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    I only sing when we’re winning

    By Scott last year, at the end of December Leave a comment on this post

    Australia have wrapped up their 15th win in a row, and they have a chance of equaling their own world record for the most consecutive victories in the Second Test against India starting next week. It is interesting that the team is talking the record down.

    Believe it or not, I’m not particularly fussed if they get the record either- I just don’t want the team to lose. Speaking as a fan, I really, really hate losing Test matches. But there’s quite a trend in the Australian media to talk up our hosts, and to bemoan the continuing domination of the Australian team. It is true that the Aussies continue to do well overseas, but at home, the side is nearly invulnerable- Australia have only lost two Tests at home this decade.

    To some in the media, this is almost treated as a ‘bad thing’. I find it curious myself, this urge to see Australia lose, coming from nominally Australian fans. I don’t see fans from other cricket nations hope to see their national teams be challenged. Do you suppose in the late 1980s that the press in the West Indies were hoping for more ‘competitive’ cricket, or do you think that they wanted West Indies to continue to dominate? I don’t think if you asked fans of Manchester United at Old Trafford whether or not they’d like more ‘competitive’ football they’d answer ‘yes’ either. I’m almost certain that they would want to see their sides win and win well.So I’m afraid to say that I don’t buy the media’s story at all- the Australian public turned out in record numbers last season, helped by the Barmy Army to be sure, but they wanted to see the English thrashed; and they got it. Hopefully by the time the Adelaide Test rolls around next month, I’ll be watching Australia’s 18th Test win in a row. But I won’t be that upset if they aren’t- just as long as we don’t lose! I really hate losing!

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    11 Responses to “I only sing when we’re winning”

  • Theena wrote:
    December 29th, 2007 at 11.21 am

    I can’t say I understand Aussie supporters/journos bemoaning their team’s dominance. I could only wish that my own team (Sri Lanka) could enjoy one year - let a lone a decade - of such supreme performances. Alas..

    I’ll just copy and paste a comment I left on Mukul Kesavan’s Cricinfo blog entry a fortnight back concerning the same subject:

    “I think it generally goes without saying; Australia - and this is coming from an ardent admirer of their methods - needs to be dethroned and fast.

    I’ll echo your comments on the current Australian team breaking the record set by the previous generation; it doesn’t speak much for the general level of competition at test level. This time, though, it’s not so much that they are breaking the record that is concerning, but that they are breaking the record with, essentially, a weaker team. “

  • Stephen Jones wrote:
    December 30th, 2007 at 9.07 pm

    Maybe Scott the journos have realised that thrashing touring teams out of site every match is no longer a spectacle. This is no longer good for Aussie cricket after all who’s going to watch six non-events every season. I have read on a number of blogs Aussie fans saying they are sick of seeing their side destroy the opposition.
    You also say that Man Utd fans want to see their side win and win well all the time. But I’m sure that even the most miopic of footy fans would quickly get bored with their side beating Accrington Stanley 8-0 every week.
    There were fantastic crowds at the 2006-07 ashes series and I’m sure that many wanted to see England beaten. But I’m also sure many wanted to see the close, hard fought cricket that was witnessed during the 2005 series.

  • Yobbo wrote:
    January 1st, 2008 at 12.19 am

    I think what people want is more close games. The 2005 ashes was a huge boost for cricket in Australia because all 5 tests were close and exciting. Even though we narrowly lost it was thoroughly enjoyable and nailbiting stuff.

    There’s not a lot of excitement in watching us win by an innings and/or 400 runs every test.

  • Chris wrote:
    January 2nd, 2008 at 12.41 am

    Again it really comes down to the other teams having to lift their game. You must remember that we are supposed to be weaker having just lost 3 of the games greats. Shouldn’t the opposition be trying to capitilise on this?

  • Stephen Jones wrote:
    January 2nd, 2008 at 9.22 pm

    What makes you assume Chris that we mere mortals are capable of doing this? We keep hearing from Aussie commentators and fans how superior Australian cricket is and how the rest of us are going backwards. I don’t think the circumstances which exist in Oz exist in any other country in the world so I don’t think its going to happen my friend.

  • Chris wrote:
    January 3rd, 2008 at 12.01 am

    And it’s that attitude that stops you Stephen. I recall a time in the 80’s when Australia had Lillee and Marsh retire, and Australian cricket went seriously downhill. After that, CA or whatever they were called back then, decided we can’t have that in the future and set up academy’s and the like, and look at the results.

  • Chris wrote:
    January 3rd, 2008 at 12.17 am

    If you want to see what I mean, go to Cricinfo and read Peter Roebuck’s article on India.

  • Stephen Jones wrote:
    January 4th, 2008 at 5.47 pm

    From what I’ve read Chris despite the slump of the mid 1980’s the game remained popular in Oz. That just not the case in the UK. For the average Englishman cricket is as important as it is for an Italian or a Spaniard. As a correspondant to an Aussie newspaper said last year the games only important in Australia and the sub continent. Its of marginal interest everywhere else. If the likes of Warne, Ponting and McGrath had been born in the UK its highly likely they would never have played cricket.
    We’ve had an academy for years and it doesn’t seem to have turned England into world beaters.
    Whats really needed is the abolishion of half the county sides so theres a concentration of what little talent there is in the county game into fewer sides and then the money wasted subsidising bankrupt counties can used to resurrect the all but extinct schools game and the club game in this country which is heading in the same direction. This won’t happen Chris because its the counties who pull the strings in English cricket and they’re not going to vote for such drastic measures.
    I think the problems are far more complex than you think. Attitude is only one factor. Lack of talent is far more important.

  • Jamie Strange wrote:
    January 6th, 2008 at 10.01 am

    THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT AUSTRALIA IS RUINING CRICKET… Whey were there only 10,000 people there today? Because the public don’t care anymore.

    It’s not the players fault, but Australia are ruining world cricket. It is never good for a sport when one team dominates so much for so long. But the funny thing is the fact that there is nothing anyone can do about it. Maybe when Hayden and Gilcrest retire it might help a bit, but probably not. I think international test cricket is truly dead, and the only contest Australians fans can get is in the 20/20 matches.

    I am from New Zealand, and I just wish that Shane Bond was always 100% fit, like he was against you guys in the VB series a few years ago. It seems that the Auzzie quicks never seem to get injured!

    In the mid 90’s the Auckland rugby team was unbeaten at home for over 7 years. Towards the end fans just stopped turning up. The same is happening for you Auzzies. It is actually much more exciting being a NZ supporter because you don’t know what will happen… the highs are higher, but the lows are lower.

  • Stu wrote:
    January 6th, 2008 at 11.32 pm

    You’re defintely right about the higher highs and lower lows Jamie, but I have just been to NZ and I find the opposite is true over there. You are so down on your national sides, you don’t care either.
    Personally, I agree with Scott, I never get sick of seeing my side win - never! The more records that get broken the better - but it’s not just my side. I lover to see big records - say for example, NZ beating Bangladesh in 6 overs, and Dan Vetori getting 5 for 7 - fantastic stuff.
    Other sides will catch up - no doubt. England touched on this in 2005 - with a combined effort of on field agression and positive play, and off-field managements. Other sides will eventually build infrastructure at home to support long term success - but it won’t come from countries in termoil like Zimbabwe, Pakistan on Kenya. It must come from England, South Africa and even NZ - although much needs to be down to raise the profiile of the sport in NZ.

  • Stephen Jones wrote:
    January 12th, 2008 at 12.08 am

    Do you know anything about the game in England Stu? England is a country which no longer has a strong cricketing culture. What happened in 2005 was a fluke and even as a pom I think the Aussies will easily retain the Ashes in 2009.
    As for NZ beating Bangladesh in six overs or Vettoris amazing figures that the sort of thing that destroys sport as a spectacle. I’d rather have seen one side chasing 350 any day.

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