Great sporting streaks
Andrew Symonds shoulder charged a streaker at the Gabba tonight in a bone-jarring tackle more reminiscent of rugby than cricket.
It will send the otherwise ho-hum, yawn pitch invasion into the realms of sporting folklore. And let’s face it, a photograph or video footage is necessary to make a streak memorable.
There was a female streaker at the local cricket in Kalgoorlie on the weekend, but it’s unlikely to be spoken about in pubs or written about in blogs (except here).
Michael O’Brien’s streak (below) during a rugby international at Twickenham in 1974 was caught on film by Ian Bradshaw and made immortal.
Television doesn’t normally record streakers, but I seem to recall an exception being made for Helen D’Amico during the 1982 VFL grand final at the MCG. Super cool Bruce Doull (headband) was nonplussed.
And in New Zealand, Australian batsman Greg Chappell once spanked a streaker with his bat and was charged with assault.
I'm a 41-year-old father of four working as a newspaper editor at Mount Gambier in South Australia.
March 5th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
So many reasons have been attributed to the crushing defeat of Australia at the hands of India in just concluded one day cricket series, but the main reason for this stunning defeat is the mellowing down of Australian cricket players in the face of millions of dollars they are getting and expect to get from India during Indian Premier League and Indian Cricket League matches being organized in India.
After all Australian cricket players who are getting and expect to get handsome money from cricket India can not be expected to display requisite game aggressiveness towards India on cricket ground.
Australian Cricket players have allowed themselves to be timid and shallow against India (which is the result of money power of cricket India which has attracted and intimidated Australian players also) to the extent that now Australian cricket players show their legendary aggressiveness against India not in the real game of cricket at ground but in unnecessary and futile bickering with Indian players.
Therefore if Australia wants to regain its lost glory in cricket then the Australian Cricket Board should issue a stern warning that any player who plays for IPL or ICL in India will not be included in national cricket team of Australia.
March 6th, 2008 at 11:26 am
While I do not necesarily agree whole there is an element to which I do. I think the Australian let things get under their skin and put them off their game (they were out psyched).
I think that the indian removal of Bucknor was a total disgrace and was a deliberate show of force (which umpire will now no-ball for chucking or make a ball tampering allegation?). I would like to remind our sub-continental friends of why Steve Bucknor was umpiring the match rather than an Australian - it was because indian and Pakistani umpires opening favoured the home side. Steve Bucknor made human errors - not disimilar to Damien Martyn’s two LBW’s in England that cost Australia the Ashes and probably Martyn his career. Did we move to have an umpire removed - no!
Through the economic power and a national passion for the great game, india is now the undoubted custodian of the game - how india treats it and respects it as a global game will dictate whether it survives or dies. There are more than enough games competing for talent in Australia and around the world - if it smells like a fix people will leave in droves.
I think the rivally between India and Australia is great and will ultimately be a positive. I think the rise of india as a economic force for the game is potentially a wonderful thing - but the umpire tampering is more incidious and I fear will destroy the game.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
and do not forget the time Alderman tackled a streaker and he wrecked his shoulder and career…
and trust a kiwi to sue an Aussie, only way they can beat us
Jermayn Parker’s last blog post..How to kick a Drop Kick
March 6th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
I think Alderman tackled a ground invader.