The thrilling Twenty20 game, which was won by Australia, played at the Gabba has ended in a cloud of drama with suggestions of a laser light being flashed at South African fielders.
Television coverage picked up a green light that flashed across rookie Protea’s fast bowler Wayne Parnell as he attempted a difficult catch in the outfield.
Parnell's failed diving attempt off a Mike Hussey skier at long-off came as Australia neared victory in a tense finish. Hussey went on to score 53 not out to lead the home side to a six-wicket win.
Although the catch was an extremely difficult one, and suggestions that the laser was indeed shone from behind, would not have influenced the outcome of the failed catch or the game. Having said that, an attempt at cheating is a cheat.
If you tried to cheat in an exam but the cheat never actually changed the outcome. Should you be let off for cheating. Should you get away with it. It’s a matter of principal isn't it.
Nevertheless, an attempt to cheat in a game is bad for the game, let alone the affects a laser light could have had on the players site. I’m not saying that this particular incident could have harmed Parnell’s eyes, but such lasers can harm ones eyesight.
It definitely throws a cloud of suspicion over the game. But the big question is, will the Australian authorities do anything about it. The point is not whether it would have affected the outcome of the game, but that it was an attempt to influence the outcome of the game.
One’s mind is cast back to the Hansie saga, and reminded that Australian leg Sinner, oops sorry, leg spinner, was also implicated in match fixing, ball tampering etc. Nothing as drastic as the Hansie trial was ever carried out in the case of Shane Warne. If memory serves he got away with a small fine and a warning. A slap on the hand in other words.
We are also reminded of the biased view of Australian commentators and press. Are we to believe that they will do anything serious about this. An Australian news agency reported that the offender could face a fine of $8000, and that the police can make a criminal charge of assault. But that’s a separate issue, we are talking about the Australian cricket community, they seem to want to win at any cost, and have no regard for any one else.
It’s all a money game. Some have also suggested that KFC Australia was behind this. If South Africa carry on in their winning streak over Australia, from the Test, to a possible draw in the 20/20 (Possible I say, because I do not believe that the incident would have affected the game), to hopefully taking the ODI’s. Then KFC would have lost huge in sponsorship. Also can you imagine the tag lines that would float around. “SA Picked AUS clean”, “AUS Chickened out”, or “SA Wrapped up series”, or “AUS made a meal of it”, etc etc.
Already, the Australian cricket board will not entertain any overseas tour during the Christmas season, because of the impact it will do to revenue, from sponsorship, gate fees, etc. Was it a ploy to save face. I doubt it, but cheating is cheating.
Ultimately I do not think that we would have won the game either way. But is sure is frustrating that there is bad-sportsmanship type behaviour out there. I am sure there are similar people here in SA, or could I be wrong?
What do you think? Did it affect the game? Do you think Australian Cricket Community will go to any lengths to win the game? Do you think it was just a once off incident? Let us know, leave a comment.\
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