[quoting Sims, 17 Jan 95] Despite Ron coming from down under, he does not reflect everyone's attitude for cricket. It's a great game, which at times can be tedious and dull, but more often than not its fast and furious. If its perceived as slow, that's really the fault of the players, not the game. Howzat? You're out!
It would seem that both Ron (Oliver) and Rod (Sims) have different viewpoints about the game of cricket and the discrepancy between them could no doubt be seen in the same light as the discrepancies that arise from time to time about baseball (e.g., that between Lloyd, Ken Burns and Tom Reeves) or the American Civil War. But in historiography, as every good historian knows, it is crucial to identify not whether bias is evident in commentary (written, oral, or visual)--it inevitably is--but rather the reasons for that bias.
To help explain differences of viewpoint, we often need to turn to cultural, environmental, or political factors (amongst many others). The key is empathy--to be able to empathize with each of the commentators, to seek explanation by taking into account the principal factors that impact on their opinion and decision making. For example, in the case of the Rod-Ron debate, it is comparatively easy to explain their different views about cricket, by looking to only a small range of factors.
It has been suggested by Dr. Socceral (sorry, reference missing) and others, that anyone that finds cricket "fast and furious" (to use Rod's words) would probably also find the game of bowls exhilarating. Certainly in the case of bowls we know both the players and fans of the game often suffer from a reduction in physical and sensory capacities, usually as a result of old-age. In the game of cricket it may be that a similar reduction in such capacities is experienced by players and fans, but on a more temporary basis, as a result of excessive alcohol intake. Whatever the cause, however, it would seem that a flaw in ones perception of speed and excitement would make even the most sedate of pastimes seem extremely fast and exciting. On this rationale we must surmise that Rod Sims is either in his dotage or very often under the influence of alcohol (particularly when watching or playing cricket). Indeed, having met Rod on a number of occasions, I can bear witness to his extreme youth (by academic standards at least), so we must turn to the latter as the most plausible explanation of his views. (And even Rod himself admits to being Australian).
Of course, I offer this explanation of Rod's view of cricket cautiously and would need to look more closely at other factors that may help explain his irrational ideas. But this will have to suffice for now.