Re: Raina - Substitute
I have posted my reasons for false equivalence (cut and pasted from my earlier post). I stand by my reasons for assigning false equivalence. Yes, clearly I cannot use quantitative measures to come to this conclusion, hence it has to be subjective. But using a sub (even for entire inning) cannot be equated to bowling underarm. In a scale of 1-10 of unsportsmanship, underarm ranks at 10, and using sub at say 5, along with not walking when you know you are out (and who walks anymore).
Also, you misunderstood what I meant by false equivalence. I did not imply this one was not against spirit of the game. I just implied it was not nearly as much against the spirit of the game as the extreme examples cited.
More importantly, the last match India vs South Africa and the accompanying vitriol is not something I plan to participate in. I hope we can get back to discussing/debating in a civil manner (as you are clearly doing). Cheers.
^ The examples you provided were within rules, but all were extremely unsporting (some more than others like the no ball delivery and underarm delivery).
Use of 12th man as substitute fielder is quite common, and does not even remotely come close to the extreme examples of unsportsmanlike conduct you have cited. Hence false equivalence. On course now?