One of the best things about the cricket here is the atmosphere of the games. Sledging barely exists, and, whilst I admit I love a few verbals, although not as much as the Aussies, cricket remains a dignified and gentlemanly game in these parts.
With this in mind, I found myself in conversation with a great man of Argentine cricket on Sunday, who regrattably shall remain nameless. In Scotland he would simply be Big Man. With the look of a battle hardened marine and skin as tough as the steaks he'd been weened on, he'd represented the Argentina Mens' hockey team, and competed in the decathlon at junior level, and is all in all a bear of a human being. A Big Man.
We were discussing the dark arts of sledging, which he, somewhat surprisingly, said he had no time for, saying it was a cowardly practice. He cited the recent ICC Division II tournament where Argentina took on the UAE, Namibia and other mighty cricketing nations. Playing against Namibia, the Namibia opening bowler took a dislike to the Big Man's batting partner, Alejandro, calling him a nasty name.
- What did you say? I asked
- Nothing much, shrugged Big Man, I just told him to be quiet.
Next to us, a team mate who'd played in that game overheard, and started chuckling.
- That's not exactly what you said, to be fair,, he quipped.
- What did you say?, I prompted.
- Well, the giant continued, he was talking to Alejandro, who by the way is the nicest guy in the world. You don't say anything to Alejandro - I would dive in front of a car for this guy, he is the nicest guy. Anyway, this bowler was saying things to Alejandro, so I told him to stop talking.
- Yeah. What did you say...
- Well, I waited for the end of the over, walked over to him as he was walking down to his position and said, Come here. (Obviously when he was now very close). You. You don't talk to that guy, ok. You say another f**king word to him I will kill you with my bare hands. I've done it before. Seriously, I will kill you with my hands. Now. No more talking.
Apparently the bowler was no more talking at all.
Like I said, he concluded. I don't really like all this sledging.
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