Since ages, cricket is considered to be a gentleman’s game. May be it was in the past when the game was a 5-6 days affair when players played in crisp white dresses and were prim and proper in behaviour.
The rules set by the Britishers were followed to a ‘T’ by the cricket playing countries, except during the infamous bodyline bowling initiated by the Britishers themselves! But in the last few years cricket is anything but a gentleman’s game. Spitting on the ground (during these pandemic times too), sledging, swearing, scuffles, profanities, racial abuses, match fixing, ball tampering and so forth.
These are not characteristics of gentlemen but who cares since the stakes are high in terms of fame, money, publicity, fan following, advertisements etc.!
The game that was played for days has graduated to hours and from hundreds of overs to a total of 40 overs. Let us not be surprised if a day comes when cricket will be only of 5 overs for each team. So be it, but at least maintain a decorum on the cricket ground and in the dressing room.
