The Club Cricketer: Sledging

Plumbtree CC Vice Captain Ben Thompson blogs for the nottscricket.co.uk

I grew out of sledging at a pretty young age.

Looking back I can remember the thrill and excitement of it all.  There was always a buzz around the field and things were flying everywhere as the tension rose.

But it just isn’t for me these days.

Getting freezing cold and wet sliding down a hill on my backside just doesn’t appeal to me – I don’t particularly like going fast either. 

Sledging in the snow actually ranks up there with paintballing as my least favourite activity.

Sledging on the cricket field, however, is a slightly different matter.

Am I completely against it?  No not at all - but that does come with a caveat!

There is a fine line between sledging, banter and abuse and I have no time for abuse or poor banter on the cricket field.

In my youth I crossed that line on a few occasions and feel quite ashamed about that, cricket is a game I love and bringing it into disrepute in that way is something that I regret.

I remember wanting to win so badly, our team would get overexcited and a bit fiery.  It just wasn’t on and the verbal intimidation was totally out of place and not in the spirit of the beautiful game at all.

You could argue it was a case of youthful exuberance and the burning desire to win taking it over the top but being honest it was pretty pathetic and embarrassing.

I learnt my lesson a long time ago and would like to think that I wouldn’t let any of the young lads at Plumtree go over the top.

That isn’t to say there isn’t a place for banter on the field but please make it witty and funny or as part of a mind game.

Long afternoons in the hot sun chasing the ball around the field can be pretty mundane but a witty comment here or some banter with the batsmen there can lighten the mood – after all we all play club cricket for enjoyment.

Perhaps we should replace the word “sledging” for “banter” and people wouldn’t get confused over the usage – it would certainly make the umpire’s job a bit easier.  I feel sorry for them some weeks!  They have to put up with some utter rubbish on the pitch.

Having decisions questioned and being called upon to settle arguments is not what they have signed up for.

I’m pleased to say I haven’t really experienced any abusive sledging this season but there has been the odd bit of pretty poor banter!

Having bowled this particular side out for less than 100 on a boiling hot afternoon I walked out to open the batting and before a ball had been bowled it started.

“Have they reversed the order?” came the cry from behind the stumps.

He hadn’t even seen me face a ball yet and I surely didn’t look that bad walking out to the wicket?

I left the first couple of deliveries wide outside the off stump and a few other fielders started chirping up.

“Not as easy as it looks.”

“This lad normally bats at eleven.”

The next three balls went flying through the covers for four.

The stinking chat kept coming and I felt the need to lift the level of banter on offer.

I added;  “You are right lads I normally bat at eleven – imagine what are openers are like!”

Cricket’s a mind game and if someone is weak enough to allow you to get into their head then that is part of the battle – just don’t make it a verbal barrage of abuse.

And please no snow this winter!