Comments on: Australia have been caught ball-tampering. But what was the worst aspect? And what was the funniest?

By: Stos

Stos — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 23:52:26 +0000

According to CA, the team did indeed use ‘sandpaper.’

They’re Australians, though, so would you trust them now?

By: King cricket's mum

King cricket's mum — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 07:43:45 +0000

In reply to Exile. Oh Exile, a blast from the past. You reminded me of when I conducted an assembly at the College of FE where I was working in the 60s. It was during Safety Week and I used Hoffnung's the Bricklayer's Lament. It brought the house down.

By: Exile

Exile — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 07:38:57 +0000

I think the funniest was the kid asking Lyon to autograph the back of a sheet of sandpaper.
The worst, I fear, may yet be to come. Smith has always struck me as a boy who is on the ‘wired differently’ side of life, as evidenced both by his unusual mannerisms, his single-mindedness at the crease, and by his occasional naivety, as manifest in that press conference. (That’s how I read the ‘move on from it’ bit, rather than out-and-out arrogance, hubris etc. ) I think he could be in part a victim of ‘make the best batsman captain’ syndrome, when he may not have been temperamentally best suited for the role, leaving him at the mercy of stronger and more devious personalities. I hope he has the resilience and support to deal with the consequences. The vilification here in Oz is extreme. If only governments also employed Heads of Integrity.

By: Exile

Exile — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 07:12:52 +0000

In reply to Mike. Yes. Puts me in mind of Hoffnung and the Bricklayer's lament.

By: A P Webster

A P Webster — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 06:10:38 +0000

In reply to Ged.

Has that Aussie ever experienced a decade of Ashes losses, though, Ged – it’s not much fun from what I remember.

With reference to the wider point, I’m not sure that there isn’t a signficant minority of sporting fans who really DO just want their team to ‘win’ even if it’s by breaking the rules, especially with a rule that’s often bent (or even broken) by a lot of participants, as was frequently argued in the case of EPO in cycling, and is often mentioned with regard to ‘going down easily’ in football. It seems a bit less prevalent an attitude in international cricket compared to other sports (partly because being a ‘fan of the game’ is more common in cricket than it seems to be in more nationally prominent sports?), but that might just be the biased opinion of a blinked cricket fan.

By: daneel

daneel — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 00:57:56 +0000

In reply to Ged. Andrew Dawson appears to have gone on to a successful football career with Scunthorpe and Hull, though. So that's something.

By: Ged

Ged — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 20:16:52 +0000

In reply to Ged. Kinda figured. Many thanks, Prince Prefab.

By: Prince Prefab

Prince Prefab — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 20:11:59 +0000

In reply to Ged. Hi Ged, As far as I'm aware not one of them has ever played international cricket so I think that tells us all we need to know. FINISHED.

By: Ged

Ged — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 20:03:27 +0000

In reply to Bert.

An excellent piece. The main point was reinforced to me by an Aussie’s comment on a Facebook posting made by a South African friend of mine who was at Newlands:

“it really stings to call them my team today. Give me a decade of Ashes losses rather than this.”

That’s shame, that’s hurt.

By: Prince Prefab

Prince Prefab — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 19:57:05 +0000

In reply to King Cricket. None more.