Send Offs

randomer

I watched the Middlesex Twenty 20 game this evening. What did surprise me was that both Irish guys were given send offs when they were out.

Dominic Cork was shouting at Ed Joyce when he was out, and then Croft shouted an expletive at Eoin Morgan when he bowled him.

I thought send offs resulted in suspensions?

TrueDub

randomer wrote: »

I watched the Middlesex Twenty 20 game this evening. What did surprise me was that both Irish guys were given send offs when they were out.

Dominic Cork was shouting at Ed Joyce when he was out, and then Croft shouted an expletive at Eoin Morgan when he bowled him.

I thought send offs resulted in suspensions?

They should do. It appears that there's a greater degree of latitude given in first-class cricket.

I don't see what send-offs achieve - you've already got him out, what benefit does it have apart from making it appear he had you worried?

There are funny sledges, and good remarks on the cricket pitch - it's just a shame many people don't know the difference. My favourite was from Angus Fraser to Brian Lara, after he'd edged one just short of the keeper - "I suppose I can't call you a lucky c**t"... Lara was on 300 not out at the time...

djimi

I always thought it depended on what was said? Theres nothing wrong with a few words after a heated battle between batsman and bowler, I mean, who doesnt love seeing that kind of contest, but if it is abusive then thats a different story. If there was a suspension for all send-offs then half the Aussie or SA bowling attacks from the last few years would spend more time on the sidelines than on the pitch... Its usually just a sign of passion and aggression coming thru.

HonalD

I recokon a long hard stare is all that is required - a mannerly stare of course

mousey007

a send off brings a bit of attitude and excitement to the game

TrueDub

mousey007 wrote: »

a send off brings a bit of attitude and excitement to the game

Can't agree with you, I'm afraid. All a send-off does is show the batsman that he had the bowler worried. It achieves nothing, and cheapens the achievement of getting the wicket.

As for attitude & excitement, surely the wicket falling is the exciting part, as it's a main part of the game?

HonalD

TrueDub wrote: »

Can't agree with you, I'm afraid. All a send-off does is show the batsman that he had the bowler worried. It achieves nothing, and cheapens the achievement of getting the wicket.

As for attitude & excitement, surely the wicket falling is the exciting part, as it's a main part of the game?

Can't agree more - but I could understand one of the Derbyshire bowlers saying something to Bopara last night - did you see his 100+?

TrueDub

HonalD wrote: »

Can't agree more - but I could understand one of the Derbyshire bowlers saying something to Bopara last night - did you see his 100+?

About the only appropriate thing would be "Thank f*ck you're gone!"

Bobo148

Player Interaction:

There is plenty of scope at club level and above for player interaction on the field of play.

A small degree of words between fielders and batsmen can add to a game, as they are often funny, witty, smart or just clever.

Good umpires will allow a certain amount of this interaction, but have a point (a line in the sand) in mind that should not be crossed. It is vital for that umpire to monitor things, and to work to ensure that line is not crossed.

The balance of the contest between batsman and bowler is at the heart of the game, afterall the bowler and his 10 teammates are working together to overcome the efforts of one batsman at a time. There are many aspects to that contest, with the ball and the bat being the most obvious. Other aspects include knowledge of the players, fielding performance and mental factors.

It is this last element that most observers completely misunderstand. Saying nothing at all to a batsman can be as distracting as talking constantly. Being overly friendly is another way of breaking the concentration of the batsman. Merely having a conversation with a fielding colleague can do the trick.

Most club players only see the direct abuse of a batsman, as that is the most interesting thing to be shown on the TV. Therefore that is what they think happens all the time, and therefore they do it all the time.

At that level the serious, problematic altercation between players is usually the result of one party cracking under the pressure of the game (much much higher than club cricket), and the pressure exerted in the bowling and fielding efforts of the opposition. This can often be avoided by umpires and captains by a suitable interjection at the right moment.

A send off is a completely different thing. Afterall the bowler has suceeded in his ultimate aim, the dismissal of the batsman. At that stage the contest between batsman and bowler is over and there is no place for further interaction.

Again coming back to the TV, often a send off occurs when a bowler has been hit for many runs (by that batsman or others) or just hasn't been bowling well. At that level, as professionals, they are expected to perform every ball, every day, every match. This adds pressures to them and often they feel required to "perform" a send off in order to distract from their mediocre performance beforehand.

As this is the main interest to TV producers, the send offs tend to be reshown to infinity and you never (rarely anyway) see the congratulatory word for a good innings from fielders to batsman that often happens.

Search on Youtube for Flintoff sledging Tino Best and you will see a good example of the sort of banter that can be used to assist in dismissing a batsman. His "mind the windows" comment was an incentment to get the batsman to try something he wasn't capable of rather than to try to get him to fail at something he can do on a regular basis. Flintoff is also regularily seen congratulting players for good innings. No coincidence there.

Back to club cricket, where we reside. There is no place for send offs, full stop. The game is not that important.

Rjd2

Harbajan of India does it quite a bit but thats to be expected as the guy is a total toerag. :pac:

NY152

An on field battle between the likes of Andre Nel and Kevin Pietersen sparks both players to play better, amusing everyone watching!!!! Its great to see a little banter!:D