Bat and ball / Frank Gregan / 09 August 2010 /

As a talented New Zealand batsman receives a final warning for his alcohol-fuelled escapades, Frank Gregan considers the boozy antics of some of cricket's most colourful characters.

Cricket has always had the image of belonging to the gentry, the G&T quaffing brigade in their navy blue blazers and paisley cravats. There used to be a protocol in the game, when the paid serf was thrown the ball and given a chance to bowl he would touch his forelock to his skipper and say "Eee by gum M'Lord, Thankee Sir." Oh boy, how things have changed!

These days high profile cricketers veer off the straight and narrow more than Michael Schumacher. The latest to be making headlines on the front pages in his native country for the wrong reasons is Jesse Ryder. The Kiwi decided to add a little spice to an indoor cricket competition in Christchurch last week by getting hammered and causing an 'alcohol fuelled disruption.'

He's been given his final warning by the board of New Zealand Cricket that his contract will be terminated if there are any further transgressions. That's exactly the same punishment that he's been given in the past! In fact, this is his sixth official reprimand in two years but they don't seem to be worrying the big fella, he goes from strength to strength - 5.5 to 8% beers!

The Chief Executive of New Zealand Cricket, Justin Vaughan said that Ryder was "worth supporting through his off field troubles." That's a euphemism for 'Hey, bear with me here. We've got such a small talent pool that I have no other option but to be soft on the guy!'

Booze is at the heart of most cricketing scandals these days. Fredalo wouldn't have happened if Andrew Flintoff had been on a course of antibiotics and unable to drink during the 2007 World Cup. And imagine if the open top bus driver had have been a jobsworth and said "sorry lads, no booze allowed on here" during the 2005 Ashes celebrations - we probably wouldn't have witnessed such 'liberal' celebrations.

It's all about context. No English cricket fans complained about the 2005 Ashes celebrations because the players had performed and deserved to enjoy the moment. Fredalo happened during a disastrous World Cup campaign which is a time for a low profile.

When news broke of David Boon drinking 52 tinnies on the flight over for the 1989 Ashes Series, you might have expected folks back home to wonder if he was preparing for the series with due diligence. That wasn't the case but his cause was helped in no small way by the result of the series; the Aussies, who had been dubbed "possibly the worst side to ever tour England" walloped the Poms 4-0, a result which was the catalyst for 16 years of dominance.

Boon attained hero status in his home state where there was a campaign to lower the speed limit to 52 mph in recognition of his drinking prowess. That's evidence that cricket loves a winner - no matter how much they transgress.

Jesse Ryder is in exalted company. Sir Ian Botham, Shane Warne have all attracted more than their share of bad press after a boozy night out or three. Oscar Wilde said that he never played cricket "because it requires one to assume such indecent postures." These days there's far more than postures that's indecent in cricket, but the game is much better for it!

Pakistan could do with some wild spirits, heck they could do with any kind of spirit. They showed resolve and were applauded for taking the second Test into day four which is indicative of how far they have fallen. Some wise souls attained a match at [12.5] on a 4-0 England whitewash and with the price now a skinny [2.04], having traded as short as [1.91], it might pay to take on the late comers and lay England.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: