Monday 25th of November 2024
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the 12th man .....

 

the 12th man .....

‘Cricket tours have been cancelled due to terrorism, world wars and even the French Revolution, but never before on account of a government's interventionism.

John Howard's directive sets a dangerous precedent for sport in Australia, albeit a popular one in this case. But should the Government look to broaden that ban beyond matches played exclusively in Zimbabwe, as Howard and Alexander Downer foreshadowed, it could well find itself in a heated battle with the very body it is trying to help.

The Government's move to scuttle the forthcoming three-match limited overs tour of Zimbabwe is a positive development for Cricket Australia, in that it indemnifies the board against a $2 million fine it otherwise would have faced for not touring, in accordance with International Cricket Council guidelines.

Make no mistake: Cricket Australia was desperate to avoid another political stand-off over Zimbabwe, as in 2003 and 2004.

The Government's move also relieves Cricket Australia of another complex and potentially unsavoury situation, as well as absolving it of responsibility for the tour cancellation in the eyes of the International Cricket Council. But it would presumably not take so kindly to moves to ban matches against Zimbabwe altogether, as is the stated preference of Howard and Downer.’

Dangerous Precedent Opens Door To Grey Zone

Morally cracked pitch...

There's a strong chance Johnnee did his waving to the crowd with his Krooked brand Cricket bat — as if one run made a great difference to a total of two — first and foremost to stop Cricket Aussieland having to pay a large payola, akin to a AWB non-bribe kickback, for not playing ball with Mugabe's XI. Thus at one end of a morally cracked pitch looking like a cowpat, our Rattus stands proud like Napoleon on top of one of the Pyramids, declaring his love for history and stats — in which Rattus himself played for the opposing team during the South African sanctions... Now some commentators on the right (and the left) sees his floppy hand reajusting his box as a sign of leadership, but they do seem to forget that dreadful bully Thatcherite inning in which our Johnee played a loosy 2 runs while facing 306 balls, but was not out (and neither was Maggie) all for using a willow stick wider than the wicked SA wicket. Of course they were forgiven by Mandela, who managed to hit a six in his ton for victory... This event in light with the present reversal of a heavy-footed Rattus being the empire as well as the batsman should of course tell us the game is rigged, otherwide as Malcolm Frazer tells us, lots more runs are needed on the board. What's the point of winning when the game is forfeited by the winner? In any other situation, there would be a royal commission into Betting Inc. of Nigeria.