Another interesting article down here

Cricinfo - Symonds sparked by Indian celebrations

Obviously, Australia is well known for their humility when victorious, but India's actions in victory comes as a surprise

This might well turn out to be a good ODI series, and then India come down here to play tests. Looking forward to this summer i must say

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I have to reluctantly agree with Symonds that the celeberations in India were way over the top. A lot of my friends and relatives back there feel the same way. This has some disturbing nostalgia attached; back in 1983, when Inida won the Prudential World Cup completely unexpectedly, the celeberations went so OTT that people were naming their newborn children after members of the winning team and so on. For nearly 2 years afterwards, the ODI performance of the team went downhill. We want none of that this time around.

I still think Symonds should keep his mouth shut. It's not his place to question about the opposition's win. Let people have a bit of fun on the streets of India. Symonds' statement reeks of bad losing.

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Frank Skinner: "You know when Glenn McGrath trod on that cricket ball? Don't you wish it would've been a landmine?"

Most celebrations in sport these days are over the top.

Clive Woodward noted some time back that soccer sides routinely hand the advantage to their opposition the moment they score: one side spends a minute regrouping and taking on board input from the coach... whereas the other tends to spend a minute engaged in vigorous role play seemingly based on the antics of two years olds on red bull.

What irritates most is that the wrong thing is celebrated: rejoicing in the quality of a performance is fair enough.. but many seemingly care only for the result. If a side plays as well as it possibly can and claims a well deserved win then fair enough... but the celebration should be of playing well... and the same level performance in a losing cause should be regarded as no less worthy of celebration.

Sadly, some even seem keen to celebrate a positive result when lucky breaks allow a side to get away with a sub-standard performance: some players and coaches still have the decency to offer apologies and express embarassment or shame... but an ever increasing number appear completely unconcerned that no celebration is merited.

what's quite amusing is that Symonds used the words "Australia" and "humble" in the same sentence.

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Frank Skinner: "You know when Glenn McGrath trod on that cricket ball? Don't you wish it would've been a landmine?"

I've read what he said a number of times now and I'm still trying to work out what busibess it is of his to have any say in how another team and their countrymen celebrate their victory.

Because I guess when another team wins they have to worry if their celebrations might upset Australia.



Truly pathetic comment from Symonds.

And who is the authority in what constitutes "over the top"?

Well as someone who watches probably even more football than cricket, Clive Woodward is talking nonsense.

Maybe because that's what they are playing the game for.

TO WIN!!

I wonder if England lost 10 Test matches at home in a row, if the fans would go home happy having lost all by an innings but the batsman and bowlers looked lovely whilst doing it?

You do write some weird things!

Not at all: a soccer side that responds to a goal by turning immediately to prepare for the resumption of play is being more professional than a side that responds to a goal with lots of theatrics... and good sides look for every bit of advantage they can get.All you can do in sport is go out and try and put in the best performance you can muster: if that's good enough to get you a win then sobeit... but if you manage the best performance you were capable of then you can have no regrets no matter what the result.... and you can move on with confidence... where as an unconvincing and undeserved win based on a sub-standard performance leaves one with nothing but worries, concerns and issues.

Over the top reaction or not? I'm not sure.

It does reek as another example of Symonds opening his mouth when his trap should stay firmly shut. It strikes me as peculiar at the very least that Symonds sees fit to comment on another team's celebrations after India won a game he wasn't even playing in. What next? Symonds' Soccer Sundays? Symo on Politics? Why not recruit him as a spokesman for the Myanmar Government, "These people on the streets are a bit full on. What do they even have to complain about??"

Maybe he's just confused about what to do when Australia don't win a game?

You consider it theatrics. i think you will find the best football managers encourage their players excepting the goalkeeper to go and celebrate and congratulate each other.

It builds team spirit and makes all members of the team feel a part of what they are on the field to do: score goals.

I'll take the opinions of the likes of Wenger, Ferguson, Capello, ANcelotiand co. over the likes of Woodward when it comes to football, ALL the time. How well did he do in the world of football again.


It sure is wonderful to be able to appreciate quality performances but none of what you have said here counters the argument that in any form of competition, it is the outcome that is celebrated and should and always will be celebrated before everything else.

That is the way our brains are wired and what fuels the human condition to continue to succeed.

Else there is no reason to get involved in ANY competitive sport.

The idea you seem to be trumping is quite fine if it is a game amongst friends, a pick up game in the park or at a lower level village team or club where people play for the love of the game, but at its more serious level be it professional or the amateur league level, winning and losing is where it is at.