Thread by @gauravsabnis

Some folks think that's harsh on Waugh to call him nasty. But look at his own words and actions and thoughts and takes. He mainstreamed this view that snarling at the opposition, "mental disintegration" etc were what made you world champions. A generation grew up buying it.

https://twitter.com/gauravsabnis/status/1407780450467205129

Ponting, Haddin etc are his protégés. Ponting who hurled abuse at Srinath who ran over to check on him after hitting him on the head with a bouncer. Haddin who said in public that he hates the niceness of kiwis. Even the aggro in this indian lot. All from Steve waugh worship.

Williamson's team are not daisies by any means but their success along with the nice guy narrative is a good thing for cricket.

Remember Jimmy Anderson whining that after the jadeja incident, he has to control his aggression and that makes him vewwy vewwy sad? Also that culture and mindset of having to be like an angry dog to succeed.

Oh this. No ding on this where he encouraged his players to actually go out of the team hotel and experience the real countries like india and help with good causes. He comes across to me as a good person off the field. Nasty is for his captaincy.

https://twitter.com/sohinichat/status/1408035358869057542?s=19

His philosophy of "snarl on the pitch, grab beers off field" worked for him and his lot. But kiwis show that even "just be yourself on the field, grab beers off field" also makes champions. Like the west indies of the 70s and 80s.

Ah yes this

https://twitter.com/peegeekay/status/1408035704974675968?s=19

Here is the anderson whine. There is no violin small enough for the dirge. 🙄🙄

espncricinfo.com/story/i-ve-bee…

"poor me. I got a little rap on the knuckles for shoving an opponent and now I'm so very nervous."

Jimmy Anderson, when you look at a whole career, is literally THE most successful fast bowler in history. Even after the jadeja incident, he's been a great bowler. So no jimmy, you don't need to feel like shoving people to do well. You're just an asshole.

That off field he was such a nice and thoughtful person perversely makes the nasty captain title extra correct. Because he wasn't an anderson type or even kohli type default aggressive person. He just played one on tv, literally. And glamorized it.

https://twitter.com/KherRonnie/status/1408037017028542470?s=19

I was in college when Waugh was the de facto king of cricket wisdom. You could see how sledging suddenly became a thing. It really was not a thing in indian playground cricket except some bombay rivalries. Last year at oval maidaan I saw snarling on almost every pitch.

A big reason why my admiration of Bumrah goes beyond just his cricket. He grew up in this waugh worshipping aggro time but didn't give in to the peer pressure. India's most lethal fast bowler ever is "🤷🏾‍♂️😊" even if someone drops an easy catch off him. The one snarling justified.

Ishant also. Let's not forget Ishant.

I'll never forget something @irbishi said during one of his chats with us fans at the rain hit Trinidad test in '16. "I'm already the most powerful person on the field, legally hurling a projectile at 90 miles an hour at a human body. I don't need sledging to intimidate."