Your honour, the case for the defense

"A team second to none, on and off the field. The Australian team plays the game hard but fair", writes Paul Marsh, CEO of the Australian Cricketers' Association, in the Sydney Morning Herald: http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/a-team-second-to-none-on-and-off-the-field/2008/01/10/1199554831780.html

Marsh uses the following facts to back his claim. And I have offered my cross-examination on each.

Fact 1: The Australian team was one of four nominees for the ICC's own Spirit of Cricket Awards at the September 2007 awards ceremony. With Ireland being one of the other nominees, the Australian team was considered to play the game in a better spirit than at least seven other full ICC members.
Runiboy's opinion: A fair comment

Fact 2: The Australian team is the only team in international cricket that has taken it upon itself to introduce and live by its own Spirit of Cricket pledge.
Runiboy's opinion: Aah, but note that it's their own definition of "Spirit of Cricket". Which includes not walking, appealing for non-snicks, mentally degrading the opposition (Steve Waugh's nomenclature), intimidating the umpires and throwing bats around.

Fact 3: Brad Hogg's report in the Sydney Test is the first time an Australian player has been charged under the ICC Code of Conduct in 13 months.
Runiboy's opinion: Wow! Meanwhile Sri Lanka without their own pledge of spirit have not had any players charged for more than 18 months.

Fact 4: Ricky Ponting has actively sought to introduce a practice among all international teams where the word of the fielder is accepted in instances of close catches. This has been largely rejected by other international teams, though it must be noted that the Indian team has accepted it for this series.
Runiboy's opinion: Ponting has taken it upon himself to create a holier-than-thou image for his team where convenient. If the word of the fielder is good enough for close catches, then how come the same fielder's word is not good enough for blatants snicks?

Marsh goes on to talk about the philanthropic efforts of Ponting and his mates. Please Paul, keep the arguments to the pitch. There's been enough of off-the-pitch antics that have clouded the issues. Sachin Tendulkar and others in the Indian team (as I imagine other cricketers around the world) each give back in their own way. What they don't do is tom-tom it to justify their performance on the cricket pitch.

Cricket Australia's Chief Executive, James Sutherland stood up for his team saying, "Test cricket is what is being played here. It's not tiddlywinks. The Australian cricket team plays the game tough, tough and uncompromising. It's the way Australian cricket teams have played the game since 1877 under all sorts of different captains. That is the way Australians have expected their teams to play." So, tell us James, where does your Spirit of Cricket fit within this?

And finally, Ricky himself had this to say: "What I want is for the Australian cricket team to be the most loved and the most respected sporting side in this country. That's always been one of my aims and it will continue to be." Well, Ricky, based on the media frenzy, fan hysteria and frowns from past Australian cricket and sporting heroes, in the aftermath of the Sydney test, your current actions are not working. Looking forward to seeing something different soon.