Adam Gilchrist Hook or by crook!
The game of cricket is full of purists like land mines buried on the peripheries of a war zone. Inevitably they blow up at the wrong moment and maim the wrong people.
By S R Pathiravithana
It was not so long ago we had the likes of Ian Chappell and Michael Holding screaming their guts out howling out to the ICC to probe into the dropping of two Sri Lankan players for their match against Australia in the super eights stage. The allegation was match fixing which tantamount to cheating. If those cricket purists were trying to make out that the Sri Lankan cricket hierarchy erred by the law of cricket in that game how would they describe the despicable Gilchrist stunt of hiding a foreign substance in his batting glove to get an undue advantage over the Sri Lankan bowlers who had bowled pretty well up to that stage in the World Cup.
When we were watching the onslaught by Gilchrist on the Lankan bowlers we were wondering as to how he got this new lease of life. A man who was struggling to live up to his potential was batting far beyond even his true capabilities. This normally belligerent Mathew Hayden looked like a passenger waiting at bus stand for a bus which was already late. : Gilchrist faced 104 balls and hit thirteen fours and eight sixes while all the other batsmen Hayden, Ponting, Symonds, Watson, in all faced 127 balls collectively and hit just seven fours and two sixes. And generally in the Australian camp it is Hayden and Symonds who are the batsmen who are reputed for their awesome massacre of bowlers. Nevertheless when we saw the unholy batting display of Gilchrist we accepted ‘seeing is believing’ and resigned ourselves to our fate.
How legal?
JEROME GASPERSON writes from Australia: I read the article “How legal was Adam Gilchrist’s ‘hidden ball’?” You have very valid points and there are a few more unanswered questions that are worth pursuing further.
The other points to note are:
# Gilchrist never used the “squash ball” in the past and also in any of the other 10 games prior to the finals. Did the “squash ball” help?
# Gilchrist was out of form and didn’t score many runs in the whole World Cup tour apart from the finals. Did the “squash ball” provide Gilchrist the required assistance to bring him back to form?
# The World Cup final was between Sri Lanka and Gilchrist (not Australia). All other inform Australian batsmen were struggling to score except the out-of-form Gilchrist who had this “squash ball” to enhance his grip or did it?
# Most of his shots, mainly his eight sixes, were massive and cleared the grounds. Did the “squash ball” help?
# The number of sixes hit by Gilchrist amounts to eight in the finals, compared to two in the previous 10 games. Is it because of the “squash ball”?
# Gilchrist’s average without the last innings would have been a mere 30.40 compared to the 45.30 after the finals. Did the “squash ball” help to boost his average?
# Gilchrist’s strike rate without the last innings would have been 91.57 compared to the 103.89 after the finals. Again, did the “squash ball” provide that extra power?
Given the above and the points you raised, your natural tendency would be to believe that the “squash ball” might have given him that extra edge or did it?
His 2007 World Cup Statistics are as follows:
Matches 11, Innings 11, Not Out 1, Runs 453, Highest Score 149, Average 45.30, Balls faced 436, Strike rate 103.89, Hundreds 1, Fifties 2, Zeroes 0, Fours 58, Sixes 10.
I am not taking anything away from Adam Gilchrist’s excellent innings. That was an amazing innings which will be remembered by many for years to come. However, the question still remains: is it legal to use such equipment and will it provide assistance?***************************
Alas! But before we could get over bitterness of swallowing our pride the squash ball began to circle. As the news came by we read – “By Gilchrist’s own admission, he had ’something’ in his left glove all through his knock. In fact, upon reaching the century, Gilchrist first doffed his bat towards his teammates in the pavilion, acknowledged the applause of the spectators, and then kept repeatedly pointing to his left batting glove with his right hand.
At the post match press conference Gilchrist admitted that the message was directed to his Western Australian batting coach Bob Meuleman who is also a squash player of repute in his state. It is said that upon Meuleman’s advice, Gilchrist had been carrying a squash ball in his left, bottom hand to help him with his grip.
Then carrying a foreign substance which is not approved by the laws of cricket – does it look good on Australia’s legality of the World Cup win. We will just have a look at what Law number 3 of cricket laws have to say.
Cricket Law III
3.6. Conduct of the game, implements and equipment Before the toss and during the match, the umpires shall satisfy themselves that: (a) the conduct of the game is strictly in accordance with the Laws. (b) The implements of the game conform to the requirements of Laws 5 (the ball) and 6 (The bat), together with either Laws 8.2 (Size of stumps) and 8.3 (The bails) or, if appropriate, Law 8.4 (Junior Cricket). (c) (i) no player uses equipment other than that permitted. (ii) the wicket-keeper’s gloves comply with the requirements of Law 40.2 (Gloves).
Prior to this Dennis Lilee’s aluminium bat and Ricky Ponting’s graphite-coated bat were not permitted by the cricket authorities. At the same time Hansie Cronje’s earpiece stunt of having a chat with the coach Bob Woolmer while the match was in progress was also shot down in mid air by the authorities. Then the question that arises is did Gilchrist seek and obtain approval from the cricket’s authorities before he used such a device? Did he inform and seek approval from the match umpires and the opposing captain Mahela Jayawardena on such an experiment?
The laws of cricket are very precise on protective gear as given above. Then this device cannot be termed as a protective gear and only be termed as a power enhancing substance. Nowhere in the cricketing laws have they approved the squash ball as a protective gear.
Vijitha Herath of the University of Paderborn, Germany, writes on the issue:
Apropos the claim that Adam Gilchrist had a squash ball in his left glove during his innings at the finals of the cricket World Cup. Let me offer a scientific perspective.
A squash ball is a rubber ball. Unlike a cricket (leather) ball, it compresses when pressure is applied on it. When the pressure is released, it takes its original shape. In short, it acts like a spring (e.g.: a motorcycle shock absorber).
So what happens when a batsman has a squash ball in the palm of his bottom hand?
When a batsman swings the bat until it hits the ball, there is pressure on his bottom hand. This pressure compresses the squash ball thus storing energy in the ball similar to spring. Just after the ball hits the bat (ball still touching the bat) this pressure starts to relax while the bat is moving forward.
At the same time the energy stored in the squash ball releases its energy to the bat in the form of kinetic energy. The result is that the bat moves faster than normal (without a ball in the glove).
As a result, the release-speed of the cricket ball becomes faster resulting in the ball travelling further before hitting the ground. Therefore it results in more sixes and fours being scored.
The downside is because the bat travels faster than normal the batsman might lose control of the bat. This happened once in the Adam Gilchrist’s innings when the bat slipped out of his hands and fell behind the wickets. If you have any doubts please try to do it yourself and see the result.
In brief Gilchrist’s use of the squash ball allowed him to hit the ball further in the field.
The above explanation clearly gives you an insight into the fact that the squash ball was used not purely as a protective gear but, as a performance enhancer to a player who was playing his last World Cup innings and did not care of the consequences, but was hell bent on rubbing some glory upon himself.
Then at a beauty pageant if the winner is discovered as person with an immoral past she is stripped off her title. In athletics if a participant is found that he/she has taken performance enhancing drugs they are relieved from their titles. But, what action are the authorities hoping to take on this under hand act? How would the so called purists describe this deliberate breach of cricket law?
Can Mr. Ian Chappell or some purist explain this to me?
Finally just see the Australian ingenuity –the blessings of 33 million deities which the entire country sought could not bring Sri Lanka victory, but, one little squash ball hidden by an over zealous cricketer inside his batting glove was able to give Australia that much sought after cricket’s biggest gift with consummate ease.
P.S. According to a high ranking SLC official its hierarchy had met on the issue but, had arrived at the notion that though it does not permit a foreign object inside the batting glove, it also does not prevent anyone from having it. He also does not want the Aussies to feel that we are cry babies. via Sunday Times
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Posted on May 6, 2007, in Sri Lanka and tagged Adam Gilchrist, Cricket, Cricket Etcetera, Gilchrist The Squash Ball, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, ODI, South Asia, Sports News & Opinion, Sri Lanka, Topix, Uncategorized, World Cup, World News. Bookmark the permalink. 234 Comments.
for those of you who haven’t read Gilchrist’s biography, he states that the squash ball was used to reduce the grip of his bottom hand and using his top hand more, reducing the chance of the ball going into the air.
how does this technique bring more sixes?
he also states that he used this technique to prevent wickets from bowlers bowling around the wicket, as he was having trouble with Freddie Flintoff bowling to him in the 2005/06 Ashes Series.
to paraphrase Sai Sasank, it was not the squash ball that helped Gilchrist’s performance, it was his natural skill and talent.
Hey you. Its not “squash ball” that helped “Adam Gilchrist”. Its his talent and confidence that helped him.
gilly is a very dangerous player he is my favorite player in my facebook proflie picture is also a of adam gilchrist
hey the fucking writers i think that u guys were jealous of gillys excellent knock so u guys wrote the fucking material.
take my advice just go and put ur dicks in ur moms pussy BUT JUST DONT DARE 2 WRITE SOMETHING FUCKING ABT GILLY(GILCHRIST)
GILLY IS RETIRED!
all these comments about gilly are rubbish. he is a fine player. he was waiting for a chance to display his talent and he showed that by is brittant knock in the final
Gilchrist ki balle balle!!
Ausies forget to bring squash ball.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/6989321.stm
UGK
why is it illegal if the ball does not give a player extra power.???
you are a bad loser.
Every time i think of this world cup, i am filled with rage. I dont feel angry about Aus winning 2003 world cup but this one they so BLATANTLY cheated!!! How the hell can someone use an illegal device and then authorities give it the green light? Where is the justice for Asian teams?
The Biblical Adam and the present day ‘Cricketing Adam’
Adam Gilchrist
What a ‘Ball’ the Biblical Adam would have had with Eve in the Garden of Eden after God had created them! They must have been playing every conceivable game under the sun without any inhibition. There was no necessity for Adam to hide a ‘Ball’ inside the gloves and for Eve to cover up anything behind the ‘Pads’!
Amnesty International was thousands of years away from being born.
The law abiding Adam and Eve were ‘Playing by the Rules’ – laid by God.
But one fine day, Adam was caught red-handed by the Third Umpire sitting above when Adam passed a fruit in the form of a ‘Ball’ from the forbidden tree to the soft hands of the unsuspecting Eve. She ate the fruit. ‘Clean Out’ – ruled the Third Umpire and Adam was banished along with Eve to the land of sin.
In contrast, the present day Adam was quite lucky. He knew he was violating the ‘the ethics of Cricket’ if not ‘The Rules of Cricket.’ Just imagine what an innovation he had for the final game after being a failure in ten innings at a stretch prior to the final! Of all things he used a ‘Ball’ in the batting hand to have a firm grip on the bat, and what was the verdict of the “Supreme Court” in Marlybourne, even before anyone had come before them to lodge a complaint? “Not Out” said the white skinned gentlemen who make and interpret the rules of cricket.
Cricket is a ‘Beautiful and a Gentleman’s game’ introduced to the world by the white skinned gentlemen. But now it is maintained as a gentleman’s game by the dark skinned. On two occasions in the Super Eights round, our Sanga walked off the crease, without waiting for the umpire’s signal after snicking the ball to the wicket keeper’s hands, and in the final he was quick enough to indicate to the umpire that he had not taken the catch cleanly behind the stumps off the bowling of “Malinga the Slinga,” That’s the true ‘Spirit of Cricket. – Win or lose, it’s the game that matters.’
Further, when our ‘Speed Master’ Dilhara allegedly ran on the pitch, the umpire was in a ‘no-nonsense’ mood. He handed two warnings to Dilhara in a single over – an unprecedented act in a match of this stature. But when Michael Clarke ran on the pitch, the umpire softly asked the batsman to go back to the crease on the other end while disallowing the run, and the bowler was asked to bowl an extra ball in that over — as if he was umpiring a game of cricket being
played by Montessori kids! If the extra ball in that over had been hammered over the ropes for a six, then the bowler would have paid the penalty for the batsman’s rash action.
A day would surely come when dark skinned gentlemen would sit on the “Supreme Court” at Marlybourne. There is no doubt that the rules of cricket would be interpreted from that day onwards without fear or favour. Till then, Adam can use his ball anywhere he likes, and there is a possibility that the infection would pass on to the other sports as well.
Maria Sharaporova can also use a ball to have a firm grip, on her tennis racket. If she is unable to find a ball she can borrow one from Adam. If a squash ball can be used in cricket, why not a cricket ball in boxing? A boxer can use a cricket ball inside the gloves behind the knuckles and a punch on the opponent’s head would be blue murder or he can use a few iron balls inside the gloves behind the knuckles – the Murderer in the Wanni would be too happy to supply some to the prospective boxers and see the effect!
Likewise, the prospects are enormous for ‘Adam’s Ball’. Now that the MCC has given the green light – Adam is sure to improve on his innovation. Come 2011, he may be seen hiding two balls inside the gloves instead of one and who knows, one fine day he will be seen wearing the ‘Ball Guard’ on his palm!
UGK
we will alway be the best cricketing nation. please pay your tribute.
I have some bad news,
I Contacted the ICC and unfortunately it seems they wont take action. But is that a surprise? No! I am afraid this is going to continue forever as long as there are incompetent racist cowboys working in the ICC.
I dont care Australians will always be cheaters in my opinion.
There is no point talking about MCC, ICC or any other CC (as lochana said) as long as there are Australians working in the establishment.
UGK
THe authority said gilchrist did not cheat. end of story. do you know more about cricket rules than the MCC or the ICC. LOL
UGK
THe authority said gilchrist is not gilchrist. end of story. do you know more about cricket rules than the MCC or the ICC. LOL
monster nobody is going to LOL except at you! There is no need to prove that he cheated! It is so obvious that it is pointless to argue. It is like Sangakkara putting glue in his wicket keeper glove and then telling the world that it helped him hold onto the ball so he didnt cheat! Sounds silly dosent it? Well so does Gilly and his coach trying to justify their obvious cheating tactic.
SJ
you idiots still can not prove that gilly cheated. so accept defeat gracefully.
You people obviously have IQ lower than kids as you believe that half a aquash ball helped gilchrist to clear the cricket ball over the boundary. LOL!!
squash ball or not, sri lanka would have still lost the world cup final. LOL!!
all you sri lankans owe an apology to gilchrist. LOL!!
This is a message for Monster!
Learn to spell correctly first mate – your messages have a more comedy front to it than defending front!
Cricket is an intelligent game – intelligent analysis backed by scientific findings can only answer the farce displayed by Gilchrist!
You should comment on sport like Rugby which I am sure is more suitable for your IQ level and your wide use of vocabulary consisting sour grapes, elastic band and moron!
LOL!
Cricket is rated as a gentleman’s game and rules and regulations have been laid down with field umpires, third umpires, game referees and the International Cricket Council as a controlling body to ensure fairplay in this so called gentleman’s game.
Apart from the exact wording of the written laws and regulations in interpretation of these and precedents, important principles are established. Among these the most important covering the conduct of players are the banning of drugs which enhance performance and the use of any equipment by players which could enhance their performance.
Citing the exact wording of the laws and regulations is not important here as there is ample evidence of the spirit and intension of such rules to convince any impartial person that the use of a squash ball hidden inside his lower hand glove by Adam Gilchrist knowing that such action would enhance his performance and advised and recommended by his coach amounts to cheating and a flagrant violation of accepted and established principles of the game and as such, the Australian World Cup win is questionable and under a cloud.
In this particular case, we have evidence to prove that the use of the squash ball secretly hidden inside the lower hand glove, that is the hand that gives the power to a strike was with the knowledge and with the intention that this would enhance performance.
The fact that the coach recommended the use of the squash ball to improve the players grip on the bat and thereby naturally adding power to a strike and enhancing the players performance and the admitted fact that the coach was so sure of such result that he required Adam Gilchrist to raise his hand and indicate to him that he used the innovation successfully when he reached his hundred, is damning evidence of the secret use of an extraneous gadget knowing that it would enhance performance and as such is as bad as using a drug to enhance performance.
A bowler is debarred from having even a small strip of plaster covering a wound on his bowling hand as this could improve his grip and enhance bowling performance, and if not removed by the bowler, the umpire personally removes it. If a small plaster by the bowler is so serious, what about the use of a more effective enhancer by the batsman?
The dishonesty of this action is evidenced by the fact that the secret was kept until he achieved the expected target by the secret use of this enhancer. If action is not taken in this glaring and provable case of the use of a gadget to enhance batting ability and thereby getting record runs and victories, all batsmen in the future should also be allowed the use of gadgets such as squash balls in their glows or other equipment not specifically banned to enhance their striking power.
International cricket by our national team concerns all Sri Lankans and interests cricket lovers worldwide. The ICC and other ‘expects’ were quick to question the bowling actions of our ‘Murali’ and some even refused to accept results of scientific evidence clearing him.
In this instance, we have a clear cut case with evidence of the use of a power and performance enhancing unauthorised gadget by a player knowing that such use would enhance his performance and a coach who apparently had tested the system in his cricketing days and encouraged Adam Gilchrist to commit this offence.
POST #200 LOCHANA
THAT WAS A GREAT APOLOGY
YOU ARE VERY CREATIVE
SL CRICKETERS WERE NEVER “UNFORTUNATE”. THEY WERE CHEATED BY A BUNCH OF ARROGANT & CUNNING KANGAROOS. PONTING & CLARKE RAN ON THE PITCH LIKE WILD BUFFALOES. GILCHRIST PLAYED SQUASH INSTEAD OF CRICKET. THEY SHOWED THE WORLD THEIR TRUE FACE. ICC JUST DONATED THE CUP TO AUS. DIFFERENT LAWS TO DIFFERENT COLOURS. HOWEVER SL WON THE HEARTS OF SO MANY FANS.
The problem is not about the world cup ,, keep the cup .. okay?
We just want “JUSTICE” ..
ban Gilchrist at least for 10 years ..
OR ELSE apologize and pay compensation to all the other cricketers who were banned and fined for taking “performance enhancing drugs” so far ..
Because, Gilchrist did the same in a different manner ..
OH YEAH .. ALWAYS KEEP YOUR BALLS HIDDEN GILLY ..
) HA HA
CRICKET PLAYER #210 .. THAT’S NO SO AMUSING..SORRY .. YOU COULDNT BEAT LOCHANA’S ONE, THAT WAS A KILLER ..
Some of you said Gilly should apologise, I have spoken to him and got this apology “Dear cricketing world……ohhhh sorry deluded Sri Lankan fans that think they stand on some moral high ground and represent the world. I am of the understanding that you don’t understand the full laws of cricket and have taken my use of half a squash ball inserted inside my glove as cheating. I am sorry you do not understand the laws of cricket in their entirety. I am sorry your lack of understanding could result in you thinking this is cheating. I am sorry that numerous other batsman use modified gloves such as his royal highness TENDULKAR and I apologise to him if this now means your lack of understanding of the rules makes some people question his batting performances. I am sorry the world is laughing at you and that people have kept quite intially out of disbelief that you would even raise this issue. I am sorry Sri Lanka can’t move with the times and most of all I am sorry for the lack of sportsmanship displayed by Sri Lankan fans in accepting a team who has beaten them 6 out of the last 7 meetings is the better team. I am sorry Sri Lanka played without some of their better players in the match against us prior to the final. I am sorry they did this to the fans that payed good money to watch that game and that they have done so against the spirit of the game, as the fans that actually attended and payed for that match agree. But most of all I would like to say sorry to the Sri Lankan fielder who dropped me on 31″
Whenever Australia tours a country, local fans should be encouraged to humiliate Gilchrist. They should hold up posters saying ‘squash ball cheat’ or ‘squash ball won the WC’.
The Barmy Army should sing a song about Gilchrist and his squash ball in the next ashes series. Gilchrist should retire in humiliation. THIS INCIDENT SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN even if the ICC ignore it. It should become famous like the Chappell underarm throw against the kiwis.
UGK and others. Even if the ICC was to declare it illegal for future use, they would not ban Gilly or Ponting, they would simply declare it illegal in future. The reason is because up until now, there’s no law on it. The same thing happened with Pontings bat. Once it was declared illegal he stopped using it. He is still scoring centuries, as will Gilly because they are great players regardless.
Silly mid off said: “Our captain Mahela praised the Aussies including Gilchrist and never mentioned anything about Gilly’s so-called balls. And when Sanga grassed a vital catch he signalled that he had not caught the ball. Will any player in any team playing in a vital game like the World Cup final ever do a thing like that?”
Gilly has done this constantly. He not only walks when he’s out even when the umpire doesn’t give it, but he also has on a couple of occasions not quite grabbed a catch and the umpire given out, only to see Gilly tell them he didn’t catch it. I admire any player that plays with such honesty, including Mahela, who played in the right spirit. I think if Gilly honestly thought this was going to create such controversy afterwards, he wouldn’t have done it!!
However, I think it will be declared legal. I don’t see any difference between what Gilly did and putting a few extra grips on your bat handle. Both of them help the batsmen hold the bat better but don’t interefere with the equipment. Even if they declare it legal, I don’t think you’d see a rush of kids out their trying it with the broken squash ball….
hahahahahahaha this is so funny. I love Shenell’s post at number 193. But i sincerely wish that ICC take this issue seriously in June annual meeting. Then Ban Gilchrist and Ponting and give the WC to Sri Lanka. ICC cannot afford to sweep this under the carpet like the MCC. If they do then people should boycott cricket and get Malcolm Speed kicked out.
Gilly’s balls
Adam Gilchrist or Gilly to his friends and colleagues had two balls. One in his hand and the other ball he sent to all corners of the Kensington Oval with such power that friends and foes were equally mesmerised and flabbergasted.
It was sheer power hitting!
Whether he was helped by the ball in the hand or not should be proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Similar to the probe that was made to find the legality of Murali’s bowling action they should find some device to find whether Gilly’s ball helped him to hammer our bowlers to oblivion.
Or else the ICC should make carrying extra balls when going out to bat legal and that will add to the number of accessories that a cricketer is allowed which includes headgear and other protective pads to safeguard vital organs.
But whatever it is we Sri Lankans will always play this “alien” gentleman’s game exactly the way gentlemen should play. And although we were squarely beaten we won’t in any circumstances find excuses to detract from the defeat we experienced.
Our captain Mahela praised the Aussies including Gilchrist and never mentioned anything about Gilly’s so-called balls. And when Sanga grassed a vital catch he signalled that he had not caught the ball. Will any player in any team playing in a vital game like the World Cup final ever do a thing like that?
In any case Gilly’s balls have become a hot topic to all and sundry. But upto now no one from our cricket team had made an official complaint with regard to the legality of having an extra ball in one’s hand when hitting the other ball over the ropes. If the ICC finds it illegal they might need a scanner to detect the extra balls hidden in cricketers’ bodies.
Anyway one last advice to Mr. Gilchrist. Hereafter keep your balls hidden and do not show them off after completing a century.
Dear Gilly,
It is better to keep THEM where THEY belong rather than exposing THEM to the broad public and turning your victory a very hollow one!
Silly Mid Off
hey monster .. what goes around comes around .. theres lot of lightening in AUS, right ?? and its a killer , right ?? SO YOU BE CAREFUL !!!!!!
)
MONSTER .. U ROT IN HELL !!!!!!!!!!!
#200 Lochana ….. that was really funny.
)
#195 Spiceman ….. it wasnt what “I” said. I picked it from “dailynews.lk – SPORTS WATCH” coz I thought its pretty interesting. and yes, that dream would have come true .. lol
Spiceman #195,
Since you sound like a sensible intelligent Aussie I thought of answering you. ok, you may have a point there.
Honestly, yes, we admit that Aussies played brilliantly throughout the tournament and yes, they deserve the championship. But at the finals, you are supposed to “play” and “win” the trophy. But then we had to play in bad light and bad weather ( plus bad umpiring) and the match was ruined. At least the spectators were not able to enjoy the match. However, we dont blame it on Aussies, it was an organizing disaster. Then again its ok, Aussies won, we lost, thats fine.
But after everything, Gilly comes out with a squash ball .. and everyones rationalizing it. Infact its against the cricket rules, its so obvious. If they want to approve that, at least the authorities should edit or do something about the laws.
Real world is not so fair and beautiful as you think. If a cricketer from the subcontinent did what Gilly did, ICC would have nailed him to the wall and make sure that he wont play cricket again. Thats how it is. We know how our teams were racially discriminated in the past, not always, but at several occasions.
So, tell me quite honestly, if you were in our boots dont you feel that you were cheated? SL Cricketers may not say anything and create problems for their future coz their career dont end with this world cup. But as fans, we feel cheated.
hey guys .. I have an apology for Gilchrist .. just check whether its ok. but read it with an Indian accent (no offense.. just for fun).
“are pundit jee .. thousand apologies to your royal highness Gil+christ ( oh my God, you are a “Christ” with a “Gil” .. means God must have sent you down ) .. we are on our knees .. begging for your forgiveness .. are these stupid fellows what do they know about your cricket ? .. next time you bring a soccer ball, basket ball, rugger ball .. or whatever balls you like .. and play cricket with a squash racket or a tennis racket next time .. we dont mind at all .. you play the way you want .. hell with the rules .. those rules only valid for the sub continent morons .. you dont have to worry about the rules .. ICC and MCC and all the other CCs will take care of you .. ok ? is it ok now ? .. can I go now your royal highness ? okay .. namaste.”
198 Spiceman – The bottom line is, if wrong is committed by a ‘white’ it is right and if it is by anyone else it’s ‘cheating’. You better read the following and prepare for the worst, because the end is near for Gilchrist…
Sri Lankan Cricket Board can still take this issue to the ICC’s June meeting and the ICC executive, Malcolm Speed and his board members will outlaw Gilchrist because the ICC has the power to overrule the MCC. I am certain that they will declare Gilchrist’s actions were contravening the Law and breaching the Spirit of the Game.
(be) cricket Says:
“The Aussie cricketers are so unpopular really like the rest of Australia. Inflated ego about self-worth and superiority.”
Making general silly statements makes you look racist. I guess you’ve given up discussing the logic of it all and can’t think of anything else to come up with so resort to an attack on Australians character…. Can’t say it wasn’t predictable. The funny thing is, if we met we’d probably get on fine. Why resort to the petty stuff?? If I made comments about Sri Lankans, would that help the discussion?? It’s just silly and pointless.
The Aussie cricketers are so unpopular really like the rest of Australia. Inflated ego about self-worth and superiority.
Spiceman , they just dont see it.
all they do is whinge. lol.
Mohammed Nawaz, you said, and Shenell said similar in 2000 more words:
“In Gilly’s case, the ICC is acting like a toothless tiger. But if it was a batsman from the subcontinent, they would condemn it as “unsporty, unethical and unruly act”. And that batsman and the captain of the team will get a 10 year ban. England, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia will condemn the poor sportsmanship. Shame on you ICC.”
Seriously guys, this is nothing but conjecture. If Sangakarra or any Sri Lankan batsmen had done the same then I would have applauded their innings. Sure there may have been some Aussies who may have kicked up and whinged about it, but those Aussies would be giving the sport a bad name just like you guys are. The facts are, he has been cleared….. NOT BECAUSE HE’s Australian… Pontings bat wasn’t cleared, Lillee’s bat wasn’t cleared etc etc, Why? Because it was deemed they contravened the rules, and so they ceased to use them. Gilly’s has been cleared simply on the facts of the case and nothing more!! But you won’t admit it, you won’t see it and will be unhappy and bitter forever. Australia were clearly the better side and have beaten Sri Lanka 8 out of the last 9 games against them. There were several things that went against Sri Lanka, but in my opinion the thing that was against them the most was the rain and the farcical conditions towards the end of their innings. However, all that said, Australia bowled very well and took the wickets when it mattered. Australia still had six batsmen to play who could have done anything…
Anyway, it’s History, Australia won their third world cup in a row and in my honest opinion thorougly deserved it and were clearly the best side in the tournament going through unbeaten. Do you disagree with them being the form side?? They had already beat Sri Lanka, as had South Africa. They have not lost a game in two world cups, what seriously makes you think Sri Lanka would have beat them??? Sri Lanka dropped Gilly on 31. If they take that catch Gilly is gone, whether he has a squash ball or not. Then what would you have been saying about the squash ball?? You wouldn’t have thought it helped him much would you?? But he was dropped and let off the hook. He didn’t hit 149 because of a squash ball, he hit it because he was dropped more than once in his innings and we all know that he can punish any cricket attack whether he has a squash ball or not in his glove.
Do you disagree with this?? In 2003, the majority of the world’s bowlers said that the batsman they feared bowling to the most because he could destroy an attack was Adam Gilchrist…… Nothing’s changed. He was always a brilliant batsmen capable of a great innings. He has also had form slumps in the past and then come out and hit a century… this time was no different.
whinge, whinge, whinge, whinge, whinge, sri lanka lost, deal with it. LOL
wheather gilchrist used the glove or not, sri lanka would still have lost. Australia were much much better than Sri Lanka.
just acknoledge this Australia team is the best side in the history of the game.
FROM : dailynews.lk – SPORTS WATCH – DINESH WEERAWANSA
Gilchrist and Sangakkara
The ICC 2007 World Cup final between Sri Lanka and Australia is now history. There has been loads of articles published, wide range of views expressed and many post-mortems by various individuals, including past and present cricketers held.
I have been carefully reading all the stuff, including our own ‘on-the-spot’ reports filed by veteran cricket writer Dr. Elmo Rodrigopulle, the only Sri Lankan English journalist to cover the entire tournament.
Whilst thinking of all those action paced episodes from the Caribbean for nearly two months, I had a dream. Yes! That was a dream final.
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena won the toss and elected to bat first in a final curtailed to 38 overs per side due to morning rain. Sri Lanka made a commanding total of 281 for 4 in their allotted 38 overs.
The architect of the massive Lankan total was none other than wicket keeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara. He scored a blistering 149 off just 104 balls with eight sixes and 13 fours. He showed no mercy to Australian bowlers in punishing them to all corners of the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
Immediately after reaching his century in just 72 balls, Sangakkara raises his left hand and points to the batting glove from the right hand. It looks as if he was showing his left glove to someone in the dressing room. Millions of television viewers and spectators at the packed stadium wonder what it’s all about.
But after receiving his man of the match award for a match winning 149, Sangakkara unveiled a secret known to him and his batting coach back home. As if he is a victorious kid after a hide and seek game, Sangakkara boasts of his secret and the ‘hidden weapon’ that enabled him to record one of the most glorious innings in cricket.
He said a squash ball hidden in his batting glove helped him to have a better grip. The dashing wicket keeper batsman said it was his batting coach back in Sri Lanka who suggested the idea of inserting a squash ball into his batting glove so that it would give him a better grip and a distinct advantage.
“He asked me to play this little trick and score a century. He asked me to prove I had the squash ball inside my glove, if I score a century in the final. That is why I raised my glove and showed it to him over the television. I knew my coach back in Sri Lanka was watching me,” a proud Sangakkara says after the match.
But Sangakkara’s comment boomerangs. The ICC and the match officials get mad at the unethical act of the Lankan batsman. “It’s like taking performance enhancing drugs.
When you take performance enhancing drugs, you get undue advantage than the others. Similarly, the squash ball in the Lankan batsman’s glove enhanced his performance. Hence, this matter should be referred to the World anti doping body – WADA,” an Australian newspaper suggested.
“Sri Lanka should immediately be stripped of their World champion title. It should now be awarded to second placed Australia. The World Cup belongs to Australia as Sri Lanka has cheated and obtained an undue advantage,” an expert commentator and former international cricketer engaged in live television coverage said.
The two umpires Aleem Dar and Steve Bucknor get mad at Sangakkara. They file an adverse report to the ICC, so does the third umpire Rudi Koertzen who too says he noticed the squash ball episode on the live TV coverage. The Match Referee summons Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena and Sangakkara for a hearing.
The ICC, which has been acting like a toothless tiger over the years, gets super power. They decide to be firm on Sri Lanka. The ICC issue a strong statement condemning the ‘unsporty, unethical and unruly act by the Lankan wicket keeper batsman and his team’.
Finally, the ICC gets more teeth. They decide to declare the result null and void and the match referee awards the match to Australia. They fine Sri Lanka team 100% of their World Cup earnings and the batsman gets a life ban.
His captain gets a 10-year ban for covering things up. The team is served with a five year ban for breaching collective responsibility. England, South Africa and New Zealand join Australia in condemning Sri Lanka’s poor sportsmanship.
The ICC sends a special representative to Colombo. He forcibly takes the World Cup back from the SLC headquarters and takes it to Melbourne. The ICC hurriedly organises a special ceremony to award the World Cup to Australia, stating that they are the worthy winners as Sri Lanka has put a black mark on world cricket by cheating.
The drama does not end there. ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed proposes tough measures to prevent this type of shameless acts in future. The ICC amends rules and playing conditions. They rule that two field umpires should check the gloves of batsmen and wicket keepers each time they take the field, similar to a boxing referee inspecting the gloves of two fighters before a bout.
My telephone started ringing. Then I woke upto the realisation that it was a long day dream. I switched on my television and there was a repeat telecast of the World Cup final. I saw Australian wicket keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist waving his bat on reaching his century, then pointing at his batting glove.
# Lochana Says:
hey its ok.. monster has fallen down from the cot when he was a baby .. and now he is mentally retarded .. so its ok, he can say anything he wants, no one take any notice of that.
YOU ARE DAMN RIGHT LOCHANA !!!!!
In Gilly’s case, the ICC is acting like a toothless tiger. But if it was a batsman from the subcontinent, they would condemn it as “unsporty, unethical and unruly act”. And that batsman and the captain of the team will get a 10 year ban. England, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia will condemn the poor sportsmanship. Shame on you ICC.
Ishani Perera
yes, everyone really love a chucker??? Ha ha ha.
yes, everyone really love a team that lose deliberately to avoid australia in the semi final. ???? LOL!!
APPLAUSE DIES
TROPHIES GATHER DUST
WINNERS ARE SOON FORGOTTEN ..
BUT SOME PEOPLE TOUCH OUR HEARTS AND STAY WITH US, FOREVER .. JUST LIKE THE SRI-LANKAN TEAM.
:X
MCC is a TOOTHLESS TIGER .. if it was a SL batsman, you could have seen the MCC roaring..
its nothing but WHITE POWER
How come the mighty Aussie cricketers are so unpopular?
Normally in any sport, champions are loved by every one, but today, in cricket, its different. Is it because of their arrogance, or their dirty tactics? It wasn’t just the “hidden ball”, but what about Ponting and Clarke running on the wicket purposely to damage it, so that when SLs come to bat those footmarks would help their bowlers.
Every teams goal is to win. But whats the point in cheating the way up? It would just tarnish their image.
Former Aussie cricketers never wanted to win at any cost, they never followed such dirty tactics to win. They were true champions and were loved by all.
(be) cricket
THe MCC said it is legal, so how was that cheating??
The MCC are guardian of criket rules, they obviously know more about cricket rules than you.
(be) cricket,
hey its ok.. monster has fallen down from the cot when he was a baby .. and now he is mentally retarded .. so its ok, he can say anything he wants, no one take any notice of that.
monster you jackass and degenerated fool… Lochana says it’s not a question about the Championship. But action should be taken against cheating.
Lochana
THe MCC said it is legal. so why are you whinging???. you can whinging all you like. but the result is the same – 2007 world cup winners – Australia.
If you look at the scorecard you will notice that the only one Aussie who played exceptionally well was Gilly. Others seemed to struggle to hit big shots despite the platform provided by Gilly. The only thing that saved the Aussies was out of form wicket keeper’s mammoth 149 with a hidden squash ball.
Even if you guys stand on your heads and argue, Cricketing laws clearly shows that Gilchrist’s squash ball was, neither a piece of protective equipment, nor clothing item and was most certainly not visible to either side or the umpires.
If Dennis Lilee’s aluminium bat, Ricky Ponting’s graphite-coated bat, Hansie Cronje’s earpiece, Scott Styris’s bandage was illegal, how can Adam Gilchrist’s hidden ball’ could be legal?
Batsmen should not be allowed to use any artificial objects to enhance, or overcome a technical flaw in their batting. The essence of the cricket is the skill of the bowler against the skill of the batsman devoid of any artificial aids. If batsmen are allowed to use artificial objects then where would it end? “performance enhancing drugs”?
This should be a wake up call to the cricketing world and should take action before the next world cup.
I dont understand why Aussies want to tarnish their image with such cheap acts.
Finally, this is not a question about the Championship. But action should be taken against cheating.
Bao, Dinell Phillips can rave on all he likes, the games official law makers have already come out and cleared Gilly and said he did not operate against the spirit of the game. Sri Lankan batsmen like others put more than one grip on their bats, perhaps you might want to talk to them about changing their grip being performance enhancing.
All the main media came out yesterday and said he was cleared, but there will always be those who are sore losers who will talk about it forever and that is the major travesty and totally against the spirit of the sport. The truth is that Dinell Phillips and probably a few others that sympathise with him would like to make their own rules…. The good thing is they can’t!
A cricket Lover: The reason why the ICC has taken no action is simply because there is NONE to take! You simply haven’t got that yet. It is disgraceful that you are trying to sully one of the fairest cricketers to ever play the sport. Perhaps we really should bring up Murali in here as a kind of tit for tat thing?? I’m sure most Sri Lankans think he has been cleared umpteen times by the world’s cricket authorities, so why can’t you let this rest? Or is it really just a case of sour grapes and long memories about how Murali was treated. Just remember though, even though it was an Aussie umpire that called him, it wasn’t just Aussies that had a problem with his action. There seems to be an us and them mentality in here, kind of a get square attitude. In the end, both Murali’s and Gilchrist’s records will stand as they are.
And as for him bringing out the squash ball only once, well it was twice, he’d already used it in Australia without any umpire or other cricketer getting upset, so you can’t say we are not consistent.
HEY MONSTER.. WHERE ARE YOU MAN? YOU STILL DIDNT TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE SMOKING
APPEAL to all Cricket Loving People
Please forward this to all the guys in your database. We are sending letters to ICC through our US lawyers asking them to get some actions.
Hi,
It is known to everybody that we just experienced a disastrous, and highly
dis-organised World Cup tournament in West Indies. And most importantly the
Adam Gilchrist’s use of a ’squash ball’ in his glove to enhance the
performance. Surprisingly ICC has not taken any action about this up to now
and pretends to be silent. You know how ICC reacted on other cricketers
previously.
At present, few key personnel have raised the matter to ICC and we need your
support to put the pressure on ICC to take legal action on this matter. So
please log on to following ICC official site and make a complaint about
Gilchrist’s illegal use of a squash ball. You just give your name, contact
number and a valid email with a short message.
Shortcut to: http://cricketworldcup.indya.com/contactus.asp
That’s all you need to do. Please do not ignore. We must make ‘Cricket’ a
game of common people and not a sport dominated by few personnel.
If you find it difficult to type a complaint, at least pick up a message
from the following list. Also pass this email to all known Cricket lovers
for action.
Awaiting your continuous support.
Cheers.
A Cricket Lover
Dinal Phillips a reputed Sports and Commercial lawyer demanded that the matter must be investigated.
`The timing that Gilchrist thought to try out the new method puzzles me. Had he done it in a previous game and if the authorities had got to know about it, he would have been forced to get rid of the device. But this was the final and no one could do anything after he blasted the Sri Lankan attack,` Phillips a former legal consultant of Sri Lanka Cricket said.
`These days we all talk about Spirit of Cricket and more than any of us the Australians talk on Spirit of Cricket and it`s a shame that they had to adopt such tactics. This is not in accordance with Spirit of Cricket and this must be investigated. As far as I am concerned, it`s nothing but cheating.` http://island.lk
Shenell:
you are mentally sick and you call me sick!!!??? HA HA HA. good one.
someone please call 911 .. I think we found that missing patient
all you morons read this:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/gilchrists-use-of-squash-ball-legal/2007/05/09/1178390351615.html
Gilchrist’s use of squash ball ‘legal’ – according to MCC.
you hypocritical sri lankans dont point the fingers at gilchrist when you violated the spirit of the game yourself.
* losing the quarter final game deliberately.
* chucking the way to 700 test wickets.
* using runner even when not injured – ranatunga.
spirit of the game my arse!!!!!!!!!!
oh.. your “arse!!!!!!!!!!” .. I can imagine the plight of that ..
LOL monster, you need help
you people lost the argument. full stop. end of discussion. BYE. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.
OHH YOU ARE BACK HERE .. WE MISS ALL THE FUN WITHOUT YOU MONSTER
james aussie is not an aussie.
Sri Lanka you guys are great you accepted what was an unjust Squash Ball sporting action with a measure of high dignity.
I being an Aussie would like to extend my sincere apology with regard to the comments of a mentally sick monster.
you hypocritical sri lankans dont point the fingers at gilchrist when you violated the spirit of the game yourself.
* losing the quarter final game deliberately.
* chucking the way to 700 test wickets.
* using runner even when not injured – ranatunga.
spirit of the game my arse!!!!!!!!!!
so sri lanka did not cheat by losing that game deliberately against australia in the super 8? ? LOL!!!! spirit of game my arse.
unethical my arse!!! LOL.
the use of squash ball is trivial compared to losing a game intentionally. LOL. sri lanka should be stripped off a position in the final. THe icc should reward 2nd place to New zealand.
spirit of the game my arse!!!!!!!!!!
what a bunch of hypocrites
“unethical? spirit of the game?”
monster you Aussie racist don’t drag Murali to this issue. You guys cheated and cheated and finally discrimination on the basis of Sri Lanka being a Subcontinent team, did the trick.. with the Squash Ball issue.
Murali has nothing to do with this issue, in fact I’d have to say he was a gentleman in the way he handled his comments to the press…
Lochana Said:
May 9th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
“oh my God, I knew Aussies are arrogant and racists, but now only I came to know that you guys are stupid too.”
Calling each other racist is silly. We all get upset when things like this happen. It’s a big occasion… the biggest in world cricket, so tempers will flare as each person wants their country to win very much.. I think the main thing is it is now official that Gilly did nothing wrong, we can all move on and argue about the next cricketing controversy and maybe it might be something we all agree on…
Yeah, leave Murali alone. You people have given him enough trouble. The question is about the Squash Ball. Please talk to the point and prove you are right.
Jagatprakash Said:
May 9th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
“Come-on man you have got it all messed up, the MCC website has not mentioned anything on this issue, just because it’s been said by an official that’s why they released it… that’s not good enough, responsible organizations don’t act like this. The MCC or the ICC has not made an official ruling on this issue. Why don’t you call the MCC your self they will inform you that, they haven’t made an official ruling in this matter? Man this is only hearsay that’s it.”
This is absolutely ridiculous, it shows you don’t bother keeping up with the times. Here is the official line AGAIN:
(DO YOURSELVES A FAVOUR AND READ IT RIGHT THROUGH!!)
CRICKET’S lawmakers overnight cleared Adam Gilchrist’s use of a squash ball in his batting glove, which helped him score a record 149 in Australia’s World Cup final win.
The Marylebone Cricket Club said Gilchrist had not acted against the laws or spirit of the game.
“Gilchrist’s use of a squash ball was designed to alter his grip on the bat whilst at the crease, something which he was perfectly entitled to do,” an MCC statement read.
Gilchrist was man of the match as Australia defeated Sri Lanka by 53 runs in a rain-affected and slightly farcical World Cup final on April 28 in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Kangadaran Mathivanan objected to Gilchrist’s tactic, describing it as unethical and claiming it gave him an unfair advantage.
But the MCC said the relevant rule only stated what external protective equipment was allowed.
“ It’s been suggested that if shoving a squash ball into your bottom glove makes you bat like Adam Gilchrist then perhaps the ICC should make it compulsory. ” – Peter Young Cricket Australia spokesman
For batsmen, helmets, pads, gloves and forearm guards are all listed as permitted.
“None has any definition or prescription,” the MCC said.
“Since there is no restriction in law even on the external form of batting gloves, let alone the interior thereof, no law has been breached.”
Cricket Australia officials yesterday rejected Sri Lanka’s claims in full voice.
“It’s a storm in a teacup, or a batting glove,” CA spokesman Peter Young said.
“To the best of our knowledge it’s no different to, say, putting two or three grips on the bat handle, or batting with two pairs of gloves or having inserts sewn into the palm of gloves.
“All these are things which now happen. This is in the same category.”
Young said there was no question of Gilchrist seeking to take an unfair advantage.
“He is a highly principled person. You’re going to have to go a long way before you find a cricketer who has higher moral standards than Adam Gilchrist.”
Batting coach Bob Meuleman, who introduced Gilchrist to the technique some years ago, said he laughed out loud when he heard Sri Lanka had raised objections.
“Actually it’s just a little bid sad that some people think there’s something sinister in it,” he said. “There’s not.”
Gilchrist’s former Western Australia coach Wayne Clark said it was rubbish to think it gave Gilchrist an unfair advantage.
“They’re grasping at straws,” he said.
Senior Australian umpire Bob Parry, who stood in a limited-overs match in Perth last season in which Gilchrist had a squash ball in his glove while scoring a century against Queensland, said he had no problem with it.
“I don’t see it being outside the spirit of the game. It’s the same as wearing an extra inner inside a batting glove,” he said.
Young concluded: “It’s been suggested that if shoving a squash ball into your bottom glove makes you bat like Adam Gilchrist then perhaps the ICC should make it compulsory.”
Now what has Murali got to do with all this? Are you from a another planet Mr.Monster? Don’t you know he was totally cleared by the ICC long time back?
“unethical? spirit of the game?” are you just talking to your self? :O
unethical? spirit of the game? my arse.
if sri lanka are worried about the spirit of the game, whey did they lost deliberately to austrlia in the super 8?? LOL!! – it must be very ethical and righteous to lose deliberately!!! HA HA HA HA HA. what a bunch of hypocrites.
It must be very ethical to chuck your way to superstar status, Mr Murali??
oh my God, I knew Aussies are arrogant and racists, but now only I came to know that you guys are stupid too.
You asked for my reply, and I did it, and now you are talking bullshit.
I’m sorry I’m out of this stupid argument, only if you have a point, then I’ll debate. Until then, ta ta bye bye.
Lochana… You are absolutely correct this guy monster has escaped from the hospital.:))
Lochana
considering that you believe the squash ball give the batsman extra hitting power. I am worried about your mental health. LOL
Lochana
considering that you believe the squash give the batsman extra hitting power. I am worried about mental health. LOL
Jeev
gilchrist already revealed what was inside the glove after reaching his century. so you are very wrong. LOL!!
Lochana
no, i dont think all of you will complain if sri lanka won the match. just show how farcical, ridiculous your complain is.
you all complain because sri lanka lost, as simple as that.
———————————————-
Lochana Says:
May 9th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
YESSS we would have definitely complained.
I told you Jagat, he just escaped from the hospital.
)
YESSS we would have definitely complained.
okay ?
Monster your are a idiot. It’s a sophist attitude to attack a person and not his arguments… you are not arguing your point of view but trying to make the other person ridiculous. Whatever you are the only one to believe that someone will fall in your stupid trap.
Hey Monster, Morons are you who cannot understand a simple rule written in your mother tongue. If SL have won, then Gilly would have kept the secret for him self. Otherwise, yes, we would have complained.
Lochana
you still have not answer my question!!!
would you complain about the squash ball if sri lanka won the final??
Yo Monster,
We are not so stupid to use squash balls in cricket. We always play by the rules and we don’t want “victory at any cost”.
To : Cricket Player #140
“BY HOOK OR CROOK”.. thats how you guys want to win and how on earth could it be “within the rules?” I personally regret that a person like Gilchrist is caught up in this, but what is done is done.
Cricket is supposed to be a gentlemens game and is governed by mighty “Laws”. “Cricket Purists” like Ian Chappell & Michael Holding started screaming out at ICC to probe into the dropping of two Sri-Lankan players in their match against Aussies in the super eight stage. Now, what do they have to say about Gilly’s hidden ball?
Don’t look through tinted glasses, its a “foreign substance” used to “enhance performance” in his batting glove, which is absolutely not approved by the laws of cricket.
Whenever a cricketer from the sub-continent make a slight mistake, you guys never hesitate to scream “bloody murderers..”, but whenever we ask for justice we are “whining”.
DCA Cricketer, Jagatprakash, Dr. Rajkumar and other moronic sri lankans:
would you complain if sri lanka won the final??
ANSWER ME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know the answer is very obvious.
Guess cricinfo is just hearsay to Jagga….man you guys are sad: read it an weep. Acceptance is the first step back to happiness:
http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/wc2007/content/current/story/293393.html
The MCC who are the guardians of the Laws, said that Gilchrist had not done anything wrong. “Gilchrist’s use of a squash ball was designed to alter his grip on the bat whilst at the crease,” a spokesman said, “something which he was perfectly entitled to do under Law 3.6(c), which specifies only what external protective equipment is permitted for certain players.”
The Laws sub-committee said: “The incident could not be classed either as contravening the Law or as breaching the Spirit of the Game.”
NICE POST MARK – IT IS OFFICIAL IT IS OFFICIAL I REPEAT IT IS OFFICIAL
Apologies anyone….funny how you demand Gilly to now in the face of being shown up I don’t expect any of you to have the decency to.
Jagatprakash,
Have a look at this. The official website of the MCC.
http://www.lords.org/latest-news/top-stories/
You can sign off from India but your motivation is clear you were supporting Sri Lanka in the final……try to cast that aside….the rules on glove design are clear here is the full quote from the MCC official to try to kick you along a bit.
The Marylebone Cricket Club said Gilchrist had not acted against the laws or spirit of the game.
“Gilchrist’s use of a squash ball was designed to alter his grip on the bat whilst at the crease, something which he was perfectly entitled to do,” the MCC said in a statement Tuesday.
Gilchrist scored 149 runs as Australia defeated Sri Lanka by 53 runs in the rain-affected World Cup final on April 28 in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Kangadaran Mathivanan objected to Gilchrist’s tactic, describing it as unethical and claiming it gave him an unfair advantage.
The MCC said the relevant rule only stated what external protective equipment was allowed.
For batsmen, helmets, pads, gloves and forearm guards are all listed as permitted.
“None has any definition or prescription,” the MCC said.
“Since there is no restriction in law even on the external form of batting gloves, let alone the interior thereof, no law has been breached.”
END OF STORY – I have been saying this all along and getting BUT BUT BUT back….it is within the rules…YOU HAVE NO COMEBACK REGARDLESS OF WEATHER YOU BELIEVE THE MCC HAS RELEASED THIS OR NOT, THE QUOTES ARE CLEAR AND EXPLAIN HOW IT IS WITHIN THE RULES. If you can’t accept the MCC officials interpretation then you are just a dill. Sorry but it has to be said, the obvious is hitting you in the face now.
Your whole debate is just hearsay….it is not hearsay it is a quote from an MCC official….someone who clearly understands the rules of criket. He wouldn’t say it if he didn’t think that would be the finding. You really need to read the rule book. I am sick of telling you guys about the rules on gloves…the MCC official has just confirmed what I have been telling you. You can hang in till it becomes official but I think this whole saga has got sad and has destroyed the reputation of Sri Lankan Cricket fans….I say fans because Murali himself does not question the use of the ball. Funny that.
Come-on man you have got it all messed up, the MCC website has not mentioned anything on this issue, just because it’s been said by an official that’s why they released it… that’s not good enough, responsible organizations don’t act like this. The MCC or the ICC has not made an official ruling on this issue. Why don’t you call the MCC your self they will inform you that, they haven’t made an official ruling in this matter? Man this is only hearsay that’s it.
Jagatprakash
India
“BY HOOK OR BY CROOK” YOU WILL WHINGE WHINGE WHINGE EVEN WHEN TOLD IT IS WITHIN THE RULES!!!! Remind me never to hire a Sri Lankan lawyer if this site reflects their ability to interpret rules.
No Jaga even now you are clinging on….IT’s been said by an official that’s why they released it….so no one has to listen to your crap anymore until they have time to Put out the official reply.
The Marylebone Cricket Club said Gilchrist had not acted against the laws or spirit of the game.
“Gilchrist’s use of a squash ball was designed to alter his grip on the bat whilst at the crease, something which he was perfectly entitled to do,” the MCC said in a statement Tuesday.
What a joke this whole thing has been……Sri Lanka fans have earned a reputation from this……sad for all the good fair non whinging fans of that nation.
I was told that this is far from over, as it’s only a feeling of the MCC and the ICC will take it up next month, people take note that MCC and the ICC have not issued a official press release on this issue and all, that we read is only hearsay.
DCA Cricketer
The MCC have ruled and LIKE I HAVE TOLD YOU it is perfectly legal (So don’t come on me…come on yourself…do you think your cricketing knowledge better than the MCC?…come on)…to quote but a small section of their statement:
“Gilchrist’s use of a squash ball was designed to alter his grip on the bat whilst at the crease, something which he was perfectly entitled to do,” the MCC said in a statement Tuesday.
So I hope you stick to your own words “All we are asking is play game in good spirit! If this game was played in fairness no one will complaint” IT WAS…. MCC HAVE SAID SO….
END OF STORY…THE BETTER TEAM WON BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME.
# Jagatprakash Says:
May 9th, 2007 at 3:11 am
What we want to know from ICC and big square mouth Ian chapel to tell whole world if this squash ball issue is legal or not…
Because there are millions of cricketers waiting to use this kind of things to succeed in India.
The MCC have already ruled on it!! They are the lawmakers of the game not the ICC. Millions of cricketers can go ahead, I think you will find it won’t help them all. Some cricketers use 2 and 3 grips on their bats because it widens the grip… No difference. People in here are raving on like lunatics like he did something that he hasn’t done before.
Official News just in:
The MCC who are the guardians of the Laws, said that Gilchrist had not done anything wrong. “Gilchrist’s use of a squash ball was designed to alter his grip on the bat whilst at the crease,” a spokesman said, “something which he was perfectly entitled to do under Law 3.6(c), which specifies only what external protective equipment is permitted for certain players.”
The Laws sub-committee said: “The incident could not be classed either as contravening the Law or as breaching the Spirit of the Game.”
Australian cricket officials have dismissed claims that Adam Gilchrist’s use of the squash ball as a batting aid in the World Cup final was an unfair advantage. “It’s a storm in a teacup, or a batting glove,” Peter Young, a spokesman for Cricket Australia, said. “To the best of our knowledge it’s no different to, say, putting two or three grips on the bat handle, or batting with two pairs of gloves or having inserts sewn into the palm of gloves.”
Bob Parry, the senior Australian umpire who stood in the only previous time that Gilchrist used a squash ball, while scoring a century against Queensland, has said that he has no problems with its use. “I don’t see it being outside the spirit of the game. It’s the same as wearing an extra inner inside a batting glove.”
Looks like there’s going to be a lot of whinging and whining in here but meanwhile, those that are really important in cricket understand it’s a non issue and will remain such…… I say let the Sri Lankan go to the ICC and make a fool of himself.
Muttaih Muralitrharan says:
“If anything, I would think having a squash ball in your glove would be uncomfortable. I don’t know if I could even hold a bat with something like that in my glove. So if [Gilchrist wants to do it], it is OK with me.”
(Interview with Herald – 7/5/2007)
How come GILLY be so SILLY and become like MILLIE VANILLIE ??
By the way, beware everyone .. an Australian Mental Hospital is looking for a missing patient nick named “Monster” ..
)
What we want to know from ICC and big square mouth Ian chapel to tell whole world if this squash ball issue is legal or not…
Because there are millions of cricketers waiting to use this kind of things to succeed in India.
Cricket Player: do you honestly agree that having excess rubber such as squash ball in a glove will be allowed in a cricket equipment? in that case we should use wider bats, bigger gloves and smaller stumps. Cmon man get a life, ask these questions to yourself?
Australia deserved to win this world cup in a fair way, now they have lost the shine out of the cup. When they won the ICC champions trophy, shine was taken away by pushing the presenter. Clearly these things are not classed as SPORTSMANSHIP!
All we are asking is play game in good spirit! If this game was played in fairness no one will complaint!
When facts are quoted, Aussies feel so terrified. This is pure un-sportsmanship.
Rahula Senanayake Said: “Throughout the tournament Gilchrist failed and suddenly he became exceptional. Did the squash ball help to boost his average? yes…yes…yes… So clearly Gilchrist and Australia have broken the rules.”
Yep, and this happens when any batsman overcome a form slump whether they have a squash ball in their glove or not. What rules have they broken?? I don’t see the ICC talking about it.. I don’t see the MCC talking about it. In fact I find bugger all news articles about it and I see the World Cup is already in Australia and will remain there.
Muttaih Muralitrharan says:
“If anything, I would think having a squash ball in your glove would be uncomfortable. I don’t know if I could even hold a bat with something like that in my glove. So if [Gilchrist wants to do it], it is OK with me.”
(Interview with Herald – 7/5/2007)
I Totally agree with # 10 by Dr. Rajkumar
As an Aussie, I think we need to admit that there is a serious concern here for cricket fans. Forget your boundaries such as Australian, Sri Lankan, Asian etc. As cricket fans in general, we have a concern here, so ICC should explain the situation and how we could reestablish the credibility and the validity of Australian title as world cup winner. Effectively, that is what is being questioned here.
I think following need to happen in the next couple of days.
1. ICC to explain the legal situation
2. ICC to update the regulations in a fair way. Probably they should prohibit these things used inside batsman’s gloves.
3. Ponting and Gilly to apologize to the Australian public for disgracing our country and our cricket and also apologize for messing a title, which we really deserve to win. Even though validity of the match is questioned, no one can say that we are not the best.
4. Ponting and Gilly to apologize to the SL team and all cricket fans for hitting at the true sportsmanship.
5. ICC to make an announcement about the Final match (Joint winners? Replay? or ?)
A poll in 2005
Wisden Cricketer poll reveals bowlers fear him most
Gilchrist voted scariest batsman
Adam Gilchrist has been voted the world’s scariest batsman in an exclusive poll of international bowlers. The Wisden Cricketer magazine asked more than 20 of the world’s leading bowlers to name the batsman they least like to bowl to, and the Australian Gilchrist came out on top. West Indies’ Brian Lara polled the second largest number of votes, while Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi came third.
Gilchrist was modest about the poll. “I guess it’s an honour in a strange kind of way,” he said. “But it’s not something I place a great deal of emphasis on – when I bat I’m trying to perform a job for the team. It’s not a personal job against individual bowlers.
The South African pace bowler Makhaya Ntini immediately nominated Gilchrist, saying, “he’s just unbelievable sometimes.” England’s Darren Gough agreed, adding: “There’s none I really fear. No-one who is going to take you apart. But Gilchrist would have to be one of the best one-day openers.” Indeed he is – in 209 one-day internationals, Gilchrist has struck 6969 runs at a strike-rate of 95.
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/cbs/content/story/211318.html
Throughout the tournament Gilchrist failed and suddenly he became exceptional. Did the squash ball help to boost his average? yes…yes…yes… So clearly Gilchrist and Australia have broken the rules.
When Murlaitharan and other SL players have no problem with that squash ball,
I think it’s foolish to whinge/cry/moan on Gilchrist.
Regards,
Arnold,
A Proud Srilankan
Dr. Rajkumar
would you complain if sri lanka won the final??
I know the answer is very obvious.
sour grapes!!
Strange that.
As if Gilly hasn’t ripped attacks apart for years…(Murali included)
Muralitharan figures at VB Series final
10-0-99 runs (most of them by Gilly)
THis is why you people keep whinging
http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/image/293145.html
would you morons complain if sri lanka won the world cup?? LOL!!!
Gilchrist’s average without the last innings would have been a mere 30.40 compared to the 45.30 after the finals. Did the squash ball help to boost his average? Yes…why? He had a few hits before he went off for the World Cup. He didn’t have the squash ball in and he hit them like he couldn’t even play fourth grade. He put it in and he then hit the ball so well they went for huge sixes.
Dr. Rajkumar
that is only your moronic opinion.!!! HA HA HA
squash ball or not, sri lanka would have lost the final. LOL!!!
The cricketing laws are extremely strict on what dimensions bats can be and what they can be made out of. The rules on gloves were clarified recently for wicket keepers to prohibit the webbing between the finger and thumb. Basically all protective clothing should be used to provide protection and not as a playing assistance. So clearly Gilchrist and Australia have broken the rules and the world cup will go to Sri Lanka
DCA on one point we agree is “Srilankans should be proud themselves! Tiny country in the Indian ocean coming to a WORLD CUP FINALS!” This is true. But they do not deserve to win, this is clearly deserved by Australia also a tiny population (90% desert) with population in WHOLE country about that of London or a big city of India….. They produce great sportpeople given there relatively small population also.
THis is why you people keep whinging
http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/image/293145.html
would you morons complain if sri lanka won the world cup?? LOL
DCA my thoughts exactly about you…do you read…I have explained how rubber is used in gloves and bats handles how in this capacity all of the bat handle and some of the glove rubber is not there for protection. It does not have to be declared and the way Gilly used it was only effectively making a modified glove. The rules on gloves are quite clear…rubber is allowed and is used frequently.
Monster: You stupid idiot, can’t you read it clearly what I have written!! Headband, wristband blah blah were not inside a GLOVE!!! those were not part of cricket equipment! But glove is you stupid! (if you know anything about cricket!)
(Monster :yes, the ball also decreased his performance as it gave him less control of his bat. LOL)
Increasing/decreasing PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE! you moron! not pschological! Srilankans should be proud themselves! Tiny country in the Indian ocean coming to a WORLD CUP FINALS!
“monster: Steve waugh’s red hankerchief was also not a safety equipment, so why did no one complain.???
Headband, wristband are not safety equipments, but they do give batsmen advantages, why did’nt you morons complain?? you sad sri lankans are just bad losers, that is all!!”
DCA Cricketer do you read…as a cricketer like myself do you declare the rubber embedded in your bat handle to the umpires before play? Do you declare the rubber in your gloves to them? No. The rubber in the bat handle and gloves are allowed for. Some of the rubber in the gloves functions as protective but a lot of it doesn’t it is there to help your grip. As are the cuts in the padding to assist flexibility. If Gilly adds a bit of rubber (which is all half a squash ball is – try reading my entry is it not just stats on Gilly) to help his grip he does not have to declare this any more than any of the other rubber in his gloves and bat handle which do not serve a protective function only. TRY READING AND THINKING BEFORE POSTING. I, like you have never had to declare the rubber in my gloves or bat to the umpire. Tendulkar has used modified gloves purpose made for him for years…it is all legal as a fellow cricket player you should know this.
OK guys I got this in my email…Cricket fans in Australia, Sri Lanka and throughout world, who ever this guy is, he is a very fair person, to come up with a compromise of this nature and I salute him for that.
I also take this opportunity to thank the Editor Lanka Page, for posting this article hear, so we could exchange our ideas as true sportsman, in our deferent walks of life. I consider this exchange educational and we may continue… to brainstorm in a professional capacity.
**************************************
As an Aussie, I think we need to admit that there is a serious concern here for cricket fans. Forget your boundaries such as Australian, Sri Lankan, Asian etc. As cricket fans in general, we have a concern here, so ICC should explain the situation and how we could reestablish the credibility and the validity of Australian title as world cup winner. Effectively, that is what is being questioned here.
I think following need to happen in the next couple of days.
1. ICC to explain the legal situation
2. ICC to update the regulations in a fair way. Probably they should prohibit these things used inside batsman’s gloves.
3. Ponting and Gilly to apologize to the Australian public for disgracing our country and our cricket and also apologize for messing a title, which we really deserve to win. Even though validity of the match is questioned, no one can say that we are not the best.
4. Ponting and Gilly to apologize to the SL team and all cricket fans for hitting at the true sportsmanship.
5. ICC to make an announcement about the Final match (Joint winners? Replay? or ?)
so what if the ball helps to control the bat better?? Gilchrist is within his right to put whatever he like inside his glove. it is non of you people’s business.
DCA Cricketer: the following statement is not true!
“He Has used a squash ball to increase his performance and it was not used as a safety equipment”.
yes, the ball also decreased his performance as it gave him less control of his bat. LOL
Steve waugh’s red hankerchief was also not a safety equipment, so why did no one complain.???
Headband, wristband are not safety equipments, but they do give batsmen advantages, why did’nt you morons complain?? you sad sri lankans are just bad losers, that is all!!
You can write pages and pages of statistics, scietific claims and excuses, the fact of the matter is “He Has used a squash ball to increase his performance and it was not used as a safety equipment”. This was not declared before the game with umpires. Red hanky Steve Waugh used was nothing to do with physical performance of the game, it is to do with psychological effect, because it had no contact with cricket equipment. Can’t you see that Gilly has modified a cricketing equipment (Glove)? Why do you wanna bring other issues and not Gilly’s modified glove! If you think he used it for protection, I suggest he should used a wicket keepers glove which has more rubber to protect the fingers!
Spiceman, he has agreed that the squash ball gave him a better grip! not psychological advantage.
Australia team is unstoppable at the moment, the way they played in this World Cup, however my point is that the game should have played in FAIRNESS! not modified gloves nor played in complete darkness.
Being a cricketer myself I will congratulate Mahela for his professionalism in the Final and agreed with Ponting to complete the game regardless of light!
Cmon guys it is a gentlemens game, keep that way! Don’t modify it! That is why we all love it, living it!
Spiceman Says:
May 8th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
DCA, the problem is it’s impossible to tell whether his form reversal was due to the ball or psychological, like Steve Waugh’s red hanky who wouldn’t play without it. Cricketers are a superstitious lot.
sarky I have no idea what you are on about and don’t care. My argument is the same, most of his centuries were scored without 1/2 a squash ball (peice of rubber) in his glove…. The point remains the same. Do you have anything useful to add??
And Cricket Player, you are a legend mate, I doubt they will listen they don’t want to hear common sense…. Keep up the good work champ!
steve waugh’s red hankerchief was not part cricket equipment, why didnt anyone complain???
my underwear, head band, wrist band are not part of cricket equipments. but i can use them whenever I play cricket. it is non of your business if use them. THe same go for the squash ball. I can put whatever I like inside the glove, it is personal choice and non of your business. LOL.
how much force can be generated by half a compressed rubber ball. HA HA HA. you people dont know anything about physics. enough to clear the ball over the boundary, is it??? THen every teams can have power hitter like Gilchrist then?? HA HA HA.
GIlchrist is one of the cleanest hittter in the history of the game. it is not the first time he has smashed quick century, what is the big deal??
it was gilchrist’s ability that scored the century, not that bloody rubber ball.
I cant believe you sri lankans even come up with this excuse. HA HA HA.
you cant bear losing, that is all.
Strange that.
As if Gilly hasn’t ripped attacks apart for years…(Murali included)
spiceman,
you might not know statistics, try spelling it first- there’s a big difference between 97.odd% and 99.9%..
I have written on this a number of times….funny when I address the reason why it is not against the rules the moderator deletes the entry. Is there a conspiracy here to keep this beat up story going? The debate has lost its focus and is just a rabble of Australian supporters vs upset Sri Lankans. If moderator puts this one through I will address some of the points:
THE SCIENTIFIC CLAIM
The “Scientific” claim: This is truly the biggest joke of all the objections. Some of you have acknowledged this and say it is just the technicality of the rules you object to but many still believe this one. Well get a squash ball and CUT IT IN HALF (that is how Gilly had it) Press it in….it returns to its shape with very small recoil. This is no spring. Recoil is found in many materials….including cricketing pads. If they didn’t return to their position then there would be big dents left in them every time LEE or MALINGA hit them. I could go into how Gilly actually positioned the squash ball on his lower palm in line with his little finger but just under his wrist. Here it actually just acts as a piece of material resisting him bringing his hand around too far into a poor batting grip. Here it would not actually be depressed and in heavy contact with the handle….but I will go on with this scientific crap for a second. The recoil of half a squash ball is so small it definitely would not add any measurable speed to the bat. Further in physics you are forgetting that for every force there is an equal and opposite reaction. If the ball was compressed to recoil it has to push both ways!!! To highlight this take a full squash ball and push on it from the side on a flat surface. It rolls…..why? Because nothing pushes the other way to allow it to compress. Now push it straight down. It compresses but the reason is the weight of mother earth on the other side is a bit hard to budge. When rubber in a glove (i.e. half a squash ball) is compressed then Gilly’s hand is no mother earth. In fact his hand would weigh much less then the cricket bat. Gilly would actually have to grip the bat harder as the rubber would uncompress in BOTH directions. This is also why he wouldn’t actually have the rubber positioned in a spot where it was compressed. Any good batting coach would know having to grip the bat harder with your lower hand when you are striking the ball is bad for you technique. The pads on your fingertips also have recoil and I have actually tested some and compared to half a squash ball. Some recoil quicker than a half a squash ball….funny that. So to all those that just keep repeating the scientific crap actually do some science, I have tried to simplify this so you understand. I will now address the other issues
THE CLAIM IT IS AGAINST THE RULES
On the surface there is a reasonable argument here when you quote a section of rules about declaring items to the umpire etc. However you must realize these rules are just a few rules in the game of cricket and are being quoted out of context. People have got their knickers in a knot about the whole “squash” ball thing. You need to answer a few questions honestly here to understand why it was legal.
I have explained that the scientific benefit is totally unfounded. Given this I then ask you the first question:
What is half a squash ball? When you cut it in half it is no longer a squash ball that is for sure…..they don’t play squash with half a ball and by definition it is no longer a “ball” so get over the squash ball thing……HALF A SQUASH BALL IS JUST A PIECE OF RUBBER.
Further half a squash ball loses its ability to be compressed at pressure as the inside is now open it can’t act like a full squash ball where the air inside can be pressurized. So is again JUST A PIECE OF RUBBER.
When you go onto the field do you declare the rubber in your bat handle to the umpires? No, why because they form part of the cricket bat. Just on this point a team of researches have developed a new material that can better absorb shock. They have a major batting company on board and will be releasing them next year. They are perfectly within the rules as the rules allow shock and vibration materials in the handle. The researches themselves have said they stayed away from the body of the bat as the rules don’t allow such modifications. This bat is being designed in Australia but will be available to ALL cricket players so better tell your team to get some to prevent more excuses. But to quote from a report on them “Traditional cricket bat handles are made of cane with rubber for absorbing shock, and now John and his team have developed a new handle made of a carbon fibre shell containing a polymer insert that absorbs vibrations. The researchers are also hoping to use sensors to help control vibrations. John and his team want to expand the “sweet spot” of the cricket bat, the area on a bat that can hit a ball hard yet not cause unpleasant vibrations for the player. “The bigger the sweet spot, the more forgiving the cricket bat becomes,” he claims.”
Notice how the report uses the fact that traditional bats have rubber in them…..so rubber is legal in the bat handle. Further rubber is employed in its capacity to absorb shock in the design of many cricketing GLOVES. Do you have to declare the rubber to umpires that is in your gloves….no and no one ever has. When Gilly inserted half a squash ball which as I have explained when cut in half is just a piece of rubber, he simply put a piece of rubber into his glove to allow the glove to best suit the needs of his anatomy. With the rubber in the correct place this allows him to grip the bat correctly. This is the major purpose of the glove other than protection. Have a look at the design of batting gloves. They include many features such as cuts in the padding to allow flexibility. This flexibility assists in a better grip. So as explained the overall design of the glove is to achieve protection and assist in achieving a proper grip. As explained materials used to do this include rubber. So Gilly has found a simple way of modifying his glove to better achieve its purpose for him. He does not have to declare the rubber he used in the same way any other batsman does not have to declare the rubber used in their gloves. Many batsman have tailor made gloves for exactly this reason…..do you think it is for protection…no way…the protection of a $40 pair of gloves with no flexibility will prevent broken fingers as well as an expensive pair. What is better in the expensive pair is the materials used better absorb shock in some models and more importantly to this debate flexibility and design is usually better to allow a better batting grip. Gilly’s crude fix to this solution means instead of consulting the expense of a glove manufacturer to insert a bit of rubber inside the glove he has done it himself. Sachin TENDULKAR had a pair of modified batting gloves so if you are going to call Gilly’s innings cheating then you are inferring that the great TENDULKAR has cheated all his life. This is just ridiculous people we all know TENDULKAR was and is a great batsman who played within the rules and used equipment to best display his talents. Gilly has done no different.
THE CLAIM GILLY PUT ON A FREAK SHOW BECAUSE OF IT
So I have explained how the use of rubber (half a squash ball) is legal and within the rules. I have explained how you do not have to declare rubber in your batting gloves to the umpires before play…..it has been this way since rubber was incorporated into the design of batting gloves.
I have explained how the recoil of half a squash ball is no greater than the pads (many of which are a polymer of rubber) in your batting gloves. I have explained how Gilly used it where it would not make contact with the bat anyway and how half a squash ball also loses it’s ability to pressurize. While it will still return to it’s original shape so to do your pads. Funny that. The pads are often in direct contact with the bat handle….hmmmm.
But some people still say that Gilly’s performance was so unusual that he must have been cheating. Strange claim. Does that mean all the batsmen who make a return to form were cheating? Was Jason Gillespie cheating when he scored 200…..well above his batting average? No because historically people have knocks below their average and above their average. BUT BUT Gilly didn’t do so well in the games before the final at the world cup. Gilly scored 30 against Sri Lanka prior to the final…he was dropped on 31 in the final…..so maybe if he had been caught he wouldn’t have done well…in fact not maybe DEFINITELY. The important thing here is Gilly played Sri Lanka in the final. Here is a list of Gilly vs. Sri Lanka in his last 7 digs:
1. 26-Jan 2006 AUSTRALIA won by 5 wickets Gilly 34 runs
2. 29-Jan 2006 AUSTRALIA won by 6 wickets Gilly 116 runs
3. 10-Feb 2006 SriLANKA won by 22 runs Gilly 26 runs
4. 12-Feb 2006 AUSTRALIA won by 167 runs Gilly 0 runs
5. 14-Feb 2006 AUSTRALIA won by 9 wickets Gilly 122 runs
6. 16 April 2007 AUSTRALIA won by 7 wickets Gilly 30 runs
7. 28 April 2007 AUSTRALIA won by 53 runs Gilly 149 runs
Notice a pattern? Yes BESIDES AUSTRALIA WINNING CONSISTENTLY BY BIG MARGINS.
No what I was looking for is that in the last seven digs Gilly has scored three centuries but his other four scores are all low or around 30. His career statistics against Sri Lanka include 5 centuries and 2 half centuries…one of the “half” centuries was 99 RUN OUT. So really he was one run shy (run out) of 6 centuries to one half century. GILLY HAS NOT DONE THIS AGAINST ANY OTHER NATION, not even Ireland. He has not scored more centuries than half centuries against anyone but Sri Lanka. And Sri Lanka it is effectively 6-1!!!!! What this tells you is that once he passes 50 against Sri Lanka he will likely make a hundred. I remind you HE WAS DROPPED ON 31 AND AGAIN A COUPLE OF TIMES LATER AS WELL. Sri Lanka had their chances to get him but once he got beyond 50 he was always likely to destroy them. His scoring rate was not significantly better than any of his other 100’s in ODI against Sri Lanka. In fact the 122 in the last ODI against Sri Lanka before the cup he bought up his hundred in just 67 balls…..faster than the hundred in the final.
So no this was not anything unexpected from Gilly and simply occurred because Sri Lanka dropped their catches “catches win matches” is not a catch phrase for no reason. Catch phrase….get it…he he.
Anyway hope this helps all those confused fans. I ask you to look at this and then ask yourself why you are really upset. I understand, when the Windies dominated in the 70’s and 80’s it was hard not to feel resentful of them. But just enjoy the game and stop making excuses. The Windies in the 70’s and 80’s had some arrogant but magnificent players and deserved what they achieved. Australia in the 90’s and 00’s have also had some arrogant players but they have had some good players too and of all the players with the least arrogance Gilly is at the top of the pile. So stop using this recentment as a means to twist a piece of rubber into some miracle reason for losing. Just accept the team that has beaten Sri Lanka 6 out of the last 7 times they have played was the better team on the day. Get on with it and have some fun and better luck next cup. (with a bit of luck Gilly will have retired by then)
Nuwan, of course the squash ball had something to do with his century…. no-one in here is saying it didn’t, but so did his talent, his bat, his pads, his gloves, his helmet, his ability etc etc etc. He definately used the ball to help his bottom hand technique.. that’s a fact. What isn’t a fact is whether it was cheating or not.
We have mentioned steak in wicket keepers gloves, we have mentioned John Wright gluing his glove to his bat, and Clive Rice attaching strips of lead to his bat… all these things have happened and so far none were declared illegal. What is your point?? If it is, he won’t do it again, and he will still be a great cricketer and he will still score centuries against Sri Lanka as he has in the past..
You guys really need to get a life, I’m outa here for now, got other things to do with my time…..
If the squash ball had nothing to do with Gilchrist’s century why the hell did he used it?????
to please his grandmother perhaps?
Anil, you must have taken forum logic 101 or something mate because you haven’t answered a single proposition put to you in here except to say things like: “Gilly’s a cheat or an idiot!” If that’s all you have, you have nothing…. You don’t have to shout I can read your abuse loud and clear mate… It’s funny how the dumbest people always have to declare their intelligence…. you’re on the right track mate, keep it coming cause you are making a fool of yourself for all to see.
Spiceman 94.
If you have no valid defense, always resort to a straw man argument, or if you are really limited in intelligence, try your hand at false analogy.
I’ll say this once, loud and clear.
IF YOU TRULY DO HAVE SOME SORT OF INTELLIGENCE DISABILITY DO ME A FAVOR AND IGNORE ME BECAUSE I AM CLEARLY ON ANOTHER LEVEL THAN YOU ARE.
DCA, the problem is it’s impossible to tell whether his form reversal was due to the ball or psychological, like Steve Waugh’s red hanky who wouldn’t play without it. Cricketers are a superstitious lot. Most will tell you it’s difficult to play with a squash ball in the glove. He certainly doesn’t need extra power like some in here are suggesting, but he did need confidence. Perhaps it gave him that. But as far as I know, at this stage it isn’t illegal… perhaps it will be, perhaps it won’t. Either way I won’t lose sleep……
Adam Gilchrist is very talented cricketer. He is a natural strokeplayer, however using the squash ball has dissapointed me. If he believed in his instincts (like he did all these years) he shouldn’t have used a sqash ball in a WC Finals. He has used this in a club match, in which he managed to score a century and he used it again in a WC finals. In both occasions he has enjoyed the freedom and extra power to score freely. Does he know that squash ball is not a cricketing equipment? He admits that having a squash ball gives him the extra grip. GRIP is everything to time the strokes in cricket!!
(All these ppl in this blog) Do you accept that Gilly was timing the shots perfectly in WC final, which he couldn’t do in the previous WC matches! Specially when you are not in form it is very hard to time the shots accurately. Don’t you think he has used the squash to give extra grip (which helped him to enhance his performance). We all know that Gilly is very honest player, he will walk before umpire’s finger. But there are 2 ways to get away from guilt.
1. Deny any wrongdoing and challenge
2. Admit the guilt and make as a innocent mistake (i.e: ignorance of the law)
However ignorance of the law is not an excuse, we all know that! But in real life you get less penalty. But I do have 2 questions for Mr Gilly, does he know that squash ball is not a cricketing equipment? does he know in cricket you can only use permitted equipment/clothing?
In the spirit of the game and to KEEP IT REAL, we shouldn’t use squash ball in the gloves. Using inner gloves is different, this gives extra padding (protection, for Health and safety) not extra GRIP! (Performance by timing the ball). He could have used the inner glove for protection but he chose the squash ball. This clearly confirms that squash ball was used to increase performance. (PPL please talk about the relevant subject here not Murali issues, race, drugs, match fixing, Bob Woolmer, if you wanna spk about these please change the topic and have different blog)
Anyhow moving forward, this matter will be discussed in the ICC meeting and we will wait for the outcome (or we will fight each other by throwing words).
LONG LIVE KING GILLY (But don’t use squash ball!) You are a gifted player, We wanna see your natural game! Keep it Real!
Ok we have a pedant…. :rolleyes: So of the 79 centuries Gilly has scored at List A and avove he has used the squash ball twice. So in 97.47% of his century innings he hasn’t used the squash ball. How on earth this actually changes anything I’ve said, I don’t know.
Also: # Anil from India Says:
May 8th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
“You guys can say, what ever you want but you can’t change the fact… that Australians are Past Masters in the cheating game. They want to win by… hook or by crook. It is no more a gentleman’s game.”
This really says it all, it doesn’t matter what is said or who says it, Anil has just admitted that he doesn’t care and won’t listen… Simply put, he is an ignorant fool who is more interested in satisfying his own pride than listening to anyone who might have something decent to say….. CASE CLOSED on this one….
Re: Clarification on the above comment
sarky Says:
May 8th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Spiceman,
I have no views to offer on this topic but I am overawed by my ignorance of the fact that Gilly has hit more than a 1000 centuries.. Re: your percentage comment..
” Gilly has hit 99.9% of his centuries without a squash ball” =======> Doesn’t mean that Gilly has scored 1000 centuries.
sarky Says:
I have no views to offer on this topic but I am overawed by my ignorance of the fact that Gilly has hit more than a 1000 centuries.. Re: your percentage comment..
Just to clarify: “99.9% of his centuries” doesn’t mean 1000 centuries.
Spiceman,
I have no views to offer on this topic but I am overawed by my ignorance of the fact that Gilly has hit more than a 1000 centuries.. Re: your percentage comment..
Spiceman Says:
May 8th, 2007 at 8:36 am
Dr Rajkumar: you are right it was an unfair advantage, if only the Sri Lankans had caught him on 31… I think we should ban the Sri Lankans for dropping catches….
The fact is, Gilly has hit 99.9% of his centuries without a squash ball, and if you take a look at a few you will note they were all fast and most had big 6’s and 4’s…
Adam Gilchrist is a speacial,special talent.
He is also probably one of the most decent blokes to have played international cricket, as can be judged by the fact that he is one of the handful of ‘walkers’ in modern cricket.
To think that he would do something which is unfair, is to me to think the unthinkable.
What he did at Barbados on that Saturday was the result of sheer brilliance combining with incredible grit and determination and he would have done it with or without the squash ball.
Adam Gilchrist is a brilliant batsman and also a very good bloke, so for god’s sake stop casting any doubts on his talent or character.
Strange that.
As if Gilly hasn’t ripped attacks apart for years…(Murali included)
. If GilChrist is a Cheat, i do not think he would have pointed to it when he reached his wonderful hundred. Surely he would have kept it hush-hush so as not to be punished by the ICC……
If any, GilChrist and other Aussie crickters should be applauded for their Charity and Philanthrophic works
Remembar Steve Waugh founded- Udayan; Shane Warne donated for Tsunami victims; GilChrist supports 2 boys-their education and career; Mcgrath & Hayden – Cancer Treatment & Research;
I know Jayawardene is involved in Cancer charity; hope others follow him.
Hello Anil,
It’s not me but the Law-makers of Cricket who say:
———————————————-———————————————-———————————————
The MCC, who are the guardians of the Laws, told Cricinfo that the official view is that the action was legal “It is no different to wearing inners, etc,” Jon Stephenson, said.
———————————————-———————————————-———————————————-
# butter chicken in a hurry Says:
May 8th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
mr curry
It took the British hundreds of years to get them to stop living in trees and clubbing monkeys in their spare time, so you have to be generous in your expectations for them to learn the correct bowling action.
And as for learning physics, well……
butter chicken in a hurry,
What the f#ck you are talking about?
British spent hundreds of years to civilize us?
We had a civilization thousands of years before even there was a English race. And we did not built it by killing other people, destroying their culuture, grabing their land at gun point and selling them as slaves.
Learn your history or keep quite about it. Otherwise the rest of the world will know that you are an idiot.
You guys can say, what ever you want but you can’t change the fact… that Australians are Past Masters in the cheating game. They want to win by… hook or by crook. It is no more a gentleman’s game.
———————————————-———————————————-———————————————-
The MCC, who are the guardians of the Laws, told Cricinfo that the official view is that the action was legal “It is no different to wearing inners, etc,” Jon Stephenson, said.
———————————————-———————————————-———————————————-
http://usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/293393.html
*******************************************
Muttaih Muralitrharan says:
“If anything, I would think having a squash ball in your glove would be uncomfortable. I don’t know if I could even hold a bat with something like that in my glove. So if [Gilchrist wants to do it], it is OK with me.”
(Interview with Herlad – 7/5/2007)
*******************************************
http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/gilchrist-ton-was-underarm-sri-lanka/2007/05/07/1178390231999.html
And have you forgotten that GilChrist’s hundred ::
Australia Vs World XL in Melbourne’s Telstra Dome, where GilChrist showed his MASTER CLASS BATTING against the World’s best bowlers.
Anyways, The Law-makers of Cricket say:
*******************************************
The MCC, who are the guardians of the Laws, told Cricinfo that the official view is that the action was legal “It is no different to wearing inners, etc,” Jon Stephenson, said.
(Cricinfo)
END OF THE DISCUSSION
*******************************************
Muttaih Muralitrharan says:
“If anything, I would think having a squash ball in your glove would be uncomfortable. I don’t know if I could even hold a bat with something like that in my glove. So if [Gilchrist wants to do it], it is OK with me.”
(Interview with Herlad – 8/5/2007)
*******************************************
Aussies scared of Sri Lankans ? HAHAHAHAH
You mean, the same way Muralitharan is scared to play at the MCG ?
Gilchrist, he has cheated, No cricketer in the world will resort to that kind of trick. Aussies were scared of Sri Lankans and they wanted to maintain their image at any cost.
Dear Lankans/GilChrist haters,
Please read the following before you think GilChrist is a Cheat:
ICC World cup 2003 SEMIFINALS:
Australia Vs Srilanka:
Adam GilChrist “WALKED” even though Umpire declared him “NOT OUT”
Do you think GilChrist is/was a Cheat? If he was, he would have remained at his crease.
Earlier in the Super six match vs Srilanka, he scored 99 runs.
———————————————-
The MCC, who are the guardians of the Laws, told Cricinfo that the official view is that the action was legal “It is no different to wearing inners, etc,” Jon Stephenson, said.
END OF THE DISCUSSION
Gilchrist scored a matchwinning 149 against Sri Lanka in the final and later revealed his batting aid. “I had a squash ball in my bottom-hand to help with my grip in training and I decided in this World Cup to use it in a match.”
Source: cricinfo
Again, if GilChrist is a Cheat, why would he reveal his “Cheating IDEAS”
to PUBLIC?
Please reply (with no insults)
Sunil Kumar
India
Hello Anil
How are you doing? GilChrist is a Walker, he’s not a Cheat.
And do you know GilChrist supports 2 Indian boys, one an orphan and the other who lost his father?
In my opinion, he is a great Philanthrophist.
Gilchrist to sponsor Mumbai maid’s kid
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2181332.cms
GilChrist, Ambassador for World Vision
http://www.worldvision.com.au/media/archivedrelease.asp?id=176
Sunil Kumar 74. 75. 76. 78.
Because GilChrist is a Cheat and a idiot…
Murlaitharan says “OK”
==========================================
“My personal view is that it was very unethical,” Mathivanan told the Herald last night.
“It gave him a better grip against some of our best bowlers, and it might be something I take up at the next ICC meeting. When Trevor and Greg [Chappell] decided to bowl underarm, it was allowed then, but later the ICC changed the law for one-day cricket. It is the same here. It is against the spirit of the game. I think it should be looked at.”
Mathivanan insisted several players had told him “they were a bit upset” over the use of the squash ball.
********************************************
That was contradicted by Muttiah Muralitharan. “That is [Mathivanan's] personal opinion; the team doesn’t think that,” the spinner told the Herald.
************************************************
“If anything, I would think having a squash ball in your glove would be uncomfortable. I don’t know if I could even hold a bat with something like that in my glove. So if [Gilchrist wants to do it], it is OK with me.”
************************************************
Mathivanan also received little support from SLC chief executive Duleep Mendis.
When asked if he supported his secretary, Mendis said: “You must call him about that.”
Gilchrist’s use of the squash ball, as recommended by former WA batsman Bob Meuleman, was used to lighten his grip and stop the bat rotating in his hands.
So, Lankan fans/GilChrist haters, listen to Muralitharan and follow in his steps
http://blogs.smh.com.au/sport/archives/2007/05/sri_lankan_sour_grapes_or_aust.html#comments
Sunil Kumar 74. 75. 76.
Because GilChrist is a Cheat and a idiot…
Dear Lankans/GilChrist haters,
Please read the following before you think GilChrist is a Cheat:
ICC World cup 2003 SEMIFINALS:
Australia Vs Srilanka:
Adam GilChrist “WALKED” even though Umpire declared him “NOT OUT”
Do you think GilChrist is/was a Cheat? If he was, he would have remained at his crease.
Earlier in the Super six match vs Srilanka, he scored 99 runs.
———————————————-
The MCC, who are the guardians of the Laws, told Cricinfo that the official view is that the action was legal “It is no different to wearing inners, etc,” Jon Stephenson, said.
END OF THE DISCUSSION
Gilchrist scored a matchwinning 149 against Sri Lanka in the final and later revealed his batting aid. “I had a squash ball in my bottom-hand to help with my grip in training and I decided in this World Cup to use it in a match.”
Source: cricinfo
Again, if GilChrist is a Cheat, why would he reveal his “Cheating IDEAS”
to PUBLIC?
Please reply (with no insults)
Sunil Kumar
India
The MCC, who are the guardians of the Laws, told Cricinfo that the official view is that the action was legal “It is no different to wearing inners, etc,” Jon Stephenson, said.
END OF THE DISCUSSION
Gilchrist scored a matchwinning 149 against Sri Lanka in the final and later revealed his batting aid. “I had a squash ball in my bottom-hand to help with my grip in training and I decided in this World Cup to use it in a match.”
Source: cricinfo
Again, if GilChrist is a Cheat, why would he reveal his “Cheating IDEAS”
Sunil Kumar
India
Dear Lankans/GilChrist haters,
Please read the following before you think GilChrist is a Cheat:
ICC World cup 2003 Super Six match:
Australia Vs Srilanka:
Adam GilChrist “WALKED” even though Umpire declared him “NOT OUT”
Do you think GilChrist is/was a Cheat? If he was, he would have remained at his crease.
——————————-
VB Series Finals
GilChrist scored 122 runs vs Srilankans
100 off 62 balls
Murlaitharan figures: 10-0-99 runs
Did he “CHEATED”? Also, his first century is against Lankans 150+ score
Please reply.
Sunil Kumar
India
YOU ALL ARE A BUNCH OF MOTHERFUCKERS!!
It seems Australians are very inventive in cricket:
Denis Lilee et al – How to use an Aluminum bat to score consecutive half centuries
Darrel Hair et al- how to neutralize Asian players forever!
Darren Lehman – How to put the pressure on opposition based on their race !
Shane warne et al- Do really steroids help to spin?
Ricky Ponting et. al- Investigation of carbon fibers/stripes to transfer energy from bat to ball
Adam Gilchrist – Application of Squash balls in cricket (thesis under review.)
mr curry
It took the British hundreds of years to get them to stop living in trees and clubbing monkeys in their spare time, so you have to be generous in your expectations for them to learn the correct bowling action.
And as for learning physics, well……
Physics, people.
Average force = Change in Momentum x Change in time.
This is simple, unchangeable physics. If you want to maximize the force with which the ball is hit, you need to minimize the amount of time in which the momentum of the ball is changed.
Squash ball, spring – if the ELASTICITY of the glove is increased in any way at all, then the contact time between ball and bat can only INCREASE, thus the force applied to the ball from the bat is spread out over a greater period of time.
Aluminium and graphite bats were banned because they were INELASTIC – which means they reduced the contact time between ball and bat and thus could maximize the amount of force transferred from bat to ball in the shortest time.
Thus, the squash ball, if anything, acts as a force ‘absorber’ and LESSENS the force on the ball.
Sri Lanka – accept defeat or learn physics. One or the other is fine.
That is a ridiculous argument.
Gilchrist has often stood out for saving the team when his teammates failed to get decent scores. Try England v Australia 12 July 2005 for example. The same can be said for Ponting, the Waugh brothers, Hayden, Langer etc. etc.
Or Ian Botham for England, Brian Lara for W Indies, Inzamam for Pakistan, and so on, they all have got high scores while their teammates didn’t – I suppose they all must have cheated too ?
We do not know that is the device used by Gilchrist to enhance the Performance.
But we notice the clear difference of scoring with others in the team and with his last word cup matches. Gilchrist also admited he used a squesh ball and he know well that it improved the performance.
Can others also make such devices to ehance the peroformance?
66, which part is digusting ? The fact that Murali throws the ball or the fact that Sri Lanka can’t field ?
I am well inside my mind, thankyou for your concern.
Seriously, this would have to rate as the most pathetic grab for an undeserved win since Germany declared themselves the winner of World War II
what the 65. Have you done publishing your crap here. It’s disgusting are you out of your freakin’ mind?
How about in the next Australia/Sri Lanka game, the Sri Lankans can put squash balls in their gloves while the Australian bowlers are allowed to throw the ball Murali style. By your logic Sri Lanka should thrash Australia, somehow I don’t think it will happen though…..especially since Sri Lanka can’t field
You just can’t stand that your buddy Gilly being hammered by all the forums and Head Line news about his cheating. So you sit there at your keyboard ranting and raving and trying to place blame on anything and everything you can’t even evaluate and comment intelligently on what you’ve read. It shows your true inner self. Go get a life Spiceman…
Maybe Sri Lanka should learn to catch, what do you Sri Lankan fans think? As was pointed out earlier, he was DROPPED on 31. Stop finding excuses, admit they were beaten by a better team. And, stop using the race card (like all sub continent teams).
Dr Rajkumar, you are dreaming if you think they will be disqualified, they simply won’t. It appears you have selective reading syndrome. I quoted Steven Lynch to demonstrate that he had personally asked the MCC their thoughts and they said it was ok. I have demonstrated that other players in the past have done all kinds of stuff like putting steak in gloves, gluing gloves to the bat, wearing extra padding. What will simply happen is glove manufacturers will sew some kind of device into the glove to help players who tend to choke the bat with their bottom hand, similar to what golf equipment manufacturers did when they made the extra long putter for golfers getting the yips….
Gilly has always been able to smash 6′s and 4′s, all this did was helped his technique, it didn’t make the ball go further as some idiots are suggesting. I so far have heard nothing from the players themselves or any other countries officials.
I’m happy to play the game all over again, without the squash ball, the end result will be the same, Sri Lanka will lose again, as they did earlier in the cup. Murali’s worst figures are against us, the Sri Lankan bowlers are no major threat and they dropped catches.. If the Sri Lankans had caught Gilly on 31 we’d all be talking about how the squash ball hindered his batting. This is simply a case of Sore Loser syndrome!
Now you’re in line, all this time you were quoting cricinfo and Steven Lynch. Why this sudden change to let cricket’s administrators decide what is legal and illegal, Sri Lankans have mentioned here and in other forums that this issue will be taken to the ICC, you guys are fully aware of the verdict which is bad news for Australia as Sri Lanka could call on the ICC’s cricket committee for stringent application of “Law 42″ on fair and unfair play to ensure only the approved protection equipment was used. The end result… at the next ICC meeting Australian Cricket Team will be disqualified.
Dr Rajkumar: you are right it was an unfair advantage, if only the Sri Lankans had caught him on 31… I think we should ban the Sri Lankans for dropping catches….
The fact is, Gilly has hit 99.9% of his centuries without a squash ball, and if you take a look at a few you will note they were all fast and most had big 6′s and 4′s…
As for “not in line with the rules” I’m sorry that simply has not been proven and until it is you are blowing hot air in the wind my friend….. Why don’t you let cricket’s administrators decide what is legal and illegal….
Gilchrist had an unfair advantage which is not in line with the cricketing rules.
The world is laughing at all the whingers…why…because Gilly was dropped on 31 and a number of other times as well. Some threads have argued the squash ball was working against Gilly and was trying to get him out, but Sri Lanka couldn’t catch so the squash ball said ok Gilly lets rock I’ll stop trying to get you out now…but decided to cut him short of 150….dam that squash ball. I wonder if Sri Lanka knew how to catch a ball and had taken Gilly for 31 (or any of the other chances) if the whingers would be out in force. For all those Sri Lankans who think the squash ball helped Gilly you clearly missed the other 5 one day centuries he scored against you and the 99 run out….making it effectively 6 centuries to one fifty he has scored against you….something he has not come even close to doing against other nation and indicates once you drop him on 31 and he makes 50 you guys are toast. In 2006 in Brisbane he scored 100 of 67 balls against Sri Lanka…that dam squash ball SLOWED HIM DOWN……INSTEAD OF WHINGING ABOUT THE SQUASH BALL TELL YOUR TEAM TO DO SOME FIELDING PRACTICE AND CATCH GILLY WHEN HE HITS A CATCH.
From Cricinfo today:
Adam Gilchrist and the art of innovation
Squashing glory
Dileep Premachandran
May 5, 2007
Watching it was like being transported on a magic carpet to other worlds but, once the ride was over, you were left to ponder an innings that was every bit as unusual as it was resplendent. And years from now, we’re still likely to be talking about the day a humble little squash ball played its part in one of the great batting efforts of our times, the day Adam Gilchrist scored 149 off 104 balls in the World Cup final.
Dozens of readers have written in to Cricinfo since, questioning the legality of the innings. “If using a squash ball isn’t OK as per the laws of the game, is his innings legal and does it count?” asked one. “And if it doesn’t count, can Australia claim to have won a hopelessly one-sided and farcical victory?”
Another concentrated on the minutiae of the laws. “The law specifically prohibits a player from using equipment other than that permitted,” he wrote. “And nowhere in cricket’s 42 laws is there a mention of a squash ball as a permitted item. If you are not allowed to bowl with any tape or plaster on your fingers, I don’t think you should be allowed to have a squash ball in your gloves when batting.”
And that’s precisely where we enter the greyest of cricket’s many grey areas. As long ago as the 19th century, a South African gent by the name of Baberton Halliwell used raw steaks inside his wicketkeeping gloves, a method subsequently emulated by the likes of Alan Knott and Rod Marsh. Batsmen with poppadam fingers, as Nasser Hussain came to be known, have also been known to have extra padding and protection inside their gloves.
According to an article in The Daily Express, it’s not only gloves that have been messed with in the quest to get ahead. It mentions how John Wright, the former New Zealand opener who coached India, used to glue his top glove to the handle, in order to maintain the alignment of elbow and shoulder. Even more fascinating is Tim Robinson’s account of how Clive Rice, the South Africa and Nottinghamshire allrounder, would wrap strips of lead around the top of his handle to balance what was a very heavy bat.
Gilchrist had his own trick, not up his sleeve but inside his glove. It wasn’t the first time that the squash ball had come into play either. At the WACA last November, he flayed the Queensland attack for 131 from 95 balls, but the experiment suggested by Bob Meuleman, a former squash player himself, remained just that until he got to the World Cup final.
It had been a frustrating tournament for him, as he admitted later. Half-centuries against the Netherlands and Bangladesh boosted his run tally to 304 runs, but there was no doubt that it was the other half of the opening combo, Matthew Hayden, that had intimidated the life out of opposition teams.
With his relatively light bat and atypical grip, Gilchrist had started to fall to the strokes that had once been his forte. The sliced drive to point was of particular concern and, on the eve of the game, he decided to give the squash ball another go.
What it did when slipped inside the left glove was make him markedly less bottom-handed in his approach. As Meuleman said in a newspaper interview later, “I’ve worked with him for 10 years and he an unusual grip in which his hand goes too far around the back of the bat. It [the squash ball] is a great big lump in your glove but it means that you can only use your bottom hand in a V.”
According to Meuleman, who played a few Sheffield Shield games himself in the 1960s, the effect was dramatic. “He had a few hits before he went off to the World Cup; he didn’t have the squash ball in and he hit them like he couldn’t even play fourth grade. He put it in and he then hit the ball so good.”
At the Kensington Oval, Mahela Jayawardene was well aware of the wonderful twirl of the bat that sent the ball scurrying to the point or cover fence that came to epitomise the Gilchrist way. Having suffered previously at Gilchrist’s hands, Jayawardene blockaded the off side, with an isosceles-triangle formation of backward point, a short-square point and an extra-cover. The aim was to starve him of his main scoring outlet, thus inducing a rash stroke or two.
What the squash ball did was change his scoring areas completely. His last one-day century, against Sri Lanka on Valentine’s Day in 2006, had highlighted his off-side strengths – 60 of his 122 runs came there – but he started off the World Cup final with a clip behind square leg and a stunning shot over wide long-on.
By the time he departed, with victory almost assured, only five of his runs had come in that favoured arc from backward point to cover. There were lofted shots aplenty, but most were struck with precision straight down the ground. A staggering 65 runs came from strokes in the V, including six fours and five sixes.
The ICC may have cracked down on graphite strips and the like, but when steaks – rare preferred to medium or well done – and cricket have been hand-in-glove, it’s unlikely that the squash ball can be proscribed. Having tried it, as many readers no doubt have, we can safely say that batting with it is no picnic. A bunny with squash-ball-in-glove doesn’t a Gilchrist make.
Dileep Premachandran is associate editor of Cricinfo
I guess the question I ask is: was John Wright a cheat? and Rod Marsh or the keepers that put steaks in their gloves? and Clive Rice who put lead on his bat? As Premachandran notes, it’s not easy batting with a squash ball. It doesn’t help him hit bigger sixes, we already know he could do that! It helped his technique. He showed it to the world, it’s not like he was trying to hide it. As for why he may not have declared it before the innings, I suspect that he didn’t realise it was going to be made a big deal by a bunch of whining Sri Lankans after the game. He already did it against Queensland last year. Funny thing is though, they didn’t all jump up and down because they lost or say he was unethical or a cheat, and I suspect they still wouldn’t.
Perhaps the Sri Lankans are upset because many Australians feel Murali changed the laws of cricket with his form of spin bowling. Should we rule him out of the game because he has a different shaped arm to most other cricket players?? If not, move on and forget it..
“Monster” and “Cricket Player” are gay lovers!! The only ball to bat action they’ve ever experienced is while playing in each others Gullies
He didn’t say the last sentence, he only said:
““It was a bit of a frustrating tournament for me personally. I had had three or four 30s, a couple of 40s, and maybe another 50 and a few low scores, so I have been contributing to a partnership without nailing a big one myself. The standards this team set are so high which is brilliant,”
How on earth does that prove the squash ball won the world cup??? You folks are really clutching at straws and fail to pick up on any point unless it suits your own point of view. I will state again:
“But MCC are the final authority on matters to do with the Laws, so I asked their head of cricket, the former England opener John Stephenson, who confirmed: “The official view is that you are correct. It is no different to wearing inners, etc.”
Get over it. Sri Lanka lost and this carry on proves that you are sore losers.
Ranjith thanks you said it brilliantly, when you put it this way:
The following proves that it was not Gilly, it was the squash ball that won the World Cup
Gilly says “It was a bit of a frustrating tournament for me personally. I had had three or four 30s, a couple of 40s, and maybe another 50 and a few low scores, so I have been contributing to a partnership without nailing a big one myself. The standards this team set are so high which is brilliant,” he said. This clip proves how the squash ball won the World Cup
I personally never realized that Gilly said this, until you brought it up. Outstanding research Editor Lanka Page and Topix.net this is certainly “The Smoking Gun”, irrefutable proof that Gilly cheated.
Sri Lanka Cricket take note and thank Ranjith Wijewardene for “The Smoking Gun”.
Ranjith Wijewardene
very weak reasoning. just because gilly did not play well at the beginning and scored a big one in the final did not prove he cheated. He was due a big score, and it came in the final.
—————————————–
The following proves that it was not Gilly, it was the squash ball that won the World Cup
Gilly says “It was a bit of a frustrating tournament for me personally. I had had three or four 30s, a couple of 40s, and maybe another 50 and a few low scores, so I have been contributing to a partnership without nailing a big one myself. The standards this team set are so high which is brilliant,” he said. This clip proves how the squash ball won the World Cup
http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/no-quick-decisions-for-adam/2007/04
Winstan:
If Gilchrist intended to cheat, why did he reveal the fact that he had a ball inside his glove?? He could have kept silent and no one will know. please explain.
The following proves that it was not Gilly, it was the squash ball that won the World Cup
Gilly says “It was a bit of a frustrating tournament for me personally. I had had three or four 30s, a couple of 40s, and maybe another 50 and a few low scores, so I have been contributing to a partnership without nailing a big one myself. The standards this team set are so high which is brilliant,” he said. This clip proves how the squash ball won the World Cup
http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/no-quick-decisions-for-adam/2007/04/29/1177787973982.html
—————————————-
Adam Gilchrist’s use of a squash ball in his left glove during his matchwinning 149 in the World Cup final has met with divided reactions. Several voices have been raised questioning the legality of its use. Vijitha Herath of the University of Paderborn, Germany, has offered a scientific perspective on the issue in The Nation.
Just after the ball hits the bat (ball still touching the bat) this pressure starts to relax while the bat is moving forward. At the same time the energy stored in the squash ball releases its energy to the bat in the form of kinetic energy. As a result, the release-speed of the cricket ball becomes faster, resulting in the ball travelling further before hitting the ground. Therefore, it results in more sixes and fours being scored.
http://blogs.cricinfo.com/surfer/archives/2007/05/how_the_squash.php
—————————————
Vijitha Herath of the University of Paderborn, Germany, writes on the issue and it will be taken up at the next meeting of the ICC
Apropos the claim that Adam Gilchrist had a squash ball in his left glove during his innings at the finals of the cricket World Cup. Let me offer a scientific perspective.
A squash ball is a rubber ball. Unlike a cricket (leather) ball, it compresses when pressure is applied on it. When the pressure is released, it takes its original shape. In short, it acts like a spring (e.g.: a motorcycle shock absorber).
So what happens when a batsman has a squash ball in the palm of his bottom hand?
When a batsman swings the bat until it hits the ball, there is pressure on his bottom hand. This pressure compresses the squash ball thus storing energy in the ball similar to spring. Just after the ball hits the bat (ball still touching the bat) this pressure starts to relax while the bat is moving forward.
At the same time the energy stored in the squash ball releases its energy to the bat in the form of kinetic energy. The result is that the bat moves faster than normal (without a ball in the glove).
As a result, the release-speed of the cricket ball becomes faster resulting in the ball traveling further before hitting the ground. Therefore it results in more sixes and fours being scored.
The downside is because the bat travels faster than normal the batsman might lose control of the bat. This happened once in the Adam Gilchrist’s innings when the bat slipped out of his hands and fell behind the wickets. If you have any doubts please try to do it yourself and see the result.
In brief Gilchrist’s use of the squash ball allowed him to hit the ball further in the field.
The above explanation clearly gives you an insight into the fact that the squash ball was used not purely as a protective gear but, as a performance enhancer to a player who was playing his last World Cup innings and did not care of the consequences, but was hell bent on rubbing some glory upon himself.
————————————–
monster comments:
Cricinfo says the squash ball is legal. End of discussion.
People this is what Steven Lynch said:
Is it legal for a batsman to have a foreign object like a squash ball inside his gloves, as Adam Gilchrist apparently did in the World Cup final? Asked Vijitha Herath from Germany (and several more people from Sri Lanka!)
My feeling was that it was legal, as I didn’t think you could distinguish between a squash ball – which Gilchrist admitted he used to improve his grip during his amazing innings in the World Cup final – and the inner gloves many batsmen wear, some of which have a certain amount of padding, the finger-stalls inside some gloves to protect finger-tips, or even the raw steaks people (usually wicketkeepers) were reputed to put inside their gloves to lessen the impact of the ball. But MCC are the final authority on matters to do with the Laws, so I asked their head of cricket, the former England opener John Stephenson, who confirmed: “The official view is that you are correct. It is no different to wearing inners, etc.”
http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/columns/content/current/story/293249.html
Steven Lynch (is the deputy editor of The Wisden Group) and of crickinfo says, it is… his feeling, a feeling can’t be taken as the final, we all have feelings… this shows how desperate the Aussies are, let me educate you, my friend monster and the rest of the Aussies hear…. with all due respect to Steven Lynch of crickinfo, this matter will be decided by the ICC. If it gets to that level at the next meeting, so guys just let the law take its course… Thank you guys… for your feelings.
The article about drugs is stupid but so are you!, Monster. You don’t seem to be able to come up with anything to back your arguements so all you do is disagree and call Murali a chucker. The man bowled in a steel brace, just to get idiots like you to shut up!!
Gilly’s extraordinary performance DOES make the whole squash ball scenario sound suspicious even though his stats against Sri Lanka are good. He HAS used it once before, in a domestic game where he scored 130 odd off 95 balls. Still, he did’nt use it again, not even in another WC game, even though he was badly out of touch. maybe others could have caught on, or maybe, he thought it would have been banned before the world cup even started?
It was a shame this had to happen, and put a cloud of doubt over everything because in reality, Aussie were in such great form they probably would have beaten Sri Lanka 8 times out of 10. It’s just like so many other big games where the other team are in with a sniff, and then suddenly a lucky LBW shout goes Australia’s way.
It’s funny though that guys like Ian Chappell are keeping silent about this, after the fuss they made about Sri Lanka resting players, when less than a month before, Aussie ‘insulted’ NZ (and the Chappells) by playing the traditional Chappell-Hadlee series without six regulars . To make matters worse, they lost the series 3 zip after failing to defend 300.. twice. It would have been interesting to hear Chappell’s comments, had the squash ball been used by a Sri Lankan..
Cricinfo says the squash ball is legal. end of discussion.
you people have been exposed as sore losers. sour grapes.
http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/columns/content/current/story/293249.html
Anil from India, I hope they do take it up with cricket chiefs because they will then realise how stupid and petty it was as it falls on deaf ears… Gilly’s been smacking 4′s and 6′s long before he had a squash ball in his glove. Wicket keepers use to put steak in their gloves, I’m wondering when the next Sri Lankan board meets if they could discuss that and get all the old games where keepers did that struck from the records, cause I’m sure they cheated LOL…. Arjuna Ranitunga was the biggest cheat of them all, using runners every time he went out to bat and chucking tantrums when he couldn’t get his own way…. He was unethical and using a runner to run twice as fast as he ever could I reckon we should strike from the record all the games he used a runner in…
you stupid sri lanka fans and players. Please all of you try playing with squash balls in your gloves. just see if all you can belt a 150 off 100 balls. Try it yourself to see if that give you extra power.
if you lot find out that does not help your batting at all, I demand all you to apologise to gilchirst, because all of you are defaming him. LOL!!
It is so easy to open your big mouth and use those rubbish phisics theory. find out if this is a valid accusation.
Oh and you guys don’t honestly believe Sri Lanka would have won if he didn’t have the squash ball??? Bwahahahahahahaha, that’s the funniest thing ever. What on earth gives you the impression Sri Lanka had a chance in that game or any game in the World Cup against Australia in the form they were in.
To all those idiots in here that think Gilchrist is a cheat and that most Aussies think he cheated…. Get a Grip people, the guy is a walker. When he’s out, he doesn’t wait for the umpire to tell him to go, he goes and that is the way he has played the game. If he REALLY wanted to cheat don’t you think he wouldn’t have pointed to the squash ball in his glove? Are you people really that stupid? He told everyone what he did!! CHEATS do not do this, pure and simple. Anyway here is the official word from cricinfo:
[b]Is it legal for a batsman to have a foreign object like a squash ball inside his gloves, as Adam Gilchrist apparently did in the World Cup final? asked Vijitha Herath from Germany (and several more people from Sri Lanka!)
My feeling was that it was legal, as I didn’t think you could distinguish between a squash ball – which Gilchrist admitted he used to improve his grip during his amazing innings in the World Cup final – and the inner gloves many batsmen wear, some of which have a certain amount of padding, the finger-stalls inside some gloves to protect finger-tips, or even the raw steaks people (usually wicketkeepers) were reputed to put inside their gloves to lessen the impact of the ball. But MCC are the final authority on matters to do with the Laws, so I asked their head of cricket, the former England opener John Stephenson, who confirmed: “The official view is that you are correct. It is no different to wearing inners, etc.” [/b]
So there you have it, it is LEGAL… you can all stop whinging now and talk about how this great cricket team that has won 29 straight world cup cricket games is perhaps the best one day side in the history of the game.. Thank you and good night.
Anil what is your point…another uneducated reply from a journalist just rehashing uninformed opinions from disgruntled losers. Funny thing is he says it is unethical….far cry from against the rules. Obviously people who have no concept of this matter will continue to believe it is unethical….can lead a cow to water but can’t make them drink. Point is I have explained how it is NOT performance enhancing and how it simply helps Gilly find the right grip…THIS IS A FUNCTION OF YOUR GLOVES!!! Incorrect grip results in bats flying everywhere (very dangerous for fielders in close) and clearly as this happened to Gilly in the game the squash ball is not totally helping his grip. It is actually AGAINST WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY TO BAN ANYTHING THAT CAUSES AN INCREASE RISK IN THE WORK PLACE SO IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL TO BAN THE USE OF THE SQUASH BALL TO HELP GILLIES GRIP NOT JUST BY CRICKET RULES BUT INTERNATIONAL WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY.
WHAT A JOKE THIS TOPIC IS.
Keeping it real in the safety of all close fielders that place against Gilly.
COLOMBO, May 7: Sri Lanka believes Adam Gilchrist’s use of a squash ball as a batting aid in the World Cup final was “unethical” and may take the matter up with world cricket chiefs, officials said on Monday.
Gilchrist, whose record-breaking 149 led Australia to their fourth title, said he had a squash ball in one of his gloves to give him a better grip.
“I had a squash ball in my bottom-hand to help with my grip in training and I decided in this World Cup to use it in a match,” he said.
The revelation caused uproar here, with Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Kangadaran Mathivanan saying the matter could be taken up during next month’s International Cricket Council (ICC) annual general meeting.
“We are of the opinion that it was unethical for Gilchrist to use a squash ball to give unfair advantage,” Mathivanan said.
He said Sri Lanka could call on the ICC’s cricket committee for stringent application of “Law 42″ on fair and unfair play to ensure only the approved protection equipment was used.
Mathivanan said Sri Lanka Cricket would discuss the issue before deciding whether to raise it in London.
Sri Lankan newspapers have carried letters from irate fans accusing the Australians of resorting to unfair tactics to win the game.
“The question now asked by most Sri Lankan fans is whether the squash ball was used as a performance enhancing device,” said The Island , a privately-owned newspaper.
Fans say the use of the ball gave Gilchrist an extra edge over Sri Lanka’s bowlers.
http://cricket.indiatimes.com
You guys are the biggest joke on the planet. I hope you can read my entry earlier…you might learn something.
Bottom line: INSTEAD OF WHINGING ABOUT THE SQUASH BALL TELL YOUR TEAM TO DO SOME FIELDING PRACTICE AND CATCH GILLY WHEN HE HITS A CATCH.
KEEPING IT REAL
monster the moron says: The ICC president must have a good laugh reading this letter. HA HA HA!
The ICC has made a complete fiasco of the WC which is mainly funded by Asian countries…
The final should have been a 100 overs game. It was a very unfair final. The ICC dishonored the game. At the next ICC meeting Australian Cricket Team should be disqualified.
The april’s fool day has passed, LOL!!
the ICC president must have a good laugh reading this letter. HA HA HA!
I am worried by the mental state of the guy who wrote this letter.
——————————————————————–
April 30, 2007
The President
The International Cricket Council
World Cup Tournament
P.O. Box 5000/70
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
Dear Sir,
Subject: 2007 World Cup winners -Australian Cricket Team be
Disqualified and the Sri Lanka Cricket Team be declared
as the winners, because Adam Gilchrist admits concealing
a performance enhancing device, inside his bottom hand
glove a squash ball.
Adam Gilchrist, the opening batsman for Australia admits to the correspondent, Bridgetown, Saturday, AFP of using a squash ball concealed inside his bottom hand glove, a performance enhancing device, to catapult the cricket ball. Using a squash ball enclosed inside the glove is considered as an illegal practice, resulting in catapulting and/or catastrophic consequences, thereby assisting Gilchrist to accumulate an induced score of 149 runs in the one day cricket finals at Barbados.
The Laws of Cricket 2000 Code 2 Ed. 2003: The Preamble to the Laws- specifically states that ?the game of Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that; it should be played not only within the rules, but also with the spirit of the game. Any action thereof, that is seen to abuse this spirit cause injury to the game itself. The major responsibility of ensuring the spirit of fair-play rests with the Captain?.
Based on the information related above, the opening batsmen Adam Gilchrist used a performance enhancing device in his bottom hand glove, a squash ball, challenging not only within its laws of Cricket, but also within the ?spirit of the game?. Any action which is seen to abuse the spirit causes injury to the game itself. Based on the Preamble, the Australian Cricket Team should be disqualified for the illegal practice of concealing a squash ball in the glove, a performance enhancing device. In lieu, the Sri Lankan Cricket Team be re-awarded the Cricket World Cup 2007.
The Captain was aware of the fact that Adam Gilchrist did practice wearing the spring loaded squash ball, concealed in the glove, a prohibitive exercise, with his friend, a squash player – Bob Meuleman, Western Australian Cricketer. So, the Captain in the ?Spirit of the Cricket Game?, should have brought it to the notice of the
Page 2:
Umpires, and obtained prior approval, before the Cricket game got started. Therefore it is pertinent that the ICC Committee take disciplinary action against both Gilchrist and the Captain-as they are jointly and severely guilty of the illegal device that was employed, and should be suspended for life. Furthermore, the Australian Cricket Team be disqualified from the World Cricket Cup 2007, and the cup be re-awarded to the Sri Lankan Cricket Team.
The characteristic of the squash ball indicates that the ball is made of vulcanised rubber with additions of polymers and synthetic material to achieve a degree of fairly low resilience. The lower the resilience of the object the higher the proportion of energy used in deforming it. Thus when a batsmen hits the cricket ball, the air inside the squash ball gets pressurised or deformed, releasing a spring load of energy, that is transferred directly to the bat, resulting in a catapulting effect on the cricket ball, as evidenced by the spectators, watching Gilchrist?s batting spell bound.
In this context, it is evident that wearing a performance enhancing device (Squash ball) is prohibitive against the ?Spirit of the Cricket Game? and is analogous to an Athlete using performance enhancing drugs to win his event. Furthermore, the Australian Cricket Team should be disqualified from the World Cup 2007 and in lieu Sri Lankan Cricket Team be re-awarded the World Cup 2007
Laws? the Bat: It defines that the bat should be made solely of wood and the hand and glove be part of the bat The specification of the glove is not defined, but it is prohibitive to enclose a performance enhancing device in the glove. Tampering the glove is synonymous to the tampering of the cricket ball, thus the practice is not allowed/acceptable. Moreover, it is explicit that no outside appliance/device can be introduced into the glove; more specifically a spring loaded device as evidenced in the squash ball and is prohibitive.
In conclusion, I write with a firm hand that the ICC conduct disciplinary hearings and the 2007 World Cricket Cup re-awarded to the Sri Lankan Cricket Club and a decision that both Adam Gilchrist and the Australian Captain be banned for Life.
In the event I do not hear from you, Legal Action will be meted against the ICC.
Soliciting your assistance,
Yours sincerely,
R. George Manuelpillai
A cricketer and an enthusiast .from Sri Lanka
Page 3:
CC: 1. The President ? MMC ? I would appreciate the views from your office, and
your actions with the ICC and the Australian Cricket Board..
2. The 16 Cricket Teams ? Please be reminded that Adam Gilchrist did admit to
concealing a squash ball in his glove. What assurance is there that other
Australian Cricketers too may have used the same technique in recording big
scores in the tournament just concluded? I suggest that in the ?Spirit of the
Cricket Game? that all the teams that did loose their matches to the Australian
Team should take legal action individually or in unison against the ICC and/or
the Australian board, for the use of a Performance Enhancing Device, a
catapulting effect to register big scores
only a moron can look for a weak excuse that the squash ball helped gilchrist scored 150. why dont you people say sri lankan bowlers are simply not good enough????
gilchirst might have scored 200 if he did not have a squash ball as it hindered his hand inside the glove.
the only cheater is murali, he cheated his way to 700 test wickets. all sri lanka’s test and ODI victories that involed murali should be wiped out. He chucked his way to legendary status. IT is an insult to compare him to warne, who toiled his way to test success.
unless you moronic sri lanka supporters can come up with real scientific evidence, dont come up with this weak excuse.
everything can be an unfair advantage, eg sledging, gatorade energy drinks, heavy bats, good quality pads and gloves, steve waugh’s red handerchief……
maybe the following should be banned too as it gave the aussies unfair advantage. LOL!
http://www.sanitarium.com.au/products/breakfast-foods.html
R. George Manuelpillai Tel: 2588578
85/25 Jawatha Gardens
Colombo 05
April 30, 2007
The President
The International Cricket Council
World Cup Tournament
P.O. Box 5000/70
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
Dear Sir,
Subject: 2007 World Cup winners -Australian Cricket Team be
Disqualified and the Sri Lanka Cricket Team be declared
as the winners, because Adam Gilchrist admits concealing
a performance enhancing device, inside his bottom hand
glove a squash ball.
Adam Gilchrist, the opening batsman for Australia admits to the correspondent, Bridgetown, Saturday, AFP of using a squash ball concealed inside his bottom hand glove, a performance enhancing device, to catapult the cricket ball. Using a squash ball enclosed inside the glove is considered as an illegal practice, resulting in catapulting and/or catastrophic consequences, thereby assisting Gilchrist to accumulate an induced score of 149 runs in the one day cricket finals at Barbados.
The Laws of Cricket 2000 Code 2 Ed. 2003: The Preamble to the Laws- specifically states that ?the game of Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that; it should be played not only within the rules, but also with the spirit of the game. Any action thereof, that is seen to abuse this spirit cause injury to the game itself. The major responsibility of ensuring the spirit of fair-play rests with the Captain?.
Based on the information related above, the opening batsmen Adam Gilchrist used a performance enhancing device in his bottom hand glove, a squash ball, challenging not only within its laws of Cricket, but also within the ?spirit of the game?. Any action which is seen to abuse the spirit causes injury to the game itself. Based on the Preamble, the Australian Cricket Team should be disqualified for the illegal practice of concealing a squash ball in the glove, a performance enhancing device. In lieu, the Sri Lankan Cricket Team be re-awarded the Cricket World Cup 2007.
The Captain was aware of the fact that Adam Gilchrist did practice wearing the spring loaded squash ball, concealed in the glove, a prohibitive exercise, with his friend, a squash player – Bob Meuleman, Western Australian Cricketer. So, the Captain in the ?Spirit of the Cricket Game?, should have brought it to the notice of the
Page 2:
Umpires, and obtained prior approval, before the Cricket game got started. Therefore it is pertinent that the ICC Committee take disciplinary action against both Gilchrist and the Captain-as they are jointly and severely guilty of the illegal device that was employed, and should be suspended for life. Furthermore, the Australian Cricket Team be disqualified from the World Cricket Cup 2007, and the cup be re-awarded to the Sri Lankan Cricket Team.
The characteristic of the squash ball indicates that the ball is made of vulcanised rubber with additions of polymers and synthetic material to achieve a degree of fairly low resilience. The lower the resilience of the object the higher the proportion of energy used in deforming it. Thus when a batsmen hits the cricket ball, the air inside the squash ball gets pressurised or deformed, releasing a spring load of energy, that is transferred directly to the bat, resulting in a catapulting effect on the cricket ball, as evidenced by the spectators, watching Gilchrist?s batting spell bound.
In this context, it is evident that wearing a performance enhancing device (Squash ball) is prohibitive against the ?Spirit of the Cricket Game? and is analogous to an Athlete using performance enhancing drugs to win his event. Furthermore, the Australian Cricket Team should be disqualified from the World Cup 2007 and in lieu Sri Lankan Cricket Team be re-awarded the World Cup 2007
Laws? the Bat: It defines that the bat should be made solely of wood and the hand and glove be part of the bat The specification of the glove is not defined, but it is prohibitive to enclose a performance enhancing device in the glove. Tampering the glove is synonymous to the tampering of the cricket ball, thus the practice is not allowed/acceptable. Moreover, it is explicit that no outside appliance/device can be introduced into the glove; more specifically a spring loaded device as evidenced in the squash ball and is prohibitive.
In conclusion, I write with a firm hand that the ICC conduct disciplinary hearings and the 2007 World Cricket Cup re-awarded to the Sri Lankan Cricket Club and a decision that both Adam Gilchrist and the Australian Captain be banned for Life.
In the event I do not hear from you, Legal Action will be meted against the ICC.
Soliciting your assistance,
Yours sincerely,
R. George Manuelpillai
A cricketer and an enthusiast .from Sri Lanka
Page 3:
CC: 1. The President ? MMC ? I would appreciate the views from your office, and
your actions with the ICC and the Australian Cricket Board..
2. The 16 Cricket Teams ? Please be reminded that Adam Gilchrist did admit to
concealing a squash ball in his glove. What assurance is there that other
Australian Cricketers too may have used the same technique in recording big
scores in the tournament just concluded? I suggest that in the ?Spirit of the
Cricket Game? that all the teams that did loose their matches to the Australian
Team should take legal action individually or in unison against the ICC and/or
the Australian board, for the use of a Performance Enhancing Device, a
catapulting effect to register big scores
But MCC are the final authority on matters to do with the Laws, so I asked their head of cricket, the former England opener John Stephenson, who confirmed:
“The official view is that you are correct. It is no different to wearing inners, etc.”
http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/columns/content/current/story/293249.html
I think this sums its up nicely.
Of course we can now expect the “race card” to be played.
To all the sad people who can’t except the loss to a better team,
There is NO SCIENTIFIC ADVANTAGE in the squash ball!!! Learn Physics people and then LEARN BATTING TECHNIQUE….The ball is positioned in his glove so as to help remind Gilly to push his hands into the right position. It provides a physical barrier that makes it hard to grip the bat incorrectly. The point is in this position the ball is not depressed. How do I know for sure? Unlike all you sad pots I actually play cricket and I tried a squash ball in my glove in exactly the position I saw it in Gilchrists glove. To add to the authenticity I actually bat with a hand crafted replica of the bat Gilly used in his last word cup, which is made to his specifications. My gloves are also puma gloves. The ball sits off the bat handle so does not change in it’s compression, it mearly provides a bulge that makes it arkward when you grab the bat incorrectly. In this respect it provides no force and is not illegal as you can look at it as a self modification of the glove….perfectly in the rules. When Gilly wears it, it becomes by definition an item of clothing (clothing is defined as something you wear) and in the absence of specific exclusion laws such as with the aluminium bat is legal. The ICC would never ban it as it would restrict the design of the glove which some people require tailor made ones.
But for comedy sakes I will go into your agrument on the physics of the ball since I am a scientist I enjoy this stuff. (you clearly are not). If the squash ball was used to generate any force it would be so minute that it seriously would not add any bat speed, it is the bat that hits the ball not the squash ball so any effects would have to result in an increased bat speed. The recoil pressure of a compressed squash ball pushes both ways!!! When you bounce on a trampoline the trampoline can only stretch so far before the recoil (effectively force up) overcomes your weight (the force down), it can then only recoil back towards one position. A squash ball is three dimensional not a flat FIXED trampoline….try puting one on the ground and pushing it horizontally (on the side)….it will roll and not compress….why because “nothing” (only air) is pushing it the other way. Try pushing it verically (on top of the ball), it will now decompress because the effective weight of the ground is mother earth…a bit heavy to push. If Gilly positioned the ball so as to depress it, his hand is no mother earth (in fact it weighs much less then his bat) and he will have to apply a greater force (his muscles) to keep the ball depressed, further when the ball is recoiling it will expand in BOTH directions and Gilly would have to continue to press harder to prevent it forcing his hand out of position. Anyone with any batting knowledge will know this would be bad for your batting. As I have explained I actually used a squash ball and found all it does is provide a bulge that makes it arkward to grip the bat incorrectly, perfectly legal as explained above (type of modified glove). The recoil properties of a squash ball is no greater (of any significance – partiucarly half a squash ball then padding on the thumb and fingers) Regardless I tried positioning it into a position where it would depress and it was horrible in this position and incompatable with gripping the bat confidently (with any good technique). The squash ball in the glove is actually quite annoying and becomes more annoying the longer you bat, I congradulate Gilly not only on his batting so well but being able to do it with that dam thing in your glove.
One last point the world is laughing at all the whingers…why…because Gilly was dropped on 31 and a number of other times as well. Some threads have argued the squash ball was working against Gilly and was trying to get him out, but Sri Lanka couldn’t catch so the squash ball said ok Gilly lets rock I’ll stop trying to get you out now…but decided to cut him short of 150….dam that squash ball. I wonder if Sri Lanka knew how to catch a ball and had taken Gilly for 31 (or any of the other chances) if the whingers would be out in force. For all those Sri Lankans who think the squash ball helped Gilly you clearly missed the other 5 one day centuries he scored against you and the 99 run out….making it effectively 6 centuries to one fifty he has scored against you….something he has not come even close to doing against other nation and indicates once you drop him on 31 and he makes 50 you guys are toast. INSTEAD OF WHINGING ABOUT THE SQUASH BALL TELL YOUR TEAM TO DO SOME FIELDING PRACTICE AND CATCH GILLY WHEN HE HITS A CATCH.
To those who says “Lets hope Jayasooriya wants to use the same advantage” Yes…..lets and you will all see there is no advantage, I am sure Jayasooriya will keep smashing lollies and getting out to good bowling.
It is the little quirky behaviours that make it fun!!!! Stop whinging for the wrong reasons, just admit you are upset because your team lost.
Just enjoy the game…it is a game people nothing more.
KEEPING IT REAL
P.S I have been in but was not born in Australian, I just love the game and respect good cricket when I see it. I also respect all countries and am sick of racist whingers who use the name of the game to spread their prejudice. Remember Bob Woolmer….. some people take the game too seriously. It is sopposed to be fun so take a deep look at why you are upset, I think you are not being honest with yourselves.
Gilchrist innings was totally legal. All these blogs on the topic go in circles and ultimately just come down to human nature. Who ever loses always looks for excuses. Some will except losing gracefully some will not. Some good replies here and the argument for it being illegal is a joke for the following reasons. One it actually can be considered an item of clothing under the laws of cricket. Just because most people don’t wear squash balls doesn’t mean you can’t. Steve Waugh wore a red hanky and this is in traditional thinking an accessory not an item of clothing (you don’t actually “wear” a hanky). When judging if an item breaches the rules you also need to consider “the spirit of the legislation”. This is the little thing in your head that says this might technically be a breach but it doesn’t seem unfair. Judges use spirit of the legislation worldwide to interpret laws in the way they believe they were meant to be interpreted and this sets precedence. The ICC are cricket’s judges and more qualified and neutral to make these judgements. The ICC won’t ban it because they are aware of the FULL rules not just one or two quoted out of context. Further they also know the importance of the “spirit of the legislation” If you start to ban things people carry that don’t give them anything but a physiological advantage then you have to ban Steve Waugh’s red hanky. Hmmm that would take all the fun out of the game….it is the little quirky behaviours that make it fun!!!! People the squash ball did nothing else for Gilly then provide an annoying reminder to grip the bat correctly; it is just like Steve Waugh’s red hanky and gave him a psychological edge only. I played a game of cricket yesterday with a squash ball in my glove and scored 22…..no Gilly cyborg batsman here
. But for 22 runs I felt like Gilly, that’s the point, people do strange things to help them in the head, the squash ball annoyed the crap out of me though. What I find most strange is that one reply states that if the squash ball can be considered an item of clothing then perhaps the laws should be looked at/changed! This is sad people, when the people upset over the loss finally realise it is within the laws that they would then ask the laws to be changed to put some retrospective taint on the innings…..just accept it was a great innings. For those that think it has a recoil spring effect I will post later but has anyone considered A PAD HAS A RECOIL EFFECT – PRESS IT AND IT RETURNS TO ITS POSITION – THIS IS DUE TO A RECOIL EFFECT – SOME PADS HAVE MORE RECOIL THEN OTHERS AND THESE ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE BAT!!!! I HAVE TESTED A SQUASH BALL AND HALF A SQUASH BALL IN PARTICULAR HAS LESS/EQUIVALENT RECOIL THEN CERTAIN MATERIALS USED IN PADS, IT TRUELY IS SO SMALL THAT YOU ARE ARGUING OVER THE HUNDRETH DECIMAL PLACE IN 1/3 (0.3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333….) Get my point I hope. ANYWAY GILLY COULD HAVE HAD A GLOVE MADE UP WITH PADDING TO PRODUCE SAME EFFECT (Help him grip the bat properly).
Here are some facts on Gilly. He has scored FIVE one day hundreds against Sri Lanka. In fact he has scored only two fifties against them, making this the ONLY country he has scored more one day centuries against then fifties and not just more but 5 to 2!!! His average according to cricinfo in one day cricket against Sri Lanka is a touch under 48 while his career average is around 36 in one day cricket. So point here would seem to indicate that there is significant statistical evidence that maybe Gilly just likes the Sri Lankan bowling.
Further in 2002/3 ICC world cup series Gilly scored 99 from 88 balls against Sri Lanka and how did he get out…they ran him out!!! This innings of 99 is one of his “Fifties”. So really this makes him one run/run out away from having a record of 6 one day centuries to 1 fifty against Sri Lanka!!!!! This ratio is unheard of even for Gilly as he has not done anything like this against any other nation, not even Canada.
In 2006 in Brisbane Gilly scored 122 against Sri Lanka and his hundred came of 67 balls!!!! WHERE WAS THE SQUASH BALL HERE??? Hmm maybe it’s not the squash ball, strange that.
In 2003 and then in 2004 Gilly was voted international one day cricketer of the year.
In June 2005 Gilly was voted the “scariest batsman”. Refer: http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/cbs/content/story/211318.html. Not a good thing when the “scariest batsman” seems to love your bowling. Sri Lanka lost the world cup not due to some beat up myth of the squash ball but because Gilly is just an amazing batsman whom they haven’t figured a way to get out once he gets going.
Final word people I have explained the legality of the squash ball and the “spirit of the legislation”. I have explained the reason why Gilly seems to love Sri Lankan bowling and is likely to do this sort of innings against them (once he gets started –it’s get him cheap or he will get you). I hope that people upset over this will take a deep look at themselves and realise the truth that they are really upset at the fact they don’t like the Australian team or there team didn’t win. Sri Lanka is a great team and will one day have their time in the sun. The History of cricket tells us teams have generations of domination but it doesn’t last forever…..Gilly will have to retire one day
.
But finally I would like to remind you it is JUST A GAME PEOPLE, ENJOY IT FOR THAT, ALL THE LITTLE QUIRKS MAKE IT FUN. STOP TAKING IT TOO SERIOUSLY THIS IS WHY A COACH OF PAKISTAN IS NO LONGER WITH US. REMEMBER IF IT IS MAKING YOU ANGRY YOU HAVE LOST THE FUN ASPECT OF IT AND SHOULD THINK OF SOMETHING ELSE TO DO WITH YOURSELF. ENJOY IT PEOPLE, THAT’S WHY IT IS CALLED A GAME.
KEEPING IT REAL
P.S I was born and bred in England, but I respect good cricket when I see it.
Monster is obviously an idiot who spends most of his hours trying to wind people up through blogging.
I suggest you switch off the PC and go get some fresh air you looser!!
Where is the evidence that the ball even existed?
When it’s done by an Aussies no questions asked and don’t be surprised since we all know ICC is dominated by Aussies MALCOM SPEED and his stooges.
Just imagine if this squash ball thing was tried by a player from a sub continent team in the finals and brought victory. Do you expect Aussies and other EU guys to keep their mouths shut?
The law of the game is very clear and it should apply to all.
Law 3 of cricket deals with the umpires. Subsection 6 of law 3 deals with the conduct of the game, implements and equipment. It reads as under:
Before the toss and during the match, the umpires shall satisfy themselves that
(a) the conduct of the game is strictly in accordance with the Laws.
(b) the implements of the game conform to the requirements of Laws 5 (the ball) and 6 (the bat), together with either Laws 8.2 (size of stumps) and 8.3 (the bails) or, if appropriate, Law 8.4 (junior cricket).
(c) (i) no player uses equipment other than that permitted.
(ii) the wicket-keeper’s gloves comply with the requirements of Law 40.2 (gloves).
Tom Smith’s New Cricket Umpiring and Scoring, the manual on the implementation of cricket’s laws that umpires use, says the list of permitted external items for a batsman are a helmet, leg guards (pads), hand gloves and, if visible, fore arm guards.
Spectacles and jewelry are classified under clothing items.
Gilchrist’s squash ball was, therefore, neither a piece of protective equipment, nor a clothing item, and was most certainly not visible to either side or the umpires.
In other words, Law 3 (6) (c) (i) specifically prohibits a player from using equipment other than that permitted. And nowhere in cricket’s 42 laws is there a mention of a squash ball as a permitted item.
Over to you ICC…
Australians are very good at the cheating game. They want to win by hook or by crook. It is no more a ‘gentleman’s game.
Australians are very good at the cheating game. They want to win by hook by crook. It is no more a ‘gentleman’s game.
Monster, sadly 4 u, you are in the minority in australia as many australians are ashamed of what gilly did and sri lankans are way too good and way too decent for the aussie cricket team. i dont need to remind u of the chaose and drama they created with murali’s bowling patterns. Could we say that they were too incompetent to bat to murali’s bowling style? haha…it is the truth but what did they say?? anyway…it doesn’t matter how sri lanka comes arcross cos this is not sri lanka’s issue but it is clearly an illegal act….and that should be addressed and punished…..no matter what you say will change the illegal act conducted by your pathetic team
Gilchrist is a cheater. No argument on it. This is similar as taking drugs before playing a game. Only difference is this a physical trick. If ICC has the backbone, they should ban this victory and should ban Gilchrist from cricket. But surely, the (ICC) will not take further action because Sri Lanka is an Asian country and they bow their head to the Aussies. Simply this is matter of SKIN COLOUR.
monster you are dreaming man you Aussies are the cheaters, the biggest cheaters ever, nowhere in cricket’s 42 laws is there a mention of a squash ball as a permitted item. If you are not allowed to bowl with any tape or plaster on your fingers, I don’t think you should be allowed to have a squash ball in your gloves when batting.
weak excuse, it is not proven that a ball can help increase player’s hitting power. you people still have not give me the evidence.
dont tell me about that Vijitha Herath guy. he is not from a authorative source.
In fact, the ball might weaken gilchrist’s hitting power as it hindered his hand inside the glove.
Squash balls have the property that it bounces more at higher temperatures. Players tend to warm up balls by bouncing them on the ground prior to play. As a rally progresses, play is complicated as the ball usually becomes hotter and speeds up. so guess the elasticity of a squash ball under a cricketer’s glove.
This is like a supercoiled spring on your hand. what’s difference between this and using steroids to pump up your muscles?
Cricket should be an equal contest between bat and bowl. very disappointing from gilly.
you people are just finding excuses why sri lanka lost. just 3 words will explain everthing. NOT GOOD ENOUGH !!
so Icc will award the WC to sri lanka?? LOL.
keep dreaming. Gilchrist’s inning is perfectly legal. It is not much differnce to wearing extra padding.
it is not proven scientfically that a squash ball enhances power.
If it is that easy, everyone will have 5 or 6 gilchrist in the team.
sour grapes, that is what it is.
At the post match press conference Gilchrist admitted that the message was directed to his Western Australian batting coach Bob Meuleman who is also a squash player of repute in his state. It is said that upon Meuleman’s advice, Gilchrist had been carrying a squash ball in his left, bottom hand to help him with his grip.
Then carrying a foreign substance which is not approved by the laws of cricket – does it look good on Australia’s legality of the World Cup win. We will just have a look at what Law number 3 of cricket laws have to say.
Cricket Law III
3.6. Conduct of the game, implements and equipment Before the toss and during the match, the umpires shall satisfy themselves that: (a) the conduct of the game is strictly in accordance with the Laws. (b) The implements of the game conform to the requirements of Laws 5 (the ball) and 6 (The bat), together with either Laws 8.2 (Size of stumps) and 8.3 (The bails) or, if appropriate, Law 8.4 (Junior Cricket). (c) (i) no player uses equipment other than that permitted. (ii) the wicket-keeper’s gloves comply with the requirements of Law 40.2 (Gloves).
The above will be taken up at the next ICC meeting and it will be the end of the Gilchrist 149.
if gilchrist really wants an increase in power, he would have used a more harder, heavier bat. This method is more successful than using the ball.
also, regarding how far you can hit the ball. it is not how fast you can swing the bat, it is how much force you can generate with your swing and timing.
*springy gloves
not true. If it increses power, then why did gilchrist used only half a ball, not the whole ball??
also why did he not use elastic, stringy gloves. it is much more comfortable than putting a ball into the glove.
and why the hell should I take Vijitha Herath’s claim?? He can be wrong.
monster says…where does it prove that a ball inside your glove increase power!! read the following:
Vijitha Herath of the University of Paderborn, Germany, writes on the issue:
Apropos the claim that Adam Gilchrist had a squash ball in his left glove during his innings at the finals of the cricket World Cup. Let me offer a scientific perspective.
A squash ball is a rubber ball. Unlike a cricket (leather) ball, it compresses when pressure is applied on it. When the pressure is released, it takes its original shape. In short, it acts like a spring (e.g.: a motorcycle shock absorber).
So what happens when a batsman has a squash ball in the palm of his bottom hand?
When a batsman swings the bat until it hits the ball, there is pressure on his bottom hand. This pressure compresses the squash ball thus storing energy in the ball similar to spring. Just after the ball hits the bat (ball still touching the bat) this pressure starts to relax while the bat is moving forward.
At the same time the energy stored in the squash ball releases its energy to the bat in the form of kinetic energy. The result is that the bat moves faster than normal (without a ball in the glove).
As a result, the release-speed of the cricket ball becomes faster resulting in the ball travelling further before hitting the ground. Therefore it results in more sixes and fours being scored.
The downside is because the bat travels faster than normal the batsman might lose control of the bat. This happened once in the Adam Gilchrist’s innings when the bat slipped out of his hands and fell behind the wickets. If you have any doubts please try to do it yourself and see the result.
In brief Gilchrist’s use of the squash ball allowed him to hit the ball further in the field.
The above explanation clearly gives you an insight into the fact that the squash ball was used not purely as a protective gear but, as a performance enhancer to a player who was playing his last World Cup innings and did not care of the consequences, but was hell bent on rubbing some glory upon himself.
Then at a beauty pageant if the winner is discovered as person with an immoral past she is stripped off her title. In athletics if a participant is found that he/she has taken performance enhancing drugs they are relieved from their titles. But, what action are the authorities hoping to take on this under hand act? How would the so called purists describe this deliberate breach of cricket law?
—- in reply ——
Andrew Says:
May 6th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Only the most ignorant person can possibly believe that the “energy” stored by a squash ball can make a difference. Squash balls are not like a spring.
Try this very simple experiment. Get a squash ball. Now drop it from chest high, and see how high it will bounce. Let me guess not much higher than your shins.
A squash ball is designed to dispurse energy, to NOT bounce back. In other words it does not “release energy like a spring”.
——————-
Heres another experiment for you to try – get a Bat and drop it from chest high and see how high it will bounce. Let me guess not much higher than your shins.
Wood isn’t supposed to disperse energy either but i’m sure we’ve all seen what an edge can do off fast bowling.
Now imagine if your Bat bounced past your shins…
if you sad losers think we cheated. then take it to the ICC. I doubt the ICC would even worry about your complain as it is a pathetic, rediculous and laughable claim.
No where does it prove that a ball inside your glove increase power!! LOL!!
this thread is pure garbage. A squash ball inside a glove will not enhance power. Try it yourself. Gilchrist only used it to grip the bat less tight.
If gilchirst wants to increase his stroke power, his better bet is to use a more powerful bat, or increse his arm strength.
Ha Ha – The aussies didn’t have enough balls to beat Sri Lanka on their own so Gilly had to go use another.
power enhancing substance?? LOL
is it scientically proven to increase power?? have you proven this?? If not, dont talk trash here.
Just because made a century does not mean he cheated!! I’ll tell you who cheated. – the guy with a rubberband like wrist who cheated his way to 700 test wickets!!
THE BALL CANOT BE CONSIDRED PART OF THE GLOVE
READ THE FOLLOWING:
Prior to this Dennis Lilee’s aluminium bat and Ricky Ponting’s graphite-coated bat were not permitted by the cricket authorities. At the same time Hansie Cronje’s earpiece stunt of having a chat with the coach Bob Woolmer while the match was in progress was also shot down in mid air by the authorities. Then the question that arises is did Gilchrist seek and obtain approval from the cricket’s authorities before he used such a device? Did he inform and seek approval from the match umpires and the opposing captain Mahela Jayawardena on such an experiment?
The laws of cricket are very precise on protective gear as given above. Then this device cannot be termed as a protective gear and only be termed as a power enhancing substance. Nowhere in the cricketing laws have they approved the squash ball as a protective gear.
it is not illegal. gilchirst’s inning was perfectly legal. the ball can be considered part of the glove.
Hey man Sri Lankans never find any excuse for loosing the cup. Instead captain Mahela as a true sportsman hailed Adam Gilcrist and his team for their best performance.
But that doesn’t mean that illegal use of rubber ball hidden under glove to enhance performance of the stroke is acceptable
Aussies have no cheaters. the biggest cheater is Murali. His test record should be wiped out.
His illegal action enables him reach almost 700 test wickets. what a joke. Murali does not deserve to overtake warne as the leading test wicket taker.
Only the most ignorant person can possibly believe that the “energy” stored by a squash ball can make a difference. Squash balls are not like a spring.
Try this very simple experiment. Get a squash ball. Now drop it from chest high, and see how high it will bounce. Let me guess not much higher than your shins.
A squash ball is designed to dispurse energy, to NOT bounce back. In other words it does not “release energy like a spring”.
Also the drug article is a joke. You want to know the secret of the Aussies success and endurance. Its called training, they do it harder and longer than anyone else.
This is a very disappointing reaction from the Sri Lankan Fans.
Gilchrist record speaks for itself and the dead silence from ICC officials and the Sri Lankan team, who are fortunately better sports than their fans. This will give Sri Lankan fans a negative repuatation. Lets hope they are better sports for the next Test series.
what will be the next excuse for Sri Lanka losing the World cup. Maybe JOhn Buchannan put a hoodoo for the whole sri lanka team before the final?? HA HA HA. LOL
you are a moron. so murali, malinga and mehela should all have drug tests because they have done well in the world cup?
and why didnt sri lanka players have drug test when they won the WC in 1996?? sour grapes!!!
just accept the fact that sri lanka is not good enough this time. LOL!!
It is unbelivable how this guy can come up with the excuse that Gilchrist got his power from half a squash ball. LOL, what a sad loser.
Listen up you Aussies Cheats and monster
ICC must investigate the BIG CHEATS, the AUSSIES. They are the biggest unsporting ruffians on the planet and Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden should also be investigated for this article that appeared in an English newspaper in Ceylon.
The full text of the article:
Are the Aussies guilty of performance enhancing Drugs?
By Dr. Sarath Fernando
Being a sportsman myself, I cannot comprehend how 2 Australian batsmen, namely Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist were able to perform with the same zest and energy for a long period of time during this World Cup Tournament on their normal intake of vitamins and. Only drugs can enhance one’s performance.
Shane Warne had the answer but unfortunately was “found out” – drugs it is. The energy boosting drugs have definitely being taken by these 2 batsmen-the banned drugs!
I challenge these players to have urine and blood tests taken to ascertain whether this charge is true. There will still be some residue of the drug left.
If true, then ALL their matches will be cancelled and this team must be disqualified. Sri Lanka will then be acclaimed as the legitimate Champions. Further, Gilchrist and Hayden would never have performed like this under normal conditions. Check Hayden’s ODI statistics prior to the World Cup.
Drugs taken by these players were eclipsed by the Woolmer affair. So the Aussies “went to town”. Was Gilchrist elegant in his innings or just “mad” and “demon-possessed”? Well, if he and Hayden “slip” this one, the day will arrive when the Truth will be revealed?
So, Hayden and Gilchrist, have the test done by an independent Medical Consultant, not from Australia, because this drug has the ability to remain in your blood stream for a long period of time. (END)
If it is so easy to score sixes and fours with a squash ball, everyone would be doing it.
this is a pathetic excuse from sri lankan fans.
every team will have 5 or 6 gilchrist if they all put squash balls in their gloves. LOL!!
only a moron can come up with the weak excuse that gilchrist got his power from a squash ball. LOL
would you people complain if gilchrist got out cheaply. LOL.
it is all sour grapes. just admit that sri lanka is not good enough in the final.
Maybe this should be ban too. Australia are so good because this gave them more energy, endurance and muscle power, – an unfair advantage. The ICC should do something about it. LOL!!
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