"Just be men, be sportsmen"

"Just be men, be sportsmen," he said. "At the end of the day, it's a sport that you are playing and you've got to trust your competitor, the guy you are playing against. Of course, it's left up to the umpires, but if you can't come to a decision, if we can't back each other on the field, even though we are on opposite teams, it doesn't say much for the sport."

That was Brian Lara, talking about the Dhoni controversy after the First Test between India and West Indies in Antigua. Irrespective of what any of us think about that incident, I think Mr Lara has a very valid point, especially in the context of how we play in our league. We are fortunate to be able to play organized cricket in this country. It may be an amateur league, but we certainly play a very passionate brand of cricket. Most of you have played a lot longer in MWCC than me, but I'm sure you will agree with me that we have all seen situations where the unsaid and unwritten code of brotherhood among cricketers have been broken. I personally think that it will be a lot more fun if we all as individuals try to respect and trust our opponents a little bit more. I know that a lot of players agree with this. In our own league, I have seen batsmen walk after nicking a ball. Last week, I saw a wicket keeper admit grounding a catch after seemingly having taken it, and that too, without any pressure from anyone. Last year, amazingly enough, I even saw a square leg umpire ( or should we say square leg batsman because sometimes you never know if he is there as a 3rd batsman or coach or water carrier) call "one short". I wonder, wouldn't it be great if such behaviour were the norm and not the exception?

I don't claim to be a saint. I have had my fair share of unsavory conduct.Things that I'm really embarrassed about when I look back. Once, when I was a kid playing yard cricket I went home with the bat ( the only bat!) after being given out. It was my way of sticking it to the guys. Alas, little did I know that my own match referee had caught me in the act and unlike the ICC version, had no qualms about taking immediate and unilateral action. My father who unknowing to me was watching the incident from the terrace of our house made me go back and apologize to all my friends - for a 10 year old, having to do that was humiliating. But, it was a lesson that I never forgot. These days, if I do something idiotic ( mostly a spur of the moment thing) I try to go back and apologize to whoever I may have crossed. It's not easy to suck it up, stick your hand out and say " I'm sorry", but I guess easier than having to live without putting a closure to it.

Just think about how much more fun it will be if before each match, the Captains, the teams and the Umpires all shook hands and agree to play hard and fair in the true spirit of the game? No personal sledging, fielders wishing new batsmen Good Luck, Batsmen walking if he knows he edged, fielders being honest about boundaries, sixes, catches and run outs. Maybe, even the square leg umpires can be fair and objective ( I know that is asking a lot...but still). In the event that a "heat of the moment" incident happens, wouldn't it be great if, once everything is under control, the players involved themselves apologize and shake hands with each other ( maybe with a bit of a push from the team mates).

I'm old enough to realize that nothing is going to be perfect. But as an eternal optimist, I believe that together we can get better. Its up to each one of us - " Just be men - be sportsmen"