Difference between India and South Africa

[rineet]

The Difference between India and South Africa:

Game 4 of Ind-Pak series at Ahmedabad: Ganguly banned for 6 games for slow over rate. Immediately,there is a big uproar against this decision, starting from the ex-Indian cricketers to the sections of the Indian public. Effigies of Chris Broad are burnt in the streets of Kolkata by Ganguly`s fans. Ganguly declares he will appeal against Chris Broad`s decision with the help of BCCI.

Game 3 of SA-WI series at Barbados: Greame Smith banned for 4 games for slow over rate. Smith gracefully accepts the decision without appealing. He becomes a passive spectator in the SA dressing room. There is no tumultous uproar against this decision neither from the ex-SA cricketers nor from the South African public.

I think these 2 situations point out the difference between the 2 countries. Does it mean that only Ganguly has fan following? Does it mean that Greame Smith has no followers in South Africa? Greame Smith scored 3 centuries in the tests against West Indies and a century in the first ODI at Jamaica. Compare this with Saurav Ganguly,who didn`t score more than 20 runs in any of the ODIs against Pakistan. I think that if at all anyone had to appeal,it should have been Greame Smith. Moreover it was the first time he was banned for slow over rate, unlike Ganguly who,time and again,has been in the bad books of match referees. The Indian public as well as ex-cricketers should learn a lesson from these 2 instances. The foolish section of the Indian public should refrain from burning effigies and should learn to accept these decisions.

[Zainub]

Such reactions unfortunately go well beyong the cricket, in fact its a common folly of people from our part of the world - over reaction and emotionalism are thing we seemingly pride ourselves at.

[Orchid]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

Such reactions unfortunately go well beyong the cricket, in fact its a common folly of people from our part of the world - over reaction and emotionalism are thing we seemingly pride ourselves at.

I would also add the personality worship and the culture of rich/powerful/famous people getting away with anything rampant in our part of the world which leads to such behaviour. It is somehow considered good for your status and pride if you break the law and get away with it with or without the help of money/influential friends (or relatives) rather than something to be ashamed of. So when one of our superstars get punished within the limits of the governing law, people make a huge deal because they either feel (or maybe even believe) that the these superstars have done nothing wrong; or feel that they should get away with these breaches like it happens regularly in our countries.

[vvvrulz]

Thats a great point Rineet, it really separates the maturity of the two captains, and hence why one team can get the results, and the other falls short of the mark.