Cricinfo posted what I thought was a great article on the Gayle-Clarke incident.

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/iccc...ry/264109.html

I must admit that I was not surprises at all when Clarke was found innocent and Gayle guilty. While I agree that Gayle might have gone a bit overboard, why was Clarke (the instigator) not fined.

This is just another example of the ICC being "too scared" to punish Australia. Everyone know that Gayle is cool and calm character. He had to have been provoked for him to behave in such a manner. Of course Clarke denies having said anything. So anyone who claims that the ICC is run by the sub-continent is clearly talking rubbish. I am just waiting for Malinga to take a 5 wicket haul against Australia because I know that he will then be accused of throwing. Why doesn Ricky Ponting never get a match suspension when his behaviour on the field at times is unacceptable.

Australians like to dish out the banter but it seems that they cant take it when it is directed to them.

I feel that Clarke should have been punished. The way this was handled was pathetic. This means that if any player makes a racist remark or degrading remark to another player, it is ok, as long as nobody else heard it. It was Gayles word against Clarke. Also note that there was clear evidence of Clarke saying something to Gayle before Gayle imploded.

I would like to know what you guys think about the Clarke/Gayle incident and what you think of this part of the game. I personally do not like it and I find that in cricket matches that I play, it is always the guys who cant take banter who have the biggest mouths. Correct me if I am wrong, but teams from the subcontinent use banter far less than other teams yet they are more often on the receiving end. What are your thoughts

Well maybe the match referee was in possession of all the facts. Or is vague heresay from Gayle enough for you gibbs_fan?

It is not that at all. Lets be blunt - Australia are the moral leaders of world cricket. Above reproach. The benchmark for other nations to strive to achieve someday. You can't just go around punishing players from Australia (without prior approval from our board at least.)

No, the pathetically insipid efforts last summer from big mouths like A.Nel And G.Smith are examples of players that can dish it out but can't take it. Their antics did make yet another predictibly boring Aussie series win over S.A a little more interesting at least.

Players from Australia are more aggressive by nature, and that has to be taken into consideration.

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I like it. It really pumped up the West Indies and they won.

Its a very good article and I agree with every word of the author and with every word of your post, gibb's fan. The ICC and its officials have been partial in favor of Australia. The subcontinent teams and West Indies have been on the receiving end most of the time. The worst part is that we have been helplessly taking the humiliations year after year.

This particular case is another example of the age old partiality. Clarke should definitely have been punished for provoking Gayle. Like you pointed out, Gayle is a cool character and we normally dont expect this kind of behavior from him.

A part of the Australian team has been a disgrace to the game of cricket. I know that this statement of mine will be considered too strong by some members here. But I think its very mild compared to what the players say on field. Some of the Australian cricketers find pleasure in abusing the family members of opponents on field.

But I dont blame them as much as I blame the ICC. If you allow someone the freedom, this will be result. Over a period of time, the Australians realised that they say and do anything and get away and that their opponents would be punished for the same actions. This will only work towards spoiling the team.

I would like to attract your attention to the statement from Proctor in the following quote from the article:

Now, that statement clearly shows that Proctor follows two different standards in eforcing the rules. He is an esteemed official from the ICC and his statement reflects ICC's mentality. Yes, this is racism.

Precise and redical summing of the entire fiasco...

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-Hashim Malik.

Gee I didn't know about that Miandad-Lilee incident till now ...pretty bad ..


I don't know what Clarke said and so I can't comment on how the situation was handled. But Gayle and Samuels seemed to be very angry and it was quite odd that only Gayle was punished - coz he isn't the type to sledge the opposition unless he is instigated.

I think Ponting certainly behaves questionably on the field - most recently his outburst against Mark Benson when he recalled Sachin to the cease was appalling and he gets away with it many times . Something needs to be done about this ...