised his bat, ready to strike as the bowler confronted him during a tense period during the 1st Test.

Miandad always loved a good battle between the bat and the ball and a few invectives added between the batsman and the bowler only spurred-on the dogged Pakistani.

What’s Sreesanth upto?
However, for all his love for a good fight, Miandad does not like the brand of aggression Shanthakumaran Sreesanth carries with him on the field. “What’s that boy doing?” he asks.

Sreesanth was fined 50 per cent of his match fee for barging into England skipper Michael Vaughan.

He also bowled a vague beamer directed at the head of English batsman Kevin Pietersen and sneaked in a bouncer after over-stepping a few yards. However, Indian skipper Rahul Dravid said that the dangerous deliveries were not bowled on purpose by Sreesanth.

The bowler finished with match figures of 1 for 76.

However, Miandad is perplexed at what is going on. “Why is he spending all his energies on sledging and getting unnecessarily directing all his aggression at the batsman?” Miandad wants to know.

“He has played only 10 Tests and taken a handful of wickets. His career has not yet taken off. If he continues to be unnecessarily aggressive at the batsmen, like the way he did at Trent Bridge, it will have a detrimental effect on his career,” Miandad told DNA on Wednesday.

Miandad believes that Sreesanth’s showmanship and sledging is not being backed up by his bowling.

“Yes, it may be his nature to take on a batsman, but he must learn to control himself. After all, matches are not won by cursing an opponent, they are won by taking wickets and scoring runs,” he said.

To put things in perspective Miandad recalls that at their peak the two Ws of Pakistan cricket, Wasim and Waqar, didn’t sledge batsmen as much as Sreesanth does these days.

“I can understand if a Glenn McGrath comes down the wicket and stares at a batsman and sledges him. He is capable of making the ball talk as much as he does. But why is Sreesanth, who is still learning the ropes going, overboard with his aggression. It makes no sense, more so if he continues to bowl like the way he did at Trent Bridge,” the former Pakistan skipper said.

“I don’t remember great bowlers including, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, being as aggressive as Sreesanth, even when they were the world’s best bowlers,” he said.

According to Miandad, Sreesanth must concentrate on bowling well. “Sreesanth must clam down and bowl within himself. He is only 24 and the senior players who have seen more cricket them him must advice him,” Miandad said.

Beware of rule book
Talking about sledging and on-field confrontations between players, Miandad said that players have to be careful otherwise the ICC code of conduct would be thrown at them.

“Now-a-days it is not like when we played. Back then it was a more lenient atmosphere. Now, we have match referees watching and so much of television coverage that players have to be careful about what they say and how they behave. If they don’t keep themselves in check they can also be banned and that is detrimental not only for them but also for the images of the country,” he said.

A case in point, Miandad said is what happened to Shahid Afridi after he confronted a spectator during a one-dayer in Centurion.

“He had to watch the World Cup from the sidelines and before the ban was over Pakistan were knocked out. He didn’t help himself nor did he help his country,” Miandad said.

However, the Pakistani feels that if on-field confrontations are not carried forward off the field and are in the spirit of the game, then it will add to the charm of the game and will entertain spectators. During the 1992 World Cup, Miandad was involved in a bit of clowning when he jumped like a monkey imitating wicketkeeper Kiran More’s constant chattering and appealing that got on the Pakistani’s nerves.

“In the heat of the battle the pressure, expectations and atmosphere cane get to the players. But they must ensure that even if they have a go at each other it should be in the spirit of the game,” he said.

Miandad believes that sledging is acceptable as long as it does not spoil the relationship between players. “It is important that players remains friends off the field and spend time and learn from each other. The battles should be fought only on the field,” Miandad said.

However, he wonders if in this age of packed international schedules if players get time to discuss the game anymore with their opponents after a day’s play.

Above all, it needs to be asked if the players really take the effort anymore to mix and mingle with cricketers from other teams and learn about the culture and people of the countries they tour. “Cricket is not only about on field battles and sledging, but also about off the field camaraderie.”