Richard Earle: The a difference between doing the right thing and being seen to do it
STEVE Smith is a sacrificial lamb and Sachin Tendulkar a hypocrite over ball tampering saga, writes Richard Earle.
Opinion
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STEVE Smith’s cricket crucifixion is complete - weeping, broken and nailed to the cross by Easter Friday with Philistines baying for blood and hypocrites led by Sachin Tendulkar celebrating from cheap seats.
There is a difference between doing the right thing and being seen to do it.
Cricket Australia succumbed to the black-arm band brigade that suck the life out of our nation with an insatiable appetite for self loathing.
The images of Smith, abused by hostile South Africans and surrounded by security being marched through Johannesburg had all the hallmarks of a Bali 9 walk of shame. The crime; knowledge of ball tampering in a game of cricket. The punishment; life sentence as sports pariah, 12 month playing ban and trigger for mental health episode.
The self flagellation from our Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull down was so extreme that CA smashed Smith, David Warner and Cam Bancroft with punishments other countries actively avoid for actions they would deny and/or appeal.
A one-match sanction from the International Cricket Council becomes a career threatening, 12-month ban for rogue Warner. Rookie Bancroft’s livelihood is taken while Smith’s legacy as Australia’s 45th Test skipper is ruined.
Hypocrite alley has added a plethora of dubious residents this week but none with a duplicitous taste for moral grandstanding like Tendulkar.
Tendulkar tacitly endorsed CA escalating the ICC’s one-match ban to 12 months for Smith saying the “right decision has been taken to uphold the integrity of the game. Winning is important but the way you win is more important.”
Tendulkar was done for ball tampering against South Africa in Port Elizabeth 17 years ago. All powerful India, contrasting with Australia, argued its maestro was beyond reproach and had a one-game ban overturned. A weak ICC sacked the respected match referee Mike Denness, who imposed the ban, under enormous pressure from India.
Victorian bowling coach Mick Lewis was fined just $2226 for ball tampering in the 2015-16 Sheffield Shield final. Forget sandpaper, Lewis kicked the ball under a fence and scraped it repeatedly on a concrete gutter. Punishment appears linked to the social media outrage CA perceives. The ICC will overhaul ball tampering rules but players should be guilty by intent whether it is scuffing with sandpaper, zippers or a lolly like serial offender, South African Faf du Plessis.
Coach Darren Lehmann finishes the undeserving victim of this ball tampering witch-hunt, quitting due to sustained abuse of his family by social media psychopaths and former teammates who should know better. Remember, general manager, team performance Pat Howard has single responsibility for team culture according to the 2011 Argus Report.
Lehmann was cleared of wrongdoing in Cape Town but the clincher was watching Smith’s Sydney press conference where a son disintegrated in front of his father. Enough was enough for Lehmann who steered Australia with aplomb during the Phillip Hughes tragedy.
Lehmann was appointed in 2013 to improve an unhappy, underperforming team. Australia won the 2015 World Cup and 30 of 57 Tests under Lehmann, the most by any country over the past five years.
Justin Langer is destined to replace Lehmann as coach where Mitch Marsh and South Australian skipper Travis Head present as an inspired, next generation leadership ticket.
Chadd Sayers’ selection for the final Test in Johannesburg is the good news story this side needed in a dark week. Sayers was written off as too slow and small to make it until backed by West Indian great Carl Hooper and former Redbacks coach Darren Berry. Swingman Sayers, 30, represents the everyman cricket desperately needs to win back.
Originally published as Richard Earle: The a difference between doing the right thing and being seen to do it