The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s report into ‘Combating Doping in Sport’ has determined that the Team Sky cycling team, Sir Dave Brailsford and Sir Bradley Wiggins crossed the ethical line in their pursuit of glory. The Committee believed that drugs were being used by Team Sky, within the WADA rules, to enhance the performance of riders, and not just to treat medical need. So that crossed the ethical line.
I have some reservations about these Committees which operate a bit like the Star Chamber with hapless individuals dragged before them and harangued by MPs displaying varying degrees of outrage for the benefit of the cameras to show their constituents that they are actually doing something approximating to useful. Those brought before them have little chance to defend themselves, put their case or receive anything like a fair hearing. At the end of it, these Committees can say what they like in a Report which will be broadcast far and wide. I cannot help feeling, given the shenanigans that MPs are regularly pulled up for, that there is a huge element of the pot calling the kettle black when MPs lecture us lesser mortals on ethical conduct.
So what are we taking about? What does ethical mean? Well, ethics are defined in the OED as moral principles governing or influencing conduct. So ethical means relating to moral principles. So the Committee decided that what was being done was legal but immoral. If indeed Bradley Wiggins did not have a condition that required medical treatment, yet took advantage of the rules simply to enhance his performance, you can see their point.
So what has this got to do with cricket? Cricket is said to be played not only in accordance with its Laws but within the “Spirit of Cricket”. The blazered chaps at the MCC set great store by that. Well, tell that to Carew CC (pictured below) which won its League in Pembrokeshire by declaring on 18-1, so limiting Cresselly CC to 20 points, preventing them from gaining any bonus points and so winning the League by a point. A pretty good example of crossing the ethical boundary, I would have said.
The Laws of Cricket, particularly in their latest 2017 incarnation, contain lots of laws aimed at preventing sharp and unfair practice. So you can argue that cricket has grasped a nettle that other sports have not by outlawing unethical activity. But the real problem in cricket lies more with enforcement of its laws. Take sledging which is endemic throughout the game and must be audible to umpires, because spectators can hear it. It is simply allowed to go on and on and nothing is done until matters reach such an appalling level that even players’ wives are denigrated – vide the current Test between Australia and South Africa. Historically, umpires have always prided themselves on being able to run a game with a quite word and a raised eyebrow. Now they are expected to dish out warnings, have the power to exclude players and can award penalty runs. It will be interesting to see how much of this is actually put into practice.
But for me, the ethical line has been crossed in cricket more in the manner in which the game is administered. In recent years, England, Australia and India have carved up the world cricket pie for their financial benefit at the expense of overall quality and equality in such a way as to create a lasting disparity in Test Cricket. Access to the World Cup has been limited. Now on the domestic scene, the ECB seems determined, no by your leave, to create a state of haves and have nots in County Cricket by paying Counties that have international grounds with no international cricket phenomenal sums. Having outflanked the County Game with its coming T20 completion, the powers that be seem determined to emasculate and marginalise the County game. How it will all play out, only time will tell.
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Sticky Wicket 