Errol Fernando’s Email Note to Lorenz Pereira
Dear Lorenz,
As someone who claims to always support the underdog I was delighted that India won the final Test by 6 runs and made it 2 – 2. Perfect result. India was playing against a team that has the best ‘first five’ batsmen in the world – Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root and Brook. No one better. By contrast Australia probably has the WORST first five – Khawaja, Konstas and three other jokers. However , the Aussies have the best quartet of bowlers in the world – Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Lyon with Boland in the wings. No one better.
The 5 India-England Tests were totally riveting, and I couldn’t take my eyes off. High quality stuff. Captain Gill made 754 glorious runs for the series and Rahul and Pant were also glorious. England’s top 5 were good too.
Very sadly, however, the behaviour of the teams was appalling and most disappointing. India had their moments, but the English were obnoxious and disgraceful. Tuffy would have kanayed them all the way from Kandy to Matale with a kick up their rears to finish. They got away with it at home, but they won’t DARE to behave like that when they come here in a few weeks for the Ashes. Top five batsmen against top 4 bowlers. Can’t wait !! Who are the ‘underdogs’?? England, I suppose ?
Errol
Some Thoughts from Michael Roberts:
Unlike Errol, I did not watch every ball bowled. However ….
* I think he is far too dismissive of Steven Smith’s batting capacities/potential … quirky though he is.
* I feel that that both Bethell and Jamie Smith let England down with awful strokes in the last England innings — perhaps the nerve-tingling situation scrambled their brains.
* While Siraj bowled with fire and intelligence, he has always been a thug. Ever since he threatened Angelo Matthews in a match, I have marked him down as an ugly cricketer besmirching the sportsmanship that should honour an honourable game.
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The Colonials led us to believe that Cricket’s code of honour went beyond the game. Upper class Brits saw themselves as Gentlemen who played for pride, unlike their pleb brethren who played for money. The British class system was replicated large in the Colonies. Even the Cockney, for the first time in his life, felt a superior cricketer.
It is important to understand that Cricket was intended to civilise the Natives. Introducing them to ‘fair play’ and obedience to the LAWS of the game and how to lose politely.
This preamble is an important backdrop against which to understand Cricket’s supposed degeneration.
The CRINGE was so inculcated into Ceylonese players that they were thought too polite to play hard enough to win.
Besides, as long as a WHITE team won, the game was still intact.
And as long as one captained it remained a Gentleman’s game.
The early West Indies were labelled ‘Natural’ athletes, especially after the last Brit Captain — meaning, not thinkers or strategists of the game.
And, then, Ahaa, the former Colonies started to dominate.
The British press began to moan the “decline of sportsmanship”and add further çharges’
– Pakistani/Asian umpires were cheats
– Murali was a chucker
– Imran Khan was arrogant
– WI pacemen routing England was pure INTIMIDATION.
When the father of cricket WG Grace refused to walk after being bowled, cricket remained pure, but when the Colonised began thrashing the Coloniser, the game had lost its spirit.
In reality, the uppity native had stopped following the script.
He began imitating the winners- sledging, cheating etc
As Grace proved, cricket was never an honourable game.
It was a propaganda vehicle. Back home, one that supported and enshrined the CLASS system and in the Colonies, one that was meant to create obedient and ‘law abiding’ subjects.
BUT, we did buy into it LOCK, STOCK and BARREL!
I have heard it being said that cricket is a Gentleman’s game. We had cricketers like F.C. de Saram who passed this message across.
Working class ‘PLAYERS” were not allowed the captaincy,- in the Counties, not till the late 40’s and at the Test level, not till 1952.
It was feared the intrusion would disturb the NATURAL ORDER.
The Gentleman Captain would not share his dressing room with his own PLAYERS.
A GENTLEMAN’S GAME INDEED!!!!