Darren Lehmann deserves no sympathy

The long hand of justice sometimes gets a bit too short, letting the guilty escape punishment. After Darren Lehmann's racial attitude came to light, the onus was clearly on the Australian Cricket Board to send out a strong message - zero tolerance to racism.

Racism is not merely a mistake. It is a crime, that should not go unpunished. A few weeks ago Matthew Hayden was fined 20% of his match fees for breaking the dressing room door. It remains to be seen what happens to Lehmann after the ICC's code of conduct charge.

The ACB's chief executive, James Sutherland, said that to emphasise the importance of players and officials complying with the code of conduct, the ACB has arranged for Lehmann to undergo counselling on this matter.

"I have expressed to Darren the ACB's disappointment in the incident and organised immediate counselling for him," Sutherland said.

The question that begs an answer from both the ICC and ACB is whether Lehmann brought the game into disrepute. There is a lot of difference between an erratic character and one who commits a crime. The latter do not deserve counselling - `if you do the crime - do the time'.

Racism is a serious social problem. Only last month, Senator Trent Lott was engulfed in a political storm triggered by his racially offensive remarks, and forced to step down as US Senate Republican leader. Robert Mugabe and his administration are under fire from all corners for their violent land reforms, and for the singling out of white farmers in Zimbabwe.

No one should try to justify racism. It would be naïve to suggest that there are different degrees, and that Lehmann is a moderate compared to Lott or Mugabe. But can it not be argued that Lehmann has the seeds of a racist in him?

Moral hypocrisy is too prevalent in cricket these days. In November 2001, ICC match referee Mike Denness penalised five Indian players - including Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag - for bringing the game into disrepute. Sehwag was punished for `excessive appealing' - with a fine of 75% of his match fee and a one-Test ban. We are all too aware of the fracas that followed, but the fact of the matter is that Sehwag had to do his time.

Denness was quick to punish Sehwag, but missed the excessive appealing by South African skipper Shaun Pollock in the same game. The onus is not just on the ICC; the individual boards also have a responsibility to ensure that their players adhere to the basic values of this game - the gentlemen's game!

Earlier in 2001, West Indies wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs was banned from playing in the second Test against Zimbabwe at Harare. The match referee, Denis Lindsay, found Jacobs guilty of a breach of the Players' and Team Officials' Code C2, namely: "Players and/or Team Officials shall at no time engage in conduct unbecoming to their status which could bring them or the game of cricket into disrepute." Jacobs brought the game to disrepute by claiming a stumping which was not completed.

On the other hand, it was good to see Steve Waugh extend his hand in gratitude to Mark Butcher after Butcher did not claim a catch. But it was the same Waugh who edged the ball to Foster before staring at the pitch as if nothing had happened! Goodwill should be reciprocated. Butcher is a rare class act. And it is that very spirit of honesty and principle that has made cricket a wonderful game to play and follow.

The game has had low points, like the Bodyline series and the under-arm ball. It has always suffered from sledging, but these days there is an active effort to get rid of the sledging culture.

In the summer of 1986, Ian Botham admitted in his newspaper column that he had smoked marijuana. The then Test and County Cricket Board suspended him for three months, which helped India win the Test series in England. The TCCB was very clear: Botham had set a bad example to young cricket fans.

In 2001 five South African players were fined and severely reprimanded for smoking marijuana while celebrating their victory over West Indies. The Commonwealth Cricket Academy in Adelaide teaches its young wards the virtues of good values and how to be a responsible citizen. So do most academies around the world.

All reasons why there is this voice I hear, which says: "Darren Lehmann's crime deserves no sympathy."