Lifeboat of Sanity In A Sea of Madness

A new member of thecricketragics, Cricket Mum, commented with enthusiasm after the post Slaughter & Mayhem But The Spirit is Willing, complimenting the manner in which the post highlighted the sportsmanship shown by Brett Lee and Kemar Roach in their battle during the 4th ODI at Gros Islet. Its nice to know others still hold the game in such esteem and want their boys to do likewise.

 CM, please feel accepted into thecricketragic family.

It will come as no surprise to know I have been greatly inspired by the writing of Peter Roebuck and Jack Fingleton - among others - who both described the game in such gloriously layered narratives. Like any jewel, you will see different facets of the game as you hold it to the light but the sum of the parts certainly isn't the whole. Each of the truly great players understood this and remembered to pay homage to the game rather than themselves. In an age when the individual has become God and money and possessions the offering at his alter, cricket provides the lifeline to a more balanced, sane view of life - a life where your mate is more important than you because you place him there. Maverick might have learned to never leave his wingman, but Australians announced their ethos to the world in 1915. Discarded by Empire generals as expendable, the Anzacs screamed their intentions for months and we have found it impossible not to emulate their example. You don't let your mates down.

Unfortunately, its a sentiment which has become perverted, as has the obnoxious use of the Australian flag as a second skin for boofheads on days of significance. If youngsters could only learn the hierarchy of "the game-the club-the team-the player" as well as they learn how to execute a cover drive or bowl an outswinger, then our communities and our planet would be richer, quite apart from the game.

Welcome to my lifeboat of sanity in a sea of madness.