Cricket may be the gentlemen's game but it's also the big bucks game.

South Africa desperately needs revenue with huge challenges to develop the game in the country. The Australians are unsympathetic and although the Proteas will forego income by bowing to the Aussie terms to play in Australia during the peak season of 2008, the Australians are unwilling to reciprocate.

The incident highlights the poor diplomacy of  the Australians. The South Africans feel the Aussies have put one over them by demanding South Africa appear in Australia on Boxing Day while they turn around and refuse to do the same.

'Cricket fans are concerned about the ''Australian way'' and their preoccupation with themselves and their success at the expense of poor diplomacy'


The Aussies seem to be using their number one status to dictate the terms under which they will play. Cricket fans are concerned about the 'Australian way' and their preoccupation with themselves and their success at the expense of poor diplomacy.

South Africa have bowed to Australian demands before. The schedule of the 2006 Australian tour of South Africa was reportedly tampered with by the Aussies until they where completely satisfied. Commentators believe their strategy in insisting on playing the ODIs first gave them a good look at the conditions prior to the Test series, which they won 3-0 after losing in the ODI series. 

Whatever the case, Australia's reputation is coming under fire. Their quest for success is casting a cloud over fair play. Their refusal to reciprocate, together with a penchant for creating controversy on the field, is giving them the tag of the bad boys of cricket.