India vs Australia 2017: This Series Will Be Known More For Toxicity Than Cricket, Says Harsha Bhogle
Mar 21, 2017 at 4:17 PM
Harsha Bhogle, cricket analyst and a well-known face in the commentary box, has warned the ongoing Australia’s tour will be remembered more for toxicity than the action that has transpired between both teams. With three matches done, the Border-Gavaskar trophy has seen few of the ugliest incidents on the cricket field, some of them even making headlines.
The series which was rocked by the DRS – Dressing Room saga, had captains of both teams involved in the matter. Also, some harsh words and wage remarks were passed to make the situation look cheerless. Thanks to an intervention from the ICC, the matter was put to rest but incidentally it wasn’t all over. Even in the following game, few of the banters, including that of Glenn Maxwell mocking India’s Virat Kohli and later the Indian skipper doing the same on David Warner’s dismissal, almost made the old school critics worried about the game’s integrity, again.
Harsha took it to social media to express his displeasure in watching such incidents happening, and said few of his friends from Australia have mentioned the tour might not be remembered for on-field heroics, given the negatives vibes from both camps. He further added such events are well covered, watched over and over again and make people talk about it a way too much. In his eyes, it’s like spreading the ill-will of the game.
He further added the uninvited issue on the ground needs check, and if it is used as a tool to grab eyeballs, then sorry, the game is not going in the right direction. Following the footpaths of behavioral aspect of game laid by the ICC, Harsha believes this needs to stop and cricket should be the ultimate winner in the end.
Friends in Australia tell me they are perturbed by the toxicity this series has generated. Cricket lovers in India saying so too.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 21, 2017
If we have to use toxicity and divisiveness to spread our game, we are using a short-term approach that can only be harmful.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 21, 2017
I am particularly perturbed by the fact that some of us in the media are promoting this divisiveness and taking sides to spread ill-will.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 21, 2017
A lot of us entered this profession because we love sport and had the opportunity to talk/write about it. We didn’t enter to spread toxicity
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 21, 2017
Creating a Big Brother/Big Boss kind of toxicity to gain eyeballs and generate headlines will prove harmful eventually.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 21, 2017
I also believe administrators need to ensure that while there will be passion at work, and frayed tempers, it cannot be a series of its own.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 21, 2017