The Aussie style of one-upmanship

Sharm DE ALWIS

Shakespeare miscalled it "The Act of Darkness." He was of course, referring to a universal game. I saw it done in the artificial lights of the Premadasa Stadium in yet a different sport. Elmo calls it "Mental disintegration". Dilshan, the inventor of the Dil scoop, edged Tait of Australia for a boundary in the SL game. Typical of the Ugly Australian who has taken the dishonour from the Ugly American, Tait taunted Dilshan.

Dilshan bit the bait. He could have taken a page from Arjuna Ranatunga's vast book or gone into a quick but intense meditation. Instead, he played into the hands of the tormentor.

Australians are known for their acts of evil on the sports field. The halcyon days of Neil Harvey with ball in hand, not throwing it at the stumps to fell a fallen batsman is no longer in their sports ethics which is WIN ANYHOW. They are for ever in ball and chain.

Why, didn't Gilchrist help his side to win with the aid of a squash ball in his batting glove when Mahela and his boys were engaged in the 'spirit of cricket'?

They employed the executioners Harper and Emmerson who called Murali even on a leg break! The Aussies tried their larks against Ranatunga who was far too street smart to capitulate.

My mind reels back to demon bowler Thompson bowling a bouncer at Viv Richards. In an ostentatious display of one-upmanship, he walked up to Viv and said, "You know, it is round like a cherry, red like a cherry." The next delivery was smashed into the stands. Viv walked up to Thompson: "You know it well. Red like a cherry, round like a cherry. Go, fetch it."

It was Tait's uncultured tongue that got Dilshan. They'll meet again.