JG writes from Australia: I read the article “How legal was Adam Gilchrist’s ‘hidden ball’?” You have very valid points and there are a few more unanswered questions that are worth pursuing further.
The other points to note are:
# Gilchrist never used the “squash ball” in the past and also in any of the other 10 games prior to the finals. Did the “squash ball” help?
# Gilchrist was out of form and didn’t score many runs in the whole World Cup tour apart from the finals. Did the “squash ball” provide Gilchrist the required assistance to bring him back to form?
# The World Cup final was between Sri Lanka and Gilchrist (not Australia). All other inform Australian batsmen were struggling to score except the out-of-form Gilchrist who had this “squash ball” to enhance his grip or did it?
# Most of his shots, mainly his eight sixes, were massive and cleared the grounds. Did the “squash ball” help?
# The number of sixes hit by Gilchrist amounts to eight in the finals, compared to two in the previous 10 games. Is it because of the “squash ball”?
# Gilchrist’s average without the last innings would have been a mere 30.40 compared to the 45.30 after the finals. Did the “squash ball” help to boost his average?
# Gilchrist’s strike rate without the last innings would have been 91.57 compared to the 103.89 after the finals. Again, did the “squash ball” provide that extra power?
Given the above and the points you raised, your natural tendency would be to believe that the “squash ball” might have given him that extra edge or did it?
His 2007 World Cup Statistics are as follows:
Matches 11, Innings 11, Not Out 1, Runs 453, Highest Score 149, Average 45.30, Balls faced 436, Strike rate 103.89, Hundreds 1, Fifties 2, Zeroes 0, Fours 58, Sixes 10.
I am not taking anything away from Adam Gilchrist’s excellent innings. That was an amazing innings which will be remembered by many for years to come. However, the question still remains: is it legal to use such equipment and will it provide assistance?
Also read: ‘Gilly’s hidden ball helped hit more 6s & 4s‘
churumuri 
Are you people serious? Using a squash ball is the same as batsman having two grips on their bats or even worse the ones who use half grips on the bottom to help with bottom hand control.
In fact, the mere mention of this has made my blood boil. Is it also cheating now when bowlers cut the toe out of their boots so they don’t squash their toes when they bowl or when wicketkeeprs use helmets when standing up to fast bowlers?
Cmon guys – get real!
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I think my name says it all with respect to all these comments.
Let me ask this. If a player uses a new pair of gloves that improves his grip, should this then be illegal?
Please!
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Do any of the Sri Lankan, Indian and Pakistani players ever use sunglasses to aid their vision in the field? Yes. How is that any different?
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Lets get this thing clear. No matter what Australia does…. IT IS NOT AND IT WON”T BE ILLEGAL. But if any one else(any player from any other country other than Australia) does it…. IT WILL BE ILLEGAL and HE WILL BE PUNISHED.
REASON: AUSTRALIANS ARE CONVICTS. And THEY DO HAVE A RIGHT TO FIGHT FOR THAT TITLE.
SOME THING TO REMEMBER: It is better to accept the defeat with dignity rather than winning a piece of metal without dignity.
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Sore loser!! Typical from the sub-continent.
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Guys get a grip – he beat them fair and square. What a joke to think a squash ball could be illegel!!!
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We have a term for this in Australia, its called SOUR GRAPES!!!
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What Gilly did was legal, as opposed to the bowlers on the other side who throw it. Wake up and stop making excuses for being beaten. You were soundly beaten by a better team.
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I really think the sub-continent is clutching at straws on this one. It is a squash ball after all. It’s not like Gilly was on ‘steroids’ and was protected by the ACB (as was the case with the Pakistan fast bowlers and their cricket board) or was thrown out of the game for match fixing (Salim Malik).
It sounds very much a case of sour grapes to me. I think they should concentrate more on their farcical efforts at the World Cup (disgraceful really) and the fact that illegal gambling is rife in their game, which ‘may’ have cost Bob Woolmer his life.
They may control the votes in the cricket council but that is all they are in control of. The rest of the cricket world finds them laughable and to be honest a ‘disgrace’ to the game.
Maybe that’s why Australia got snubbed regarding the upcoming series in Ireland; maybe India wanted a chance to win something for a change.
India and Pakistan – maybe you should spend less time whining about the Aussies’ success and burning effigies of Dravid & Chappell and more time in the nets and having a good hard look at the your internal troubles that are a ‘blight’ to the game and anyone who loves it.
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My question is, how the hell does a squash ball fit inside a glove and HOW DOES IT IN ANY WAY IMPROVE PERFORMANCE?
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You are a knob.. wake up to yourself
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Anyone who even entertains the very concept of the idea that a squash ball in someones gloves should be made illegal because it gives them more grip is perpostorus and quite possibly – unsportsmanlike! Really, how pathetic is this very line of conversation! People are going to compare this to things like Ricky Ponting’s graphite-coated bat which were made illegal. Can someone please figure out Ricky’s stats with & without the bat – I bet they are both as high as each other. My point – it is not the equipment behind the sportsman but the sportsman himself that maketh the innings! I’m off now to go have a drink of wine – the type? – sour grapes would do I think under the current situation…
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Is it legal for cricket glove makers to use rubber when making gloves?
Is it legal for players to use tape on their fingers when they are sore — I mean it might give them an unfair advantage in the field.
Are wristbands legal? They are not part of the official equipment & they give the bowler an advantage? BAN THEM.
Contact lenses for short sighted players? BAN THEM
Sports drinks — they contain supplements that increase player performance — this is illegal — BAN THEM AS WELL.
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Typical English defeatism .. this colonial attitude has obviously rubbed of onto their sub-continent minions. When you are good enough step up to the plate and try to win a game.
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Anyone want to question whether a cut-in-half squash ball helps? Give it a try and tell people that you’re finding it easier to hit sixes. Bet it doesn’t work.
This smacks of someone giving advice to Gilli of a total rubbish idea to make someone think it was working when in reality, it just changed his mental approach to make him think it was the squash ball. I bet whoever told him about the squash ball approach was just playing with him for a larf.
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Talk about clutching at straws. The squash ball is about as relevant as Steve Waughs red hanky. Does anyone really believe a squash ball helped Gilchrist hit sixes. It’s more about making a change, much in the way an injured batsmen seems to conjure a high score when he might otherwise be out of form. As for the nonsense that the other Aussie batsmen were having trouble, haven’t these ignorant people watched how the Aussies build these scores? One batsmen (and often in the world cup it was Hayden) will always be given the licence and while they succeed the others will take a back seat. If Gilly had gone another would have done the job, thats the way it goes, time and time and time agaion. The sub-continent have an agenda to take over world cricket because they can’t succeed on an even playing field: they winge and bully anyone who is prepared to stand up to them e.g Daryl Hair, and when they can’t get their way they cry “racism”. Once they have control of the ICC and have done all they can do to ruin the game as we know it and everything is done “their way”, who will they winge to when they still can’t win tests away from their mud-pack wickets or one dayers away from their justifiably caged, relic saunas?
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Does Murali’s arm bend too much? Does this allow him to impart more spin on the ball than would be possible if his arm was correctly extended?
Were the laws surrounding allowable degree of arm bend changed by the ICC to save face?
Does Gilchrist’s squash ball really have that much impact? I encourage all amateur crickters reading to try this technique to test how much it really does enhane your performance. If you aint got the talent and skills, a squash ball won’t change a thing. You won’t become a champion overnight. Stop complaining. Sri Lanka were fairly trounced, end of story.
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Kevin – I may have convict blood, but you are a true loser.
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Just a case of sour grapes if you ask me – Australia totally outplayed all the other nations and the subcontinent should accept this.
Maybe can can try and improve their cricket rather than whinging….
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I love how the wingers eg Kevin Morland thinks the Aussies get their way. If an Aussie had been accused of Ball Tampering in a test he would have been fried (and the umpire would never have been sacked). If Murali was an Australian he would have been banned adn everytime Glen McGrath sneezes he cops more than other bowlers do for their indiscretions around the world. Paki bowlers take steroids and are let off by their own while warns takes a diaretic and peopel criticize the weakness of taking the worlds best ever bowler out of the game for “only” one year! The Aussies have to do it tighter, better and cleaner than any other country or the other cricket countries are right into them (particulalry the subcontinent). Wake up and smell the delusion people.
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I think everyone is forgetting one very important question – was it a magic squash ball or just a normal squash ball ??
If it wasn’t a magic squash ball then I think it’s legal :-)
Maybe someone could prove whether it was the squash ball that made the blistering hundred or whether it was in fact the most exciting batsman of the modern era doing what he always does – make blistering hundreds.
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I reckon Jerome has a point. Still the result is there. But the lack of immaturity seen in other posts staggers me. So much vitriol from fellow Aussies. The reaction of insult to suggest that Australians could ever bend rules to suit themselves (re: initial cover up of Warne & M Waugh taking money for “pitch reports”). Obviously all Australian cricketers are angels, and above any law.
A squash ball lessons the impact of jarring. Whether its illegal is up to the ICC, headed up by Malcolm Speed, who presided over the worst World Cup ever staged. But there’s a lack of a facts in all the posts above, only emotion. I’ll go searching elsewhere for an informative forum, rather than outpourings of jingoistic buffoonary.
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Things that aid a batsmen:
Sunglasses (Better Vision – Better Performance)
Gloves (Protects fingers – Better Performance)
Rubber Grip on Gloves (Improves Grip – Better Performance)
Pads (Protects Legs – Better Performance)
Body pads (Protects Body – Better Performance)
helmets (Protects Head – Better Performance)
Spiked Shoes (Better Balance – Better Performance)
Steve Waugh’s Red Hanky (Removed Sweat – Better Performance)
Things that aid a bowler:
Spiked Shoes (Better Balance and Grip – Better Performance)
Wrist Bands (Removes sweat for better grip – Better Performance)
Towels (removes moisture and sweat – Better Performance)
Foot Strapping (Gives support – Better Performance)
The only way for a true contest is to have them playing naked with no protection. As funny and stupid as it sounds, it is the only true way to avoid this stuff. Gloves, pads an helmets provide the player with protection which allows them to perform shots not normally attempted due to fear of being struck. Anyone want to kick away a Brett Lee ball with no pads on?
I agree that bats should be regulated as that is an integral part of the game but what if a manufacturer makes a better bat than the opponents?
If I have a contract with a shoe manufacturer who provides me with better footwear than my opposition, is that not an unfair advantage?
Do we, as in motor racing, go to control equipment? Do we provide the players with a kit every game and have spot checks as they walk out onto the field.
I have a lucky $1 coin that I keep in my gloves when batting… does that give me an unfair advantage? I believe it to bring me good luck but I still get ducks occasionally.
I can put a squash ball in my gloves and still go for nothing. Gilly has been putting them out of the park for years. If the injustice of it all gets you through the night and fuels your desire in another 4 years than that’s cool, but he has history, he has form and he has a big round bruise on his hand.
Tennis Anyone?
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What a joke, allegations of ‘cheating’ from the sub-continent, home of dodgy and illegal practises in cricket. If these mugs spent as much time and effort of the development of the sport in their country as they do on whinging when they lose they would have a better team, and perhaps a chance of winning.
Kevin, wind your neck in, you goose, you are really making yourself look utterly stupid with comments like that. Convicts?? Grow up you dipit
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Yes, Gilly needed all his considerable talent to play what was a phenomenal innings, but there is no doubt the ball would have had an effect. As a batsman, there are three ways to obtain such monstrous power – have massive armstrength, a la Jayasuriya, have phenomenal timing, a la Mark Waugh, or throw an extemely loosely gripped bat – a la Gayle, Gilchrist. What the ball did was ensure Gilchrist couldn’t grip his bottom hand too tightly, and gives the batsman a degree of whip with his strokes. And yes, it does work even down to the standard grade cricketer – I’ve done a sinilar thing myself with bits of foam stuffed into my gloves, and particularly against quick bowling, it works. Illegal? No. Questionable – maybe.
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Give me a break! If it did happen to be illegal and I don’t think for a minute it was, it simply evens up the game. Sri Lanka insisted on letting Murali the chucker mask himself as a bowler after all, a more obvious and serious breach of the rules. The squash ball doesn’t seem much in comparison really.
Perhaps the sub continent should get back to basics. That is, play the game and spend less time making television commercials, doing your hair and shopping for jewelry.
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You Sri Lankans call this cheating, get over it. Remember the ICC changed the rules of cricket of over 100 years to allow Murili to play. If you read the rules they changed the allowable degrees a arm can bend before its a throw…….. think about before you start this type of crap
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jingoistic buffoonAry?? You almost had it Davo, so close yet – well you get the picture. Back to school for you!
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Boo hoo hoo. Have a cry.
Over it yet?
Only one word for Sri Lanka’s performance – SOFT!
As soft as a SQUASHBALL!
The bowlers hid in the shed during the last Super-8’s match. SOFT!
Murali took wickets mainly against the minnows. SOFT!
In the final, not one bowler fired a shot. SOFT!
Rather than a ball in a glove, maybe Vass needed Tom Moody to send a skyrocket up his ### – it would have motivated him to bowl instead of throwing PIES! Nice, SOFT pies!
Fair Dinkum you blokes. You were hopeless!
Suggest you all go play SQUASH instead!
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I still think we should find out if it was a magic squash ball.
If it is a magic squash ball maybe someone can try shoving it up Kevin’s backside in an attempt to stop the crap coming out of his mouth.
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If he’d used the squash ball and got out for zero would it be illegal? Doubt it.
If he’d been playing NZ would it be illegal? Doubt it .
Are Sri Lanka trying everything they can to show it really wasn’t there poor form that was at fault? Yep.
The ashes and ODI prior to the World cup shows Gilly has been in poor form for a while interspersed with great 100’s. As this is the first time he used the squash ball what illegality caused the other scores?
Changing the rules to make Murali legal = cheating imo.
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Are you blokes serious? Next you’ll be saying Steve Waugh’s red hanky was cheating.
Get a life
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They have a point. It’s a well-known fact that a squash ball in the glove makes reflexes faster, improves eyesight, quickens footwork, makes timing the stroke more accurate, gives unerring decision-making ability and instils talent.
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What I feel is, anything used beyond the rules, (the equipments mentioned in the cricket book) is not fair by the other side
Rohana
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Question is Dan – was it a magic red hanky ??
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A ball inside a glove would be seen almost the same as having a finger or hand wrapped in tape inside a glove. It never contacts directly with the bat or the ball. So how it can be called “tampering” I have no idea. As for the rules – I don’t think anything covers for or against something in a glove – as they are written.
It may have made the odd 4 into a 6. But more from Gilly’s soundness of mind. But I am sure the ball still would have made the boundary. And if Gilly had of got out earlier – we probably would have seen an even faster century from Symonds.
But is great to see the boot finally on the other foot with regard cheating claims.
I say to the ICC – if it becomes an inssue amongst our excitable sub c friends – just do what you did for Murali – and change the rules – retrospectively.
By the way SL against New Zealand – Murali was surely back to beyond 15 degress. Out of testing of course. Perhaps up that rule again. 22 degrees maybe.
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This clutching at straws is rediculous in the extreme. I’m sorry, I’m not racist or anything of the sort, but it smacks of typical sub-continent dissastifaction at their own performance, by trying to find excuses to hide it.
What next? His box was illegally large?
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YOU HAVE TO BE JOKING!!!
Gilly used an object that either helped his performance or one that HE BELIEVED helped his performance in the World Cup final. There is litle argument there.
SO??
He used a legal bat, pads, and all other equipment in his glorious knock.
Did we ban Steve Waugh’s lucky red rag? NO.
Do we ban chewing gum for those batsmen who feel more confortable chewing during their innings? NO.
Do we ban those little towels some bowlers wear around their waists or keep in their pockets and APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE BALL to aid their grip on the ball. NO.
Do we ban the wearing of sunglasses for those who feel they enhance their performance while catching skied balls during daylight hours. NO.
I fear those bloggers who are now complaining about Gilly’s knock are looking for an outlet for their frustration at their team’s poor performance.
What will they find “wrong” with Matt Hayden’s centuries and overall deluge of runs, let alone Glenn McGrath’s big bag of wickets??
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It’s obvious that Gilchrist’s improvised spring loaded batting gloves enhanced his batting – he admitted to it. This is much like illegal drug taking which is performance enhancing. By wearing the improvised spring loaded batting gloves (by cutting a squash ball in half and fitting it to the inner glove) enabled Gilchrist to hit the ball further than any other batman ever at that ground. Coincidence or not.
I think Australia should be stripped of the world cup and they should be banned from taking part in the next one.
Australia has a history of trying to pervert the rules of the game. Denis Lilly tried to used a tin bat and Ricky Ponting was found out using a Graphite /Teflon Bat. I wonder what else they get up to apart from the bowler TAIT being an absolute CHUCKER.
The Aussie team needs a rocket up the jacksee.
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Just another case of sore losers! It isn’t some miracle device thats guaranteed to give him more runs! It’s just a squash ball, to give him more grip on the bat. No difference to people using different sorts of gloves or bat grips to try to get more grip on the bat. Sri Lanka, YOU LOST! Build a bridge and get over it! Take defeat graciously, because this is pathetic.
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I’m with the lot of other people who argue that it is a similar aid such as gloves for extra grip… but also other aids not mentioned in the rules – e.g: Sunglasses to help block out the glare of the sun – This is not mentioned in the rules, so is it then cheating, as it helps protect players against glare.
Also, if you are going to argue that Gilchrist by putting half a squash ball in his glove to help with his grip on the bat, that he is “cheating”; then I would also argue that:
1. Bowlers having studs in their shoes are cheating, as it assists the grip of their feet on the ground
2. Batters with studs in their shoes are cheating, as it also provides better grip and traction for running inbetween the wickets
3. A player injured, with perhaps his leg strapped; is cheating as the strap provides him with support to run.
4. Players with rubber built into their gloves are cheating, as this also helps with the grip.
Sure, the law only states that:
(b) the implements of the game conform to the requirements of Laws 5 (the ball) and 6 (the bat), together with either Laws 8.2 (size of stumps) and 8.3 (the bails) or, if appropriate, Law 8.4 (junior cricket).
(c) (i) no player uses equipment other than that permitted.
The laws don’t mention sunglasses or studs; I’m sure everyone wearing them are all cheats.
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Ahh racism at its best. If it was a Sri lankin doing this it would have been O.K. After all you can bowl whilst straightening your arm and thatis O.K. But use some initiative (and by the way, the laws of cricket don’t mention the banning of squash balls) and the sub continent all rise to complain – just because he is a white fella. If he had the same skin color as them – there wouldn’t be a complaint. Racism at its best.
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This isn’t even an issue. Gilchrist is a marvelous cricketer and a brilliant batsman. His average in ODI is 36 and his strike rate is 96. So the question of weather or not the squash ball made the difference is mute. Many are staying it was out of the ordinary that Gilchrist all of a sudden was able to play a match-winning innings, however Gilchrist does this all of the time. He did it recently in the Ashes series against England. He was out of form for most of the series and for a long time in Test matches, yet at Perth he smashed the 2nd fastest test hundred ever.
Sri Lankans are just annoyed that their team they didn’t win the World Cup.
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What Kevin Morland (May 4th, 2007 at 11:40 am) posted on this site are offensive, what’s more I am offended by the remark. I am an Australian and I am not a convict, an immigrant, yes but not a convict, i’m proud to be Australian. If I recal correctly Daryl HAIR paid a heavy price for the ball tampering saga and he an Australian.
When I first read about Adam Gilchurch squash ball in glove story I though to myself “is that legal”, I didn’t know the answer and still don’t, so I left my trust to the ICC to make the call. Although I love watching cricket I have to admit my knowledge of the endless rules and regulation of the game are limited.
And to those that feel that the Australia Cricket have influence over the ICC they should only remember Muralitharan bowling action and how the rule was changed to suit him, don’t get me wrong, I think he’s the finest spin bowler of our time, surpassing even that of Shane Warne.
Back to Gili’s sqash ball, I am an egineer by profession so I have a fair knowledge of physic so I dare say it has very little impact on the ACTUAL enhancement of the impact of the ball only that it force him to grip the bat at certain place.
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Tony – do us all a favour and don’t make claims you can’t substantiate or know nothing about.
“It’s obvious that Gilchrist’s improvised spring loaded batting gloves enhanced his batting – he admitted to it.”
Well duh! So if someone admits they wore two pairs of inners (I’m assuming you know what that is), let’s strip them of test playing status, and impose crippling economic sanctions on their nation?
That’s about as much sense as you make. Please explain to me (and by that I mean biomechanically) how a squash ball in the glove improved his batting which you claim “enabled Gilchrist to hit the ball further than any other batman ever at that ground”.
I’m assuming you’re forgetting that Gilchrist has been one of the biggest hitters (if not the biggest) in world cricket for the past decade. Remember too, that no-where in the laws of cricket does it state that you can’t have a squash ball, band aid or anything else in your glove.
So next time, remember, it’s better to say nothing and let us think you’re a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
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I’ll add to what 504Loki said about Kevin Moreland:
Kevin – you are a dill. D.I.L.L.
Honestly. That is perhaps the most rediculous thing I’ve heard.
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Please all.. Listen…
Even though you seem to be repeatedly mentioning and assuming that the stuff posted here are written by SRI LANKAN’s.
They are not.
We Sri Lankan’s have no issues with the Squash ball. But we have an issue with organisers failing to have a full 50 over innings, despite having many options to do so.
So Aussies – Well done.
To Sri Lankans – Well done for being the runners up.
Peace
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It’s a shame for graet mighty Australians, In frank speaking, The Aussies could have simple win the match through their in-form batsmen without getting dirty runs from OUT FORM Adam Gilchrist, Needless to tell that Gill has been dangerous player for Australians, but has been out form and looking for runs, was bowled out for 1 run by South Africans. He was so weak in this tournament despite his aggressive batting style.
Adam Glichrist didn’t help Austraila to win, instead he caused Aussies to be dirty despite recordind breaking winning streak.
At last but not list, if this was done by any other batsman in the sub continent, we could have a chance of watching the finals again.
Great Adam this time was disgrace for might Australians.
My dear friends, you all spend your words to justify this inning, but it was with full of mud,
Great Australians could have won the match with Adam scoring ” 0 “.
Sorry, supporters and key board worriors who support for Adam’s disgraced innging.
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You guys are arguing over nothing. ICC rule book governing Cricket is clear. How the hell a player do conceal something without getting approval from the umpires. This conduct is un-becoming of a player and should be severely dealt with. Can you guys read the rules and judge for yourself.
(a) the conduct of the game is strictly in accordance with the Laws. (b) the implements of the game conform to the requirements of Laws 5 (the ball) and 6 (the bat), together with either Laws 8.2 (size of stumps) and 8.3 (the bails) or, if appropriate, Law 8.4 (junior cricket). (c) (i) no player uses equipment other than that permitted. (ii) the wicket-keepers gloves comply with the requirements of Law 40.2 (gloves).”
We are not playing village cricket. This are professional games strictly bound by the rules so no one can take undue advantage. I do not understand some one suggesting this is similer to wearing bandage or sunglasses??? These guys must be nuts.
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Kulla Tendulkar Confession!
Kulla has confessed to inserting vada pav in his gloves and hence lost his grip on the bat’s handle completely!
He said, “I was in the zone like…My sponsors wanted me to carry vada pav and they even insisted that I keep Alu chepaje in my helmet. But that one, I refused.”
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How about Australia v. Sri Lanka full 50 over game under fair weather.
I hope someone offer $ 2 mil for the winner. This will be huge. This is the only way to find the true talented and better team.
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Also, Tendulkar says ‘ I had to advertise jasmine brand castor oil’ and’ to do that I had to smear it on the handle of my bat!’ Dravid says ‘ I had Ganesh brand maddur vade in my gloves’.
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Well done Saman for highlighting that all the stuff was not wtritten by Sri Lankans. It is actually the rest of the world against Australia. But in typical Aussie form the sledging goes on off the field as well in a manner that does not leave a ‘sour taste’ but a ‘bad taste’ and the Aussie public never miss the opportunity to show their true colours.
Congrats Australia you won, and you deserve to be champions, but when the celebrations stop, a few honest Aussies may wonder if it was the best way to win a world cup.
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Okay….some people need to calm down about the squash ball thing. Reality check:
(1) Put one in your cricket gloves and see if it helps…… it doesn’t hit the ball the bat does, and I think people think it may have added power to Gilly’s game. Again no power involved in the shot is actually transferred from the squash ball, it comes from the bat and can be affected by your grip but only in the strength of it as this is the transfer of your muscle power to the bat. Anyone who thinks Gilly’s strickrate of over 100 is unusual for him based on a slightly lower one for the tournament probably either haven’t seen Gilly play before or lack knowledge of statistics (your average includes some below and some above and their would be COUNTLESS time MANY batsmen have played their better innings in the big matches).
(2) What it did do was help Gilly in two ways:
(a) Mentally – most cricket form slumps are a mental thing and if he believed the squash ball would help then that was the biggest benefit. Steve Waugh carried a hanky in his pocket as he believed this bought him luck. Is a hanky a valid piece of cricket equipment listed in the rules of cricket? Are all his innings now illegal?….. come on people.
(b) The squash ball may have helped Gilly with his grip by stopping him rotating his hand. But in this aspect he could have had it sawn into the lining of the glove and thus not be “carrying” it and no one would have known or thought twice about it. It won’t work for everyone it would depend on their grip and likely it really only probably helped Gilly from twisting the bat slightly. If you tried to make it “illegal” nothing could stop Gilly from requesting the manufacturers of his gloves to design one with an elevated padding in the palm to induce the same effect….so no it isn’t illegal and would be senseless to make so.
Nice batting Gilly
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Davo, go and don the tweed jacket, take a seat in the garden room and have a good read of the manifesto, you clutz.
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Sub continent cricket teams are a joke. If you can’t win……..you whine. Must be a legacy you got from, when the POMS dictated to you and made you serve them hot tea and scones.
…………………… And polished their boots.
You forgot to add….
McGrath was over the retiring age for fast medium bowlers and therefore ineligible to play. Therefore his 26 wickets should not count.
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Even Australians admit they cheat. Shane Warne and Mark Waugh match fixed worse than the South African captain and they get off! and drug cheats only getting 1 year!
Have you seen there players? Steroids anyone?
Whenever a team cheats and they get any critisim for it they just say the Asian Countries are whingers! Far from it, we repsect the laws of the game!
Australians are full of swear and racism on the field and dont get punished, they are a disgrace and now cheat for there third world cup! They should have lost them all but for there cheating!
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AUSTRALIA WON THE WORLD CUP?? Really? but that was such a farce of a final…no matter SL lost…who wants to win a world cup like that anyway!! In pathetic conditions and a reduced over Final?? Where has the thrill of the game gone? And Ricky “close games” are what makes a match worth watching..
Now if Jayasuriya had a squash ball up his glove…Hmmm…predictions anyone? The Lankans wouldnt hear the end of it. No Bat! No Bat!
Australia are a good team, they didnt need squash balls for anything..and the ICC got it so wrong. The match could have been played like a true final. Again doesnt matter if we (SL) lost..but for pete’s sake..allow some competition in the game. Even if SL had won in those conditions..still not fair. It wld be a win I wouldn’t want to remember.
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I think Gilly is a good batsman.
But why did he use the squash ball which would cause problems?
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The comments by the Aussies here shows the additude. Its not gentleman like. Just like in the cricket ground. WIN THE GAME – HOOK OR CROOK.
Just like someone has mensioned, its more graceful losing, than cheating for a piece of metal.
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Saranji Tendulkar Says:
May 5th, 2007 at 8:28 am
Even Australians admit they cheat. Shane Warne and Mark Waugh match fixed worse than the South African captain and they get off! and drug cheats only getting 1 year!
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! Let me think….
2006 – which team walked off the field sulking and caused the first ever “forfeited” match in history?
Which nation overturned postive drug tests in which the ICC had banned the players?
Which nation then saw fit to withdraw the said players under “injury clouds” on the eve of the World Cup, when it was clear they would be subject to further drug tests.
No, let’s be very clear. The subcontinent distain for Australia is most certainly evident. It’s time you put more effort into the grassroots of your own game, highlighted the corruption at the top of it and got your own backyard sorted out. Until you do, you have no ounce of credibility in World Cricket, and your on-field performances will continue to prove it.
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Firstly to all you nobs who keep referring to murali’s bent arm and ‘throwing’, maybe i should point out the fact that the vast majority of bowlers were shown to be throwing the ball when they bowled. Throwing the ball does not mean keeping the arm bent, but rather the straightening of the arm. Given the fact that even those bowlers hailed as having perfect actions such as Glen McGrath were shown to be exceeding the previous limits in place before the bowling laws were changed, its pretty stupid and ignorant to be saying that the laws were changed to suit Murali only.
Secondly its a fair point to make that the squash ball may have had some impact on Gilchrist’s batting performance, given the fact that his performance in the finals was such a contrast to his previous efforts during the world cup campaign. Furthermore the laws do state that the batsmen aren’t suppose to be using unauthorized equipment.
Whether it was an actual physical advantage or purely a mental one, the fact is his actions are not in accordance with the rules. True it may not have affected the result, but as a Sri Lankan i would like to have known that we were beaten by a team playing fairly rather than by a batsmen who had an unfair advantage.
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Kal you were beaten by a better team playing fairly. Your team just can’t get Gilly once he gets off to a start.
Here are some facts on Gilly. He has scored FIVE one day hundreds against Sri Lanka. In fact he has scored only two fifties against them, making this the ONLY country he has scored more one day centuries against then fifties and not just more but 5 to 2!!! His average according to cricinfo in one day cricket against Sri Lanka is a touch under 48 while his career average is around 36 in one day cricket. So point here would seem to indicate that there is significant statistical evidence that maybe Gilly just likes the questionable bowling action of the Sri Lankans, even though he himself has questioned the legality of Murali’s action.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/2009911.stm
Further in 2002/3 ICC world cup series Gilly scored 99 from 88 balls against Sri Lanka and how did he get out…they ran him out!!! This innings of 99 is one of his “Fifties”. So really this makes him one run/run out away from having a record of 6 one day centuries to 1 fifty against Sri Lanka!!!!!
In 2006 in Brisbane Gilly scored 122 against Sri Lanka and his hundred came of 67 balls!!!! WHERE WAS THE SQUASH BALL HERE???
In 2003 and then in 2004 Gilly was voted international one day cricketer of the year.
In June 2005 Gilly was voted the “scariest batsman”. Refer:
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/cbs/content/story/211318.html
Not a good thing when the “scariest batsman” seems to love your bowling. Sri Lanka lost the world cup not due to some beat up myth of the squash ball but because Gilly is just an amazing batsman whom they haven’t figured a way to get out once he gets going.
And on your whinging about Aussies bagging Murali. Well I am one who thinks MURALI IS A GREAT BOWLER. His action looks strange but it has been tested, so good enough for me. Murali is a great bowler and seems to be a great person. There is no doubt some of the Aussie cricketers are very competitive but to suggest they sledge more than the Windies in the 80’s or South Africa of any era is just losing perspective. I play cricket and at any level some sledging occurs, it happens in all sports. For instance the world cup soccer head butt from the French captain was supposed to be in response to a sledge. So to try to pretend any team in world cricket doesn’t sledge is uninformed. Fact it is easier to sledge when you are on top of a game. I can’t remember the last time someone sledged me when I was on 150 not out and similarly I wouldn’t dream of saying anything to someone while batting with a total of 9-45 on the board. So Australia probably just gets more sledging opportunities IN THE PRESENT ERA as they are the better team. Sledging is a part of the game like it or not, when you are struggling to survive an annoying sledge may make you decide to play a shot that you otherwise wouldn’t and often results in you getting out. Some players however it makes better like Steve WAUGH used to bat better when opposition sledged him. So point is stop judging the players on points of the game you clearly don’t understand. Sure some of the Australian players I think may be a bit arrogant but they are professional sports people who have to believe they are good, it is their job. Gilly of all people is one of the few true sportsman of the modern era and is just a great batsman when he gets going and is a great bloke who carries himself better then anyone.
Stop creating crap to pedal your bias against Australians. It’s funny how the Indian Cricket board turned down a tour of Ireland against Australia based on the fact that the Australian Cricket Board asked for 50% of the match fees. There seems to be a general ignorance of Australians in the sub continent and disrespect for the fact that they are good cricketers and the current champions of both test and one day cricket. Could you imagine a boxing fight where the world champion is told by the challenger he will get less than 50% of the match fee hmmm I wonder who is arrogant here.
Its a game people the better team won and you need to get on with living and enjoy the game for what it is… a game
KEEPING IT REAL
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yes, all sri lanka batsmen can score 150 off 100 balls if they had squash balls in their gloves. LOL!!! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.
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At least our crowds are more docile than the ferals that go to the matches over there. WE don’t:
1. Burn effigies of coaches/players…or Prime Ministers
2. Bump the coach off…as has happened in this recent series(somebody in the country knows who dunnit!)
3. Riot, when the team gets beaten. Called …..pitch invasion.
4.Whine to the ICC everytime we get a raw prawn of a decision…..or when an umpire calls a “no ball”.
5. We might “sledge” but at least it’s in ENGLISH and not another language. We say it to your faces.
We accept “any” umpires adjudicated to umpire a match and take the rulings fairly well.
Let’s face it…….we are better behaved than most teams…..especially.Sri Lanka.
India…..I don’t mind as a team. They are genuine Test cricket followers, but Pakistan and Sri Lanka are poor sports when they lose.
It’s always “some one else’s fault”
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This is double standards.
The squash balls are not part of the cricket gear and Gilchrist should be penalised for bringing disrepute to cricket. End of Story.
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Aussie Tony your imperialistic mindset havent gotten off u i guess. Wht we supposed to speak in ‘english’ cos some thieves came n ruled us a century ago n left their language here?
‘not in some other language’ shame on you , is it like the official language of the world? english spread across globe just cos of ‘well mannerred, well spoken’ thieves who came n sucked blood off all possible countries by all hook n crook means. i can n will speak my native language when i play a game og cricket , does it make sense? you guys speak and know nothing outside of your own country. whatever makes u think we r supposed to speak/sledge in english …point noted will pass it on to cricket schools of India, Bangladesh, Pak n SL
My 2 cents with or w/o squash ball Aussies wld have whipped ass.
As for squash ball let the ICC decide , if Mcgrath had hit a century I might think of squash ball, given it was Gilly am not atall surprised he just played his natural game..full marks.
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If it was a legal thing to do – why didn’t he use it before – why wait until the world cup final?
Why did his coach back in australia specifically ask him to wait till the final?
Interesting…
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Indian who can speak english.
Nice comments :-) you make sense. You speak whatever language you want this debate is about Gilly and should not be about race or nationality or what language you speak (but by default as debate iteself is in English some English would help here) To many idiots who can’t peddle a constructive argument have dragged it down to other things. On your point actually about Gilly you make more sense than anyone else too.
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CHARLES
No Charles your comments implies Gilly waited because he suspected he couldn’t use it. When he points to it on national TV and then announces it to all the media he like the most of the rest of us clearly has no issue with it and wasn’t hiding it, which he could have easily done. His coach just made comments about using it in the final and Gilly said if I score a hundred in the final I’ll point to it to let you know I used it. Point is he wasn’t sure he would and he himself decided in the end to just put it in because having said that he would use it in the final he felt jinxed not too…..sound familiar….Steve Waugh used to wear his red hanky cause he felt jinxed not too….
Interesting…..
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So can everyone do it now? can someone use a spring? or a elastic rubber band? I think a lot of readers here are taking the argument away from the matter at hand. Just focus on if it is legal or not. If it is legal then the batsmen should be able to use other devices too. If it is not legal then they should be stripped of the cup.
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One more point … if Gilchrist had declared that he had a squash ball to the match referee what do you think he would have done? Ahhhhh!!!! :) Hmmm may be not so sour grapes anymore ey?
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steve waugh’s red hankerchief was not part cricket equipment, why didnt anyone complain???
my underwear, head band, wrist band are not part of cricket equipments. but i can use them whenever I play cricket. it is non of your business if use them. THe same go for the squash ball. I can put whatever I like inside the glove, it is personal choice and non of your business. LOL.
how much force can be generated by half a compressed rubber ball. HA HA HA. you people dont know anything about physics. enough to clear the ball over the boundary, is it??? THen every teams can have power hitter like Gilchrist then?? HA HA HA.
GIlchrist is one of the cleanest hittter in the history of the game. it is not the first time he has smashed quick century, what is the big deal??
it was gilchrist’s ability that scored the century, not that bloody rubber ball.
I cant believe you sri lankans even come up with this excuse. HA HA HA.
you cant bear losing, that is all.
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# james Says:
May 7th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
This is double standards.
The squash balls are not part of the cricket gear and Gilchrist should be penalised for bringing disrepute to cricket. End of Story.
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Read the paper this morning and guess what???. Sri Lanka are still complaining about the squash ball.
England, West Indies, NZ, Ireland and other cricket nations have said nothing…..why does Sri Lanka have to carry on about. ??
The game is over…..get it!!!
It wouldn’t worry me one bit if all opening batsmen used a ball in their glove. Six of one / half a dozen of the other.
Hopefully, tomorrow morning, there will be no more mention of this trivial issue.
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I’m a cricket fan from Malaysia – and a fan of the Australian cricket team. That being said, I also think the Sri Lankans a great cricket team as well. Both sides deserved to be in the final.
However, it seems that this squash ball incident has been blown out of proportion. They should accept the defeat graciously and move on. The Australians won fair and square. To make a fuss now just shows what sore losers the Sri Lankans are. All the players in the Australian team played really well – they won EVERY game during the world cup.
Do the Sri Lankans really think they would have won without gilly’s squash ball? I believe they had a reasonable chance but the Aussies stood out throughout the whole tournament. Why don’t the Sri Lankans use a squash ball in their glove in their next match – and lets seem them smash centuries!! If that happens – maybe they can make a big fuss then!
Till then – they should just deal with it – and accept that they played well but there was another team that was better.
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Anything used to enhance performance is deemed illegal. Helmet or cutting shoes to protect toes from injury or for that matter anything to do with safety of player ise excused. But, performance booster related element’s use, chickens.
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Few pointers to be considered:
Gilly is a walker, personally I hold him in high regard alongside Lara for that.
He showed his glove to the stadium/camera when he reached 100. He wasnt trying to conceal it.
As for people who point to his last 10 innings with just two 50+ scores, please do look at what Ponting did last worldcup final–In the 10 matches that led to the finals Ponting never scored 40 or over..and his finals score read 140 off 121 balls.
That says a lot about the Australian cricket. Again I am not a great fan of their sledging, even otherwise I think they will remain in their own league.
All that being said lets look at Sri Lankan team. Is the team crying foul? I dont think so. Here is a quote from a reputed daily on what Murali said “That is [Mathivanan’s] personal opinion; the team doesn’t think that,” the spinner told the Herald.
“If anything, I would think having a squash ball in your glove would be uncomfortable. I don’t know if I could even hold a bat with something like that in my glove. So if [Gilchrist wants to do it], it is OK with me.”
Keep in mind Murali was infact accused of chucking by Gilly himself. Though Aussies quite honestly dont have champion rivals currently the closest team that cld give a decent fight was Sri Lanka.
2 deserving teams clashed n the better one won. Wasnt the best of World cup , still lets give it to them.
Foulmouthing SL team is sad. They are extremely cheerful, enthusiastic team with many great players trying to bring some happiness to the people of war torn country. Sangakkara is very smart cricketer, Jayavardane an astute leader, warhorses in Jayasuriya and Murali (again people we will never see another Murali same unlikely chance of seeing another Warne) so lets give it to them n enjoy the game.
BTW SL aint complaining, SL team aint complaining its the whore thats called media making the most of trivial situations. Peace.
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so what if the ball helps to control the bat better?? Gilchrist is within his right to put whatever he like inside his glove. it is non of you people’s business.
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Hay Cricket Player,
Please read the following and try to understand the difference between rubber padding in the glove and a squash ball between glove and hand. Vijitha Herath explained how this squash ball enhanced the performance of Gilchrist. If you are not smart enough to understand the difference, it is not worth discussing this matter. In general, it is impossible to argue with a fool. Monster is a fool and hope you are not.
VIJITHA HERATH of the University of Paderborn, Germany, writes: Apropos the claim that Adam Gilchrist had a squash ball in his left glove during his innings at the finals of the cricket World Cup.
Let me offer a scientific perspective.
A squash ball is a rubber ball. Unlike a cricket (leather) ball, it compresses when pressure is applied on it. When the pressure is released, it take its original shape. In short, it acts like a spring ( e.g.: a motorcycle shock absorber).
So what happens when a batman has a squash ball in the palm of his bottom hand?
When a batsman swings the bat until it hits the ball, there is pressure on his bottom hand. This pressure compresses the squash ball thus storing energy in the ball similar to spring. Just after the ball hits the bat (ball still touching the bat) this pressure starts to relax while the bat is moving forward.
At the same time the energy stored in the squash ball releases its energy to the bat in the form of kinetic energy. The result is that the bat moves faster than normal (without a ball in the glove).
As a result, the release-speed of the cricket ball becomes faster resulting in the ball traveling further before hitting the ground. Therefore it results in more sixes and fours being scored.
The downside is because the bat travels faster than normal the batmen might lose control of the bat. This happened once in the Adam Gilchrist’s innings when the bat slipped out of his hands and fell behind the wickets. If you have any doubts please try to do it yourself and see the result.
In brief Gilchrist’s use of the squash ball allowed him to hit the ball further in the field.
An interesting statistic: Gilchrist faced 104 balls and hit thriteen 4s and eight 6s. All the other Australian batsmen (Hayden, Ponting, Symonds, Watson, et al) faced 127 balls and hit just seven 4s and two 6s.
Is this method legal? I don’t know.
Are other batsmen using this method? I don’t know either.
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MCC have said ………NO RULES BROKEN….!!!
Gilly is in the clear and cannot be called a cheat…..!
Now….Will Sri Lanka accept the decision???
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Indian who can speak english said like a champ! Nice one from a neutral camp
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Aussie Tony the actual Sri Lanka cricket team never questioned it (Murali has been quoted as wondering why anyone would)….But no the uneducated (no idea on the rules of gloves) whingers will not except it…..SHAME ON YOU, YOU HAVE DESTROYED THE GOOD NAME OF SRI LANKAN CRICKET…SHAME SHAME (I truly feel sorry for all those true loyal and realistic fans whom you have tainted….now you will see the same bias you obviously have towards Australian Fans come blowing in your direction)
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Obviously, some cricket writer/critic over there has decided to stir the nest.
Nice to hear that most Sri Lankans have accepted the result, but there will always be issues with new “technology”.
I have no qualms with anyone using a new type of equipment and if it helps them improve their cricket…..good on ’em.
Not sure if Gilly will always use the squash ball………it may be a cricket ball next time?????
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unethical? spirit of the game? my arse.
if sri lanka are worried about the spirit of the game, whey did they lost deliberately to austrlia in the super 8?? LOL!! – it must be very ethical and righteous to lose deliberately!!! HA HA HA HA HA. what a bunch of hypocrites.
It must be very ethical to chuck your way to superstar status, Mr Murali??
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Hey aussie tony,
MCC does not equal ICC.
Oh but you Aussies would think so,
May I point out Austraia does not make
the rules. What a mess we would be in
if they did.
Oh and my research tells me that it was
actually a AUSTRALIAN PROFESSOR that
tested Mrali and cleared his name.
Maybe, a SRI LANKAN PROFESSOR should
test Gilchrist. But wait, you cannot justify lack
of morals like you can justify a medical condition!!!
GAME OF LOVE AND UNITY-you idiots.
I DON’T BELIEVE GILCHRIST AGREES.
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Even if you guys stand on your heads and argue, Cricketing laws clearly shows that Gilchrist’s squash ball was, neither a piece of protective equipment, nor clothing item and was most certainly not visible to either side or the umpires.
If Dennis Lilee’s aluminium bat, Ricky Ponting’s graphite-coated bat, Hansie Cronje’s earpiece, Scott Styris’s bandage was illegal, how can Adam Gilchrist’s hidden ball’ could be legal?
Batsmen should not be allowed to use any artificial objects to enhance, or overcome a technical flaw in their batting. The essence of the cricket is the skill of the bowler against the skill of the batsman devoid of any artificial aids. If batsmen are allowed to use artificial objects then where would it end? “performance enhancing drugs”?
This should be a wake up call to the cricketing world and should take action before the next world cup.
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well said Nisansala perry !!
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For all those who still scream about Murali’s action, dont you know that an extensive ICC study, was conducted to investigate the ‘chucking issue’? A panel of former Test players and several biomechanical experts, revealed that 99% of all bowlers bent their arms when bowling. The results of the study has led to the ICC issuing a new guideline allowing for extensions up to 15 degrees which made Murali’s doosra legal.
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Nisansala perry Says:
May 10th, 2007 at 2:06
Did I ever say that Australia made the rules….??…..NO….!!
I never quoted ant Australian professor….so why bring it up……and I never mentioned Murilai’s action……so again….why bring it up.???
I have my own theories……and so do you, but you elected to bring up that Gilchrist had some kind of “guilt” feeling about the squash ball, but like I said……..i don’t care what a batsman uses to impove his batting……bowlers are a little different….aren’t they???? ….hmmmmmm??
The Sri Lankan captain at the time did not raise any “query” about the legitimacy of the batting of Gilchrist, when he showed the World his hand.
So get off your elephant and join the real world.
Gilchrist could have kept the whole thing quite…….and no one would have been any wiser………and WE really don’t need “professors” of any type in the game of cricket.
I await the day that a Sri Lankan professor can tell the cricket world what is wrong with cricket……..!!!
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Whoever won the match.Its already history
Move on folks
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Lochana you say “Even if you guys stand on your heads and argue, Cricketing laws clearly shows that Gilchrist’s squash ball was, neither a piece of protective equipment, nor clothing item and was most certainly not visible to either side or the umpires.” Funny you are the only one who thinks this is clear……..you choose a few rules and ignore the rest. Please find where this is so clear that the MCC can’t find it. You quote these rules and forget the fact that it has been ruled upon that it is okay to put rubber inside you glove the MCC have ruled on Gilly and have said.
Muruli like the true champion he is (a true champion knows when they are beaten on the day and is gracious in victory as in defeat and yes Murali is one of these) said “If anything, I would think having a squash ball in your glove would be uncomfortable. I don’t know if I could even hold a bat with something like that in my glove. So if [Gilchrist wants to do it], it is OK with me.”
The MCC has ruled but apparently you sore loosers know better than them:
http://www.lords.org/latest-news/news-archive/mcc-gilchrist-did-not-contravene-the-law-or-spirit-of-cricket,850,NS.html
“The Law specifies only what external protective equipment is permitted for particular players. The only item for which any specification is given is wicket-keeper’s gloves. Helmets, external leg guards (batting pads), batting gloves and forearm guards (if visible) are all listed as permitted for batsmen. None has any definition or prescription. Since there is no restriction in Law even on the external form of batting gloves, let alone the interior thereof, no Law has been breached……In this case (Adam Gilchrist in the ICC Cricket World Cup Final), apparently the addendum to the inside of the batting gloves was not for protection from injury, but to improve the way the batsman gripped the bat handle. This should not be considered unfair. Similarly, it has never been considered unfair for batsmen to use two grips on the bat handle. The glove manufacturers might, for added protection against jarring, have put an extra pad of some cushioning material as an integral part of the inside of the palm. This would be entirely legal, but have the same effect on his grip for a batsman who wore such gloves.
In conclusion, the incident could not be classed either as contravening the Law or as breaching the Spirit of the Game.”
MCC’s Laws Sub-Committee
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Nisansala perry, ICC does not equal MCC, MCC are the guardian of cricket laws, MCC have the final say in all things pertaining to cricket.
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I’m a british citizen & in my opinion it was jst cheating.The Australians you see are famous for these things. They bowled underarm and it was banned. Then Dennis Lillie tried to use an aluminium bat and it was banned too. More recently Ricky Ponting`s graphite bat was banned as well.Also if Sanath Jayasuriya had done wht gilly dd , he would have been killed.IT’S ALWAYS BEEN SRILANKA & WE,CRICKET FANS WILL ALWAYS LUV SRILANKANS 4 EVER.
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Well, the great Bishan Bedi has had his say about Murali and it won’t please some of the readers in this area.
I always enjoyed watching Bishan and for him to say this about Murali proves that Murali isn’t as well respected as he thinks.
Now I admire him more.
…………..
CONTROVERSIAL Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has been labelled the “best shot-putter in the history of cricket” only months out from his tour of Australia this summer.
The astonishing attack came from Indian spin legend Bishan Bedi who insists Muralitharan’s action is so illegal that all of his 700 Test wickets should count as run outs.
Muralitharan could race past Shane Warne’s world record of 708 wickets in a two-Test tour here this summer but Bedi says there should be an asterisk next to Muralitharan’s name in the record books.
“Murali will complete 1000 Test wickets but they would count as mere run outs in my eyes,” Bedi said. “That man (Muralitharan) is the best shot-putter in the history of cricket. People like him are just killing the game and nobody is doing anything about it.
………………………………
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