How is the media responsible for our cricketers' underperformance?

Question

Do you think the media puts too much pressure on the players by putting them on a pedestal one moment and then bringing them crashing down the next? Is the inconsistency of the media one of the key factors of the inconsistency in our team's performance? Or is there more than meets the eye?

Answer 1

Media put unnecessary pressure on the players. If the players are not performing, they tear them apart and if they are performing, they elevate them to highest pedestal. In both situations, players continue to have undue pressure to perform.

Take the case of senior players. Inspite of performing brilliantly in England tour, media made a camapaign to eliminate them. Media should always play constructive role. But unfortunately there is lot of negative influence in media just to catch more eye ball and in the process they always play destructive role, not only in respect of cricket but other fields also.

Answer 2

First lets get some of our facts clear. The so called "Indian" cricket team, is really the team selected by the BCCI. If there are any doubts about that, try to spot the word "India" anywhere on their uniforms.

With money being the BCCI's reason for existence, is it any wonder that the players are made to perform, virtually 24/7. Without adequate rest, the players start games carrying injuries, and these get worse as the game progresses. Hence the erratic performances.

We are not sport lovers in India. Once Sachin gets out, the stadium empties. We start losing and the bottles fly onto the field. Is this the behaviour of sports lovers ? Can one not appreciate the skill of the opposition even if your own team is losing.

The media instead of educating the public, focusses on the non-essentials. 6 sixers in an over, someones new car and how much it costs, which actress is seeing which cricketeer etc.

It is a combination of all these factors that cause the Indian 'fan' to swing from wild exuberation to deep depression. There are no stops in between, no balance or sense of proportion.

Sadly, these same failings are reflected in the media. The 'expert' commentrators will speculate on the most improbable events, when what is needed is a technical explanation to the goings on on the field. When we win a game, the media will be full of only that victory. When we lose there will be no mention of this anywhere.

So yes, the media is responsible, but only partly. The real crime that the media commits is that they do not give any time at all to any other sport.

Answer 3

If you are implying that media pressure is affecting the performance of cricketers, then I will say "no". If you believe it is "yes", then it will not be wrong to assume that the politicians are under severe pressure and that is why they are not performing.

If a player cannot perform well in a match, then the problem lies with the player and not the media. The fact is that cricketers can make more money through advertisements and government freebies than playing consistent cricket. All the cricketer has to do is to just play to ensure his position in the team. For example, if a player hits 50, take 3 wickets, his place in the next match is ensured. But nobody bothers why the player got out playing a stupid shot or a rash stroke. The problem with the Indian team is the lack of consistency, accountability, ideas and the burden of "brilliance" that exists in history and statistics. Media is not the cause of any of these.

Answer 4

There is definitely more than meets the eye here. India is a cricket crazy nation and why not? We Indians do not have too much to cheer about where other sports are concerned ( my apologies and congratulations to the players of Chess, Hockey, Football and Tennis ) and as cricket is the only sport that keeps bringing laurels to the country, the focus of all Indians are constantly trained upon the members of the Indian team. So, why blame the media ? Aren't you too critical of the team every time it fairs poorly ? Aren't we all ? Here again we refuse to accept responsibility for our own actions and find we have a need to point our fingers at others and in this case who better than the press.
We and our selectors should always remember that the team represents India and that when making a selection that only the very best are selected. This, for some reason or the other does not always happen. Thus the string of losses we sometimes witness.
So, why blame the press when the PLAYERS themselves with some ( OR ALOT OF ) help from our selectors are totally responsible for the results that are produced.

Answer 5

I don't think the media is responsible for the erratic performance - solely for the reason that if it was so - then when they put them on a pedestal - they should remain there too.
It is so easy to comment and castrate the team - but one must understand that in cricket its always a pressure cooker situation and a split second delay in reacting could lead to a failure. And the player are neither machines nor gods.
I think the media plays a part more in the reading public rather than the playing team - the team, in fact, does not have the time to read the papers neither meet them impromptu.
I would love to see the day when someone like Tendulkar tells them - "you play - and I will WRITE how you played".

Answer 6

YES. The media puts too much pressure on the players by putting them on a pedestal one moment and then bringing them crashing down the next.
The inconsistency of the media is one of the key factors of the inconsistency in Indian team's performance.

Media pulls more stock than required. It is like torture to players. How long can you keep dong this to mar the image or game of cricket.
It is disheartening and immorale to be behind them always.
More than selecter it is media which spoils the performance of a player. They all are human beings like us and they thinks 80-90% as you or i think / behave. As we are Indians.

If you can't help them leave them and let them play good cricket.
thanks.
sanjay

Answer 7

First we have to understand that we are not a sporting country, therefore, one or two wins in any sport , and the media gives the players the status of a rock star. Secondly, media does not only look for real news, but also give details of the players' personal lives which brings them under more scrutiny. Thirdly, the fact remains that all the players are actually young boys except for a couple, and hence, the real "hot blood" and can take on pressure only 'so much' and cannot keep their composure for long. All this adds up and their focus is lost. Most important of all, Media has generally been seen as a rogue, when they very tactfully talk to corporates to donate money for space selling, or else to publish something rubbish about the corporate house, - this same fact can apply to a player who is seen as earning a lot of money and the media may actually be threatening them too and hence the pressure. Add to this the self opined articles of the seniors who comment loosely on the juniors.

Answer 8

Media is no way responsible for the inconsistency of the players. But they are responsible for the useless bullshit they create by making the cricketers scrap goat( mind it its scrap) upon useless pity issues. Due to this big publicity ppl start to expect some thing super natural from this humans(cricketers). People s attitude and thinking towords the game should change. If one cricketer scores an incredible centuary or takes five wickets he will become god of the game( thats the type of publicity media gives) on other day if he performs bad, then they say he cannot even hold a ball or bat. i have an idea that the real scape goats in india are the cricketers.

Answer 9

It is the cricket fans of India who generate all this pressure.With a solitary win Fans immediately come to a conclusion that Indian team are world beaters.Look at the 3 aspects of cricket
Batting-All Indian batting performances are on batting friendly wickets and against weaker teams.On the other hand Australia plays on difficult wickets and so their batsman perform well even on foreign pitches.
Bowling-With Indian crowd liking to have only batting heroes budding cricketers do not want to be a bowler.So their is always a dearth in the bowling department.Kapil Dev,India's greatest bowler was more liked by the crowd for his explosive batting.
Fielding-Indians have never been great athletes.With so many kids taking up cricket and with so much of money spent on our cricketers for training,it is a surprise that India still could not knit together a good fielding side.
My feeling is,an average cricket fan is not capable of thinking about all the above points.A solitary win here and there and a few batting performances are enough for our fans to think that India is a damn talented team but only this or that is preventing them from winning matches.
Our media is very smart and they write exactly what our fans want the media to write.The players, board members,etc,all of them are smart too as they always do things which fills up their pockets.
Only when our people are able to differentiate a good and bad performance in right perspective,things will improve.Otherwise we will always witness mediocre performances.

Answer 10

Media does add to the pressure and stress factor of the players. But it is not solely responsible for the performance of the players. In India, cricket is immensely popular, so the media cannot help but cover the sport exhaustively as it does. In the process a few players who are raw and young can get carried away.

The problem is that most of our cricketers are relatively young whenever they start playing for the team. Thus they're not mature enough to handle the media exposure. Thus they need professional coaching right from their junior levels. This includes media handling as well. What's more? Our domestic cricket needs to be as competitive and as popular as our international cricket. This will enable players to get seasoned before they play internationally for the team. Look at the australians. The team's average age is 30. The players come in and go out without affecting the team's performance. That's becuase the're not much of a difference in the level of cricket they play domestically or internationally. The cricket academy just produces pros all the time

Answer 11

Yes Media is responsible for our cricketers' underperformance if not completely then in some way though. The performance of a player also depends upon the conditions and atmosphere of the playground. The Indian Media has hyped cricket so much after the World Cup win of India in 1983, that even the national game Hockey has lost its importance. The BCCI is one of the highest profitable organisation in India. Though it is a private organisation its team represents the country. And then when one receives crores of rupees for winning a game(TWENTY 20 World Cup), he is surely to lose his way.
Today cricket is a religion in India. Instead of playing it like a game people take it as a war should never be lost but always won-but is it possible? No, because money always spoils the good! And to this fire, media adds fuel. And we Indians are foolish to take it as a religion. The world is not so good as it seems. Ground Realities are different-when one enters the field he comes to know about them.