lundi 21 mars 2011

To walk or not to walk -- that's the question

A dilemma worthy of Hamlet confronts all batsmen in the World Cup on whether they should walk or not after nicking the ball.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting clearly belongs to the school that believes the man in the white coat decides when his time is up.
Ponting stood his ground after edging the ball to Kamran Akmal on Saturday even though Pakistan's successful review appeal meant he had to go back.
In stark contrast, Sachin Tendulkar, one century away from his 100th international ton, had no hesitation in walking even though umpire Steve Davis felt the Indian did not nick Ravi Rampaul in Sunday's Group B match in Chennai.
West Indies captain Darren Sammy lauded the gesture.
"That was brilliant on his part. It shows the measure of the man. He is a true gentleman," he said.
"I'm sure that would not affect him after scoring 17000 runs. Yes, he could walk," Sammy quipped.
Ponting feels otherwise.
"There were no doubts about the nick, I knew I hit it," the Australian captain said after the match against Pakistan.
"But as always, I wait for the umpire to give me out. That's the way I've always played the game."
Ponting's former team mate Adam Gilchrist famously walked in the 2003 World Cup semi-final against Sri Lanka and the debate has raged on since then, winning approval from most and bemusing some.
Yuvraj Singh said Tendulkar's decision to walk did not baffle anyone in the Indian camp.
"(We were) not surprised. He felt he needed to walk and so he walked," Yuvraj told reporters in Chennai.
"I think it's a personal decision and it should be left to the batsman."
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis believes Ponting's dismissal highlights the fact that every batsman who nicks the ball is just one review away from his exit.
Some players would still take chance but Waqar would rather like to see them walk.
"There is a system now in place. So, you can't get away with it. I mean the people still take chances and why not?
"It's nice to see people just walking but that does not happen now I guess," he said on Saturday.
Less than 24 hours later Tendulkar proved Waqar wrong.

Aucun commentaire:

Enregistrer un commentaire