Sir Curtly: Don’t sledge

Sir Curtly: Don’t sledge

Published: Guardian
Friday, July 3, 2015

Sir Curtly Ambrose
London—Cricketers who sledge opponents are trying to compensate for their own lack of skill, according to one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. The Ashes, which starts in Cardiff on Wednesday, is again expected to be a battleground for verbal intimidation between England’s and Australia’s most aggressive characters.

But Sir Curtly Ambrose, who took 405 wickets in 98 Tests for West Indies, believes the practice is virtually pointless. Bowling with consistent pace and accuracy, the 6ft 8in Ambrose menaced the world’s best batsmen from 1988-2000, while remaining a man of few words. Indeed, Ambrose believes umpires do not punish sledging severely enough.

“If you’re good enough, you don’t need to say anything to win,” Ambrose said. “If it’s sledging, just talking all the time for results, I don’t know if you’re that good. “I’ve seen a lot of talking, too much talking. To me that’s not necessary and there is nothing much being done about it. The umpires should be the ones to step in. Come on, guys. You’re professionals and you have to get on with the game.

“There is nothing wrong with a little chatter here or there, because it is a competition — batsman vs bowler. But sledging, no. Definitely out of the question. “I had one or two altercations in my time but when you look at my whole career, I never really said anything to the batsman. I always believed I would get those 5.5 ounces of leather to do the talking for me.”

There was at least one notable flashpoint in Ambrose’s career. In a Test in Trinidad against Australia in 1995, he had to be restrained by his captain, Richie Richardson, after an altercation with Aussie batsman Steve Waugh. Yet Ambrose generally allowed his bowling to speak for him — and his wicket haul, at an average of 20.99, vindicated those tactics. Ambrose finished with two more Test wickets than England paceman Jimmy Anderson now has.

Anderson’s haul of 403 makes him his country’s most prolific bowler. While he is confident he can carry on for some years, Anderson (left) turns 33 on July 30, and England’s Test schedule for the next 12 months is unforgiving. After the Ashes, there are away series against Pakistan and South Africa, before Sri Lanka and Pakistan arrive next summer.

Well I think they game can tolerate a little sledging but some take it a bit too far especially the Australians. Sledging is not necessarily compensating for a lack of skills but it is rather a means by which mentally weak players can be distracted and intimidated.