The old Australian system was easier for the players to follow. We do our job and the umpire does his, they said; and while it did not always look good, it was consistent. Now with many stakeholders in the game, they are having to posture, to say the right things, to seek the moral high ground. It was always going to be naive to expect a fielder’s word to be taken, for they do not have a tradition in that area. Even the mighty Steve Waugh claimed a bump ball in the West Indies and certainly it would be ridiculous to take Ponting’s word. Even Gilchrist, who walks, feels the need to appeal when a player is clearly not out. Now, everyone does that, the Indians did too, but the problem lies in claiming the moral high ground. Rarely has it been more slippery.

So too, it is felt that it is fine to be abusive, often on deeply personal issues, but not fine to be racist. Neither should be allowed but you cannot have a situation where it is okay to appear wounded on one count and be completely over the top on another. When the English left after the Ashes, some of them were in shock at the intensity of personal abuse. Sadly, there is now only one way out and that is to ban chatter completely. Cricketers might scoff at this suggestion but they have lost the right to live any other way. And with all the debate over the usage of the word ‘monkey’, the definition of what is offensive and what isn’t will become impossible to recognise. Anil Kumble thinks the word ‘bastard’ is offensive, and it is, but a group of lads in a bar might freely use it and wonder what the fuss is all about. What is acceptable in one culture may not be in another. So, I’m afraid, no chatter. And that might just be the best thing to happen to the game. A lot of great players didn’t need to use their lips and the game will lose nothing.

... contd.