Note the empty seats behindNow you don't see
this sort of thing often from the Australian press:
If Cricket Australia cares a fig for the tattered reputation of our national team in our national sport, it will not for a moment longer tolerate the sort of arrogant and abrasive conduct seen from the captain and his senior players over the past few days.
Beyond comparison it was the ugliest performance put up by an Australian side for 20 years. The only surprising part of it is that the Indians have not packed their bags and gone home. There is no justice for them in this country, nor any manners.
An Age poll on the matter of whether Ponting should be sacked:
Yes - 58% No - 28% Let's all cool down! It's only a game - 14% 
What's going on downunder? Neosportsmanship?
The Australians have made sport a part of their culture and hate failing at it. We English take defeat in our stride and get on with life,we have other things to amuse us.If the day ever comes when the Australians are beaten at sports on a regular basis there will be nothing for them to fall back on.
ReplyDeleteBoth the Anonymous comments have been moved across to the Tory Plan post.
ReplyDeleteThe policy on this blog is that political comments should be on a political post, doesn't matter which and most days I provide at least one of these.
It's counterproductive anyway to put long appeals on non-political posts - readers don't appreciate them as much there.
Your comments were good, Anons - but please, on appropriate posts, OK?
All my Aussie work colleagues care about is just win baby. They do not care about some of the exterior issues and were mostly concerned that they may miss out on free tickets and a day of drinking at the Fourth Test in Adelaide.
ReplyDeleteMe, I found Michael Clarke standing and waiting when he was palpably out caught behind, very jarring. Some of the other stuff was pretty unsporting.
As theatre and entertainment, top notch. It is still one of the top stories on the news even now. Amazing to think that it is just a game.
So winning may not be everything after all?
ReplyDeleteThose empty seats was because it was the last day of the test and the weather was atrocious. As for Ricky Ponting, he complained to the umpire about a racist remark made by the Indian bowler. Andrew Symonds was called a "monkey" which is a racist remark to him though the monkey is a revered creature in India. Some of the umpiring decisions were dodgy but that happens in many sports and what happened all those years ago when we didnt have technology to check whether a player was out or not? Sledging in any form is unacceptable but also an unfortunate reality as with child like finger pointing when one gets caught and punished. Lets also take out the replays third umpires and get back to the game of cricket.
ReplyDeleteMz - an Aussie reply and good to hear the other side.
ReplyDeleteColin and Richard - thanks. I think only good can come out of this for cricket generally.
ReplyDelete