Quick post tonight on Stuart Broad. We know he hit it, we know he was out, but few batsmen in today’s game, if any, walk, so he stood his ground. The umpire gave him not out and he will continue his innings tomorrow.
There are plenty of opinions floating around. Allow me to quote from my own book, 1,309 Days Later and you can work out on which side of things I am going to come down on.
I distinctly remember being struck on the chest while defending a flick on the line. Pretending not to be hurt, I confess to getting away with one as it should by rights have been a penalty flick awarded against me. In cricket, there is a huge debate about ‘walking’ and whether you help the umpire make a decision or believe them to be there to make the decisions.
In terms of hockey, I am firmly in the latter camp. I don’t think I have ever admitted to kicking the ball or deflecting the ball off the pitch, certainly not in a league game. On the other hand, I can remember several occasions when umpires have given fouls against me when no foul was committed…the rough goes with the smooth and decisions do generally even themselves out. I play hard, and I play to win. I make no apology for that.
Part of me admires Broad for getting away with it. Does that make me a cheat? A winner? Or a loser? When you cross the white line, like it or not, to professionals (and some amateurs like me) winning is everything. Spirit of cricket? Forget it.
Decent series shaping up, though.