It’s just not cricket or is it?
The middle of the cricket pitch is ostensibly these cricketers’ workplace. By Australian law, if Harbhajan called Symonds a monkey, and this was unwelcome, then he has perpetrated racial harassment. But there are some interesting questions to ask. What if the Indian spinner was seriously provoked by Symonds? Does that justify his response? What if in context it appears he called Symonds a monkey instead of a dingbat or an idiot? What about the argument that sledging has been around as long as the game itself and the Aussies have always given as good as they have received. Should Ricky Ponting have got involved (did you see the way Harhajan celebrated when he took Ponting’s wicket?!!)?
Ponting showed active support for his team member by making a complaint. Some would say that if he chose to back Symonds and address the issue rather than decide what happens in the middle stays in the middle he could have had a quiet drink with Anil Kumble who could then take his bowler to task. On the other hand if, as we are led to believe, Ponting had already addressed the issue with the Indians after the unsavoury goings on in Mumbai and there was a gentlemen’s agreement in place, it should have been honoured.
Do you think this is political correctness gone mad or should the rules apply in every domain? Much of the work done by the Workplace Justice Consortium tackles these issues every day. If Symonds was offended and the content was racial, Harbhajan deserves to be suspended for several matches. If Symonds was guilty of the same thing, then they should both be out although the cricket tragic in me would be very deflated.
the Workplace Justice Consortium website: www.workplacejustice.com.au
Even if Harbhajan was provoked this is still not acceptable behaviour. How one conducts oneself is a reflection on them - not on someone who may or may not have provoked them. Racial villification is unacceptable in the workplace, on the cricket pitch and everywhere else. We learn this in primary school. Being a successful sportsman does not exempt you from adhering to general rules of conduct. As George from Seinfeld said, “we’re living in a SOCIETY people.”
MB, wonder what will happen in this test with Australia fraying around the edges and Ponting under even more pressure. Hmmmmmmm.
Your artiles are always surprise me so much. So impressive.