TWO days and something of rain ensured that the final Test in the Frank Worrell Trophy series between Australia and West Indies at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) ended in a draw but captain of the hosts tried to ensure there was a result. Aussie legend, Ian Chappell, was not pleased that the skipper of his country’s Test side made the attempt.Smith admitted that he approached West Indies captain Jason Holder with a proposal that would guarantee a result, but the all-rounder turned down the offer.
“I would have declared at 0-0 and then bowled lob-ups for seven or eight overs or whatever it is,” Smith had revealed.
“For us, that would have potentially been me bowling with three slips and two gullies and leaving every man up for them to try and hit as many as they can,” said Smith.
Chappell believes that Aussie cricket, whether or not the action was legal, should steer clear of contrived results.
“I don’t like it when captains get together and start to make deals,” said Chappell.
“I’m sure cricket in general, not just Cricket Australia, would be all that thrilled to hear that the captain is going to another captain and trying to make a deal because in this age of fixing, I would have thought that leaves things open to a lot of problems. I’ve never agreed with it, even before fixing became a pretty important subject, but even more I think it’s important not to do those things now,” the former Aussie skipper added.
According to Chappell, even if people thought the game could have been more exciting, may not have been excited by the idea of a result that could not have been attained through the natural course of play.
“The people who paid their money, even though they didn’t on Thursday, they’re entitled to look out and say: ‘Well, I’ve paid my money to watch something serious, not hit and giggle’,” said Chappell. (Sportsmax.com)