The bravest man in the world

Today morning I watched something simply amazing on TV. Something so amazing it kept me rooted to the screen, mainly because I couldn't believe what was happening.

I was watching Graeme Smith bat as the last batsman for South Africa, in an attempt to save the last test match against Australia.

I bet most of you are like "pssshhh whatever." If you are, shut up and listen. Graeme Smith is the captain of South Africa. A test match is a game where each team plays 2 innings. Think baseball now. Baseball has 9 innings, and the team that has the greater number of runs at the end wins. Well a test match is similar, with only 2 innings. Its played over FIVE freaking days. The stamina that goes into it is quite amazing. Graeme Smith has been playing this tour of Australia with a dodgy elbow where he has some condition that required him to have his own blood injected into his elbow. And in the first innings of this test match, he took a ball travelling at 140kmph right on his left hand. It fractured his wrist, and he required medical treatment. But today, when he realized that his batting might allow SA to draw the test match instead of losing it, he came out to bat, wearing no protection for his hand, and a borrowed kit. It was an amazing sight when he walked out of the SA dressing room. The crowd at the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground) gave him a standing ovation. The Australians who were fielding were totally blown away. It was the LAST thing they expected. But this man came out to save the game for his country. THAT IS COMMITMENT.

All those bullshit soccer players who are part of the crap-ass club vs. country row should look to cricket. In fact, SOCCER PLAYERS (all of them) should look at Cricket players and learn how to behave. Screw the whole Sydneygate incident last year when India toured Australia. Apart from that, Cricket has, and will always be played in the most amazing spirit. No stamping on each other, no diving, no insults, no bullshit. And cricket players earn a LOT less than what soccer players do. And this is not the first time a players has played on through injury. Rick McCosker, and older player from the past, played on with a broken jaw. Malcom Marshall BOWLED with a BROKEN HAND. BEAT THAT.

THIS is why I watch cricket, and I proudly say that I play cricket. Who cares if people don't know or understand it. I love it. For the players, the teams, the game.

Cheers.