Just watching the cricket and the England team v The Windies cementing their place as the Worlds number one Test team. Now, for those of you my age, watching English cricket has been akin to having wisdom teeth extracted without any pain relief for much of the past 35 years. We were mercilessly trounced (I remember the Black Wash banners) by the Windies in the 70's and 80's; thrashed to within an inch of our lives by the Aussies several times for most of the late 80's, 90's & into the 2000's and also had South Africa, India and Pakistan take the piss. Without Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, most of my early youth would have been permanently in defeat. Granted, there was the Botham Ashes in the 80's which helped ease the pain but when we were getting walloped, I don't remember any Aussie or Windies commentators or players wishing us well and hoping we could get our act together to provide better opposition. They loved beating us and did it with huge smiles on their faces. Its taken the Vaughan Ashes and then the last 2 Ashes series to establish us as the dominant test team on the planet and its been nearly 40 years since we ruled the creases of the world but I heard the English commentators, ex-players and such like almost feeling sorry for the Windies being so crap and wishing them well etc, etc. That is so typically English. Sometimes, we would rather be humiliated than humiliate opponents. Its why we are so ****e at sports imo. We lack the killer instinct that is required. Only in boxing & rugby do we, or have we had that instinct over the last few decades but in Football, Tennis & Cricket, we are hapless. It absolutely pisses me off to the point I could burst because personally, I'd love to see us hammer beyond all recognition every Windies, Oz, South African or any other cricketing nation for the next 20 years. I'd like to see an English football team that is arrogant and superior in its value like the Germans, Argentinians, Brazilians and now the Spanish are. I hate losing and hate seeing losers accept it with such a whimper and a lack of pride. When Ian Botham got beat he was apparently unapproachable for days by family and friends it hurt that much. That's what I want to see and less of this stiff upper lipped bull-**** we are supposed to be famed for. I'd sooner be known for being arrogant, annoying, self opinionated confident WINNERS, than simply 'jolly good sports' and LOSERS . Okay, thats off my chest now I feel good. Lol
We were ****e in Dubai and nearly lost the number 1 spot. I would rather we played the best teams at their best and beat them, than just beat teams as its what is put up against us, if that makes sense, IE we have to play the best we possibly can, to beat them, if we dont we will get beat as they are bloody good as well. Instead of lookinlike we are in 2nd gear and a stroll to beat them (mind you that doesnt happen often either). We want competition, not just walkovers by 5-0 or whatever in a test series.
so you have a problem with people being nice tbf the west indies need to get there act together they have some great players and are not even playing them
I disagree mate but see what you're saying. Of course you want to beat the best at their best and that is the perfect scenario of course but you know what, I'll happily beat a **** Windies and Aussies side 5-0 every time for the next 10 years, just as they happily slaughtered a pile of **** England team over a 20 odd year period. It didn't bother them way back then and it certainly doesn't bother me now and what I certainly don't wish them, is all the best nor do I feel in the slightest bit sorry for their plight either.
No but I certainly do have a massive problem with just smiling graciously as we get butt ****ed by all and sundry in the sporting arena. I want to see a new breed of hungry arrogant English sportsmen that believe, as do the Germans and Australians etc, that they are the best and will be the best. I hate the stiff upper lipped 'good loser' tag we have so happily accepted for decades. That really pisses me off.
there is a difference between the players and the commentators though tbf britian doesnt teach commpetertivness in school like NZ,OZ and outhers do so you all just like to take part thats your problem not what commentators say...
