Wow! This Investec Series between India and England is gathering a lot of limelight, not just because of some exceptional performances and the emergence of some unexpected heroes. But when there are heroes, there are also going to be some goons. And the goons are doing well, better than the heroes and disturbingly at that.
This series is just one Test-old and it’s already on the threshold of taking an ugly turn. The first match was drawn, thanks both the team’s wagging tails. However, what came into the spotlight instead of the late heroics by the tailenders, was in fact, an ugly incident that began on field and avalanched into a big issue.
While the Indians complained about England pacie James Anderson verbally and physically abusing Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, the English team first launched a verbal attack on the Indians, saying creating a ruckus over a minor issue was unexpected. The ICC booked Anderson in a Level 3 offense, which, if found true, would lead to a 2-match ban, but Jadeja has also been booked under Level 2.
If Anderson is banned, things will sour between the two teams, not known anyways to share excellent relationships. The spat will be evident as the second match begins today and will snowball into other serious threats.
Meanwhile, unperturbed by all the off-the-field conundrum, England top-order batsman Gary Ballance was caught having a ball, literally, as he was snapped by English tabloids, dancing away to glory, sloshed and topless in a bar. He was reportedly accompanied by Anderson, who seems to be great at not missing an opportunity to bring the English team into bad light. It seems that Ballance had to be carried out, in an extremely intoxicated state.
With these two incidents coming to the fore, the English team’s image has just taken a big round of beating. It’ll only be left to see how they pull up their socks and try and make up for their lost image in the form of their performances.
On a more grim note, it pains to see cricket getting painted in the hues of hooliganism and getting talked about, not because of clinical finishes and great performances, but because of these unpleasant and embarrassing incidents.
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