Anyone remember this?

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Kram81

Kram81

Well-Known Member
Anyone remember this?

Just thinking about the last World Cup in the sub continent.

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Very brave, but he got severely pwned lol.

Lucky he didn't kill the idiot.

http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/25547.html
 
Re: Anyone remember this?

his own fault it was too, why would you face a 90+ bowler without a helmet, you are just asking for it.
 
Re: Anyone remember this?

A multi-multi-millionaire, Sultan Zarawani was the only native-born member among the ex-pats and mercenaries masquerading as the UAE national squad at the 1996 World Cup. He probably owned more cars than he managed international runs (26), and possibly more brain cells as well, judging by his ill-advised confrontation with Allan Donald at Rawalpindi. "Al, this guy's asking for it," snarled Pat Symcox as Zarawani strode into bat, helmetless, with his side at 68 for 6 chasing 321. And so Donald obliged. His very first ball was a bouncer that pinned his target direct on the head. As Zarawani staggered away his sunhat all but flopped onto the bails. But he picked himself up, dusted himself down, and struggled on for six more runless deliveries before Brian McMillan had him caught at mid-off by Hansie Cronje.
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Pretty much the full story there.
 
Re: Anyone remember this?

I remember that bloke well. I'm certain I watched it live and thought to myself, "What is this bloke doing?" It was hilarious actually.
Even funnier was how it was reported in The Age at the time. I recall the author writing something along the lines of: "The Sultan - a hopeless batsman - strode to the crease...". Against the worlds's fastest bowler at the time, you've got to wonder whose advice the guy was taking.
 
Re: Anyone remember this?

It must have been so different in the days before helmets especially as a tail end batsman. Imagine having to face a a front line West Indian attack with no head protection?
 
Re: Anyone remember this?

once upon a time it was considered bad form to target a batsman for physical harm. it was also bad form to bounce a non-specialist batsman.
the thing that really bothers me about this incident is the obvious lack of sportsmanship displayed by the South Africans. the UAE are hardly a powerhouse- would we be laughing just as much if it was the local First XI they were playing? after all many people seem to think sides like the UAE and Namibia are no better than a grade side.
 
Re: Anyone remember this?

Just like your motto, Bren, the bloke was silly enough not to use the protection that common sense told him he should ... and he paid the price immediately. (Helmets were as common then as they are now, Kram.)

True, the team were novices, but the Sultan wasn't a tailender. Would you expect Sth Africa to take it easy on him? As the greatest flat-track bullies of our time, not a chance.
 
Re: Anyone remember this?

this sort of thing merely demonstrates what we are losing from cricket as it becomes more and more about the money; once upon a time the game stood for a way of life. "it's just not cricket" was a phrase known throughout the world to mean that something was not right.
in my opinion, this incident is "just not cricket."
 
Re: Anyone remember this?

I'm not advocating violence here. It wasn't like that. The bloke was way out of his depth, they tested him out, and what was always going to happen happened.

Bren, perhaps you need it spelt out to you: "If you're dumb enough to lay down on the tracks, you deserve every wheel over your head."

Now where have I heard that before?
 
Re: Anyone remember this?

you are advocating violence- you are saying he got what he deserved.
if i go out to bat i don't expect to be targeted by the opposing bowlers for injury. that is precisely what happened here.

"Al, this guy's asking for it," snarled Pat Symcox as Zarawani strode into bat, helmetless, with his side at 68 for 6 chasing 321. And so Donald obliged.

you say he was a middle order batsman- he came in at 8.
you say he was tested- Symcox's words demonstrate that he was targeted.
you say that what was always going to happen was going to happen- well yes for Donald took Symcox's suggestion and hit the batsman.

this is an assault that is being covered up by humour. it is a disgusting example of the decline in sportsmanship in a game renowned throughout its history and around the world for its sense of fairplay. it is exalting the bully-boy tactics that pass for the standards of the game in this modern age.
this is the same as saying that a woman wearing a mini-skirt is asking to be raped.
 
Re: Anyone remember this?

The parallel you draw is inappropriate. We're talking about a playing field here, not society, sex or criminal activity.

You're twisting it around to make it sound like that's what it's about.

I said the Sultan was not a tailender. No.8 would indicate there were bigger "bunnies" than his lordship in that team.

Zarwani's actions made the situation very high-risk to begin with. Combined with Donald's input - he was, by the way, the fastest bowler in the world at the time, playing in the highest level of competition in the world - the outcome was inevitable. That doesn't make it violent. You're saying it's akin to thuggery, but as much as I loathe the South Africans at time, I cannot accuse the bowler of anything more that exposing an opposition weakness ... legally.

Indeed, if you leave yourself open to specific targetting during a game, don't expect leniency from the opposition. You wear helmet, pads, etc to protect yourself. If you leave something out, you better believe a bowler will have a dip. Would you seriously expect he's going to make allowances for your abilities or disregard for self-preservation?

Other contributors to this discussion have seen the incident for how it was. If you want to be so precious about it, I suggest you re-evaluate your fondness for the game.

Declines in sportsmanship may be evident as the years progress, but I'm sorry this is not a good example. Have you considered writing a letter to the Larwood family in order to convey your thoughts, and perhaps level some accusations at their late hero? Jeff Thomson's still around, you could easily find him.

Incidentally, I've never worn a helmet. If I get hit in the head, that's my fault.

Change your motto Bren, you're living a lie!
 
Re: Anyone remember this?

Whole lotta 'spergin about a fast bowler bowling a short ball. This is not a grown man bowling bouncers at a 12 year old filling in for his dads village team, it's a professional athlete participating in an international sporting contest, who just happens to be bowling to someone stupid enough to don a floppy cap against the fastest bowler in the world.

bren, do you think that Donald should have slowed down for him or bowled some gentle half-volleys? Do you think that would be more sporting than simply just trying to get him out?
 
Re: Anyone remember this?

It's not something that I would've done personally but Donald was well within his rights to bowl a short ball if the bloke was silly enough to not wear a helmet.
 
Re: Anyone remember this?

I don't think it was an appropriate thing to do given the context. There was no danger of the batsman in question giving Donald any kind of trouble whatsoever (let alone UAE potentially winning the game). Gratuitously beaning the chappie had no tangible effect on the game - he could have just bowled a normal line and length and had him out for a handful. It would have been sad if such a pointless act had resulted in serious injury.

That said, he was asking for it. You can't wave a red flag at a bull and then be surprised at what happens next.
 
Re: Anyone remember this?

I'm all for bouncers in today's game, although I am a huge advocater of bringing the game back to the way it was in the 50s and earlier (like batsman shaking the bowler's hand after he gets him out etc), but this is a little harsh.

Proffesionally sport or not, he is a crap batsman in a crap team, to put it in simple words. I don't know about his history, but being in this situation he may have never really had to wear a helmet before. He was probably uneducated and as such I would have bowled a steaming 110% yorker at him instead. No need to hit him in the head if you could get him out in 6 balls.
 
Re: Anyone remember this?

Boris;375202 said:
I am a huge advocater of bringing the game back to the way it was in the 50s and earlier (like batsman shaking the bowler's hand after he gets him out etc).
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There is more chance of playing in ballerina outfits than this ever happening again
 
Re: Anyone remember this?

a for effort;375206 said:
There is more chance of playing in ballerina outfits than this ever happening again
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I know, completely impossible.

But it doesn't mean we have to turn cricket into the same state as Rugby League and have bully ****heads running around acting like a big man just because he can knock someone out with a cricket ball. That's the only way I can see it going if we have young people crossing over from different sports into cricket and trying to make it the same.

Cricket isn't just a sport, it's a lifestyle.
 
Re: Anyone remember this?

Boris;375208 said:
But it doesn't mean we have to turn cricket into the same state as Rugby League and have bully ****heads running around acting like a big man just because he can knock someone out with a cricket ball. That's the only way I can see it going if we have young people crossing over from different sports into cricket and trying to make it the same.
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Quite true, but there's a happy medium between the "Jolly good you bowled me and I will now depart, good day sir!" of yesteryear and the Steve Waugh-style "I would murder your entire family to win this cricket game" levels of sportsmanship.
 
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