Cricket Thread

[Shirley]

England are not that poor to be whitewashed or should I say the Aussies not that much better.

 

[Debaser]

Probably in the minority but I’m not really in the ‘spirit of the game’ camp when it comes to controversial moments that lead to a dismissal or goal etc

If it’s in the laws of the game it’s in the laws. That simple.
It was quick thinking from the Australian player and Bairstow shouldn’t have left his crease.

Likewise in football a player down injured - the other team should carry on regardless. It’s down to the officials to stop the game, not leave it to the moral judgement of the players.

Leaving unwritten laws to be followed by people lead us to Trump and Johnson, if you want something to be "illegal" legislate for it and put it in the rules.

The laws of cricket are pretty clear on what constitutes a dead ball, this wasn't a dead ball and was fair game.

 

[freshie]

I would like to think Bairstow would have done the same if the roles were reversed.

He tried

 

[freshie]

You clearly don't understand how cricket should be played. Win at all costs is not winning. Tbh you will never understand, so here endeth the lesson what good it did.

Clearly the England players don’t either

 

[Stephen230]

I’m torn, really. It was pretty snide, but my judgement is probably clouded by my all-consuming hatred of the Australian cricket team. If the roles were reversed, and Bairstow had done it to Labuschagne or Smith I’d probably have loved it. Hopefully it’ll ramp the atmosphere right up at Headingley though. Series has probably gone, but for fuck’s sake let’s not get whitewashed at home.

Bairstow did try to do it to Labuschagne on Friday. But missed obviously.

 

[Ric]

Bairstow did try to do it to Labuschagne on Friday. But missed obviously.

Ha, must’ve missed that. Not surprised though.

 

[Bill Walker]

Have some friends who took a once in a lifetime trip to follow England on an ashes tour in australia a few years ago & they were astonished at how bad the aussie crowd treated the England players and fans.
They witnessed aussie fans agressively abusing the England fans constantly and saw England fans being assaulted at every match, including the warm up & tour games.
Without exception, the local police didn’t help & literally told any England supporters to fuck off when they tried to report any incidents.
What should have been a dream trip became a total nightmare and it has permanently soured their views about aussies.
Speaking for myself, I have met many many aussies in my professional & personal life and they have all been, without question, cunts.

I call bullshit on that post. I'm an England fan living in Australia who's attended many Ashes matches at the Gabba and a couple at the MCG and haven't witnessed any of what you're on about. In fact I usually go with a couple of Aussies and English mates....Yeah there's always pissheads who get ejected later in the day but it's mostly good natured piss taking.

I also have mates in the UK who come to Oz for the Ashes tour every tour, I don't think they'd keep coming here, spending a fortune if it was as as bad and as "soured" as you portray. They actually love doing it.
England fans when here give just as much banter out as the Oz fans and the barmy army have their share of pissheads.
The media here love having the barmy army out here, they generate a lot of fun.
I'm sorry every Aussie you've met is a ****. I have been mates with and worked with, many great guys who love us Poms.
Most Aussie cricket fans I know don't want Smith or Warner anywhere near the team but obviously have no say in that. Those 2 seem to dictate the philosophy of the side imo.

Never been to Oz, but I’m an avid cricket and rugby fan and I have to say I enjoy the verbals, it adds spice to it. Can’t stand any game where opponents are all nice to each other on the pitch, whether it’s cricket, rugby or football. As long as you can take the shit if you give it, then that’s fine with me, I used to love winding up opponents when I played at uni. Never, ever back down.

I’m actually looking forward more now to the 3rd Test, I hope the spite and spats continue, it’ll make it tastier!

I’ve always respected how Aussies play their sport; do anything to win, leave nothing out there, that’s how it should be. As an opponent you have to man up and give it back. No room for soft arses. However, I think it was a cowardly way to get Bairstow out. No matter what banter or abuse you dish out, never lose sight of the spirit of the game. If you have to win by cheating, you must be shit. The colonials are going to get a fucking beating now, England to win the series 3-2!

Haha, good post mate and I hope your forecast is correct.

 

[Stephen230]

Ha, must’ve missed that. Not surprised though.

To give it full context, some people are claiming that Bairstow’s was different because Labuschagne was taking guard outside the crease.

I personally just think that’s looking for any excuse to differentiate between the two, for people already committed to bad sportsmanship point of view.

I’m more annoyed at Bairstow than any of the Australians.

 

[Bill Walker]

I’m torn, really. It was pretty snide, but my judgement is probably clouded by my all-consuming hatred of the Australian cricket team. If the roles were reversed, and Bairstow had done it to Labuschagne or Smith I’d probably have loved it. Hopefully it’ll ramp the atmosphere right up at Headingley though. Series has probably gone, but for fuck’s sake let’s not get whitewashed at home.

Yeah, I'm torn as well must admit.
But like you I probably would've loved it if it happened to Smith :)
I didn't agree with the team getting abused in the long room though. Thought that was a bit off tbh. No rules were broken and players don't make those rules. I am torn though.

 

[meltonblue]

To give it full context, some people are claiming that Bairstow’s was different because Labuschagne was taking guard outside the crease.

I personally just think that’s looking for any excuse to differentiate between the two, for people already committed to bad sportsmanship point of view.

I’m more annoyed at Bairstow than any of the Australians.

I actually think that’s a fair reason tbh. There’s a difference between a mankad or stumping someone that’s taking guard outside the crease to someone that’s re-marked his spot and then moved outside of the crease after the ball has been bowled and caught by the wicket keeper - the difference being there’s no advantage at all being sought by the batsman.

It’s all down to personal opinion and I get people that think it was ok. All on the individual and how much they care about sportsmanship though.

What I would say is things like that in the Ashes are part of what makes it great too though and that’s been the case for a while - there’s always been heroes and villains to both sides. I absolutely love Broad but him when he didnt walk after being caught a few series ago was just as bad an example of poor sportsmanship as today was. If people do think today was poor, then I’d hope they’d be consistent and think that was at the time too. Sport and partisan thought does go hand in hand though!

Personally, I’d err on wanting to see better sportsmanship every time.