Now Sir Geoffrey's done the racism and has made his public grovelling :-(

[Burney]

Yesterday you described Sri Lankans as being 'as black as your boot'.

Which, of course, they are. How is that racist? No denigration was implied, it was simply a description of your average Lankan's skin colour (particularly Tamils). I have no objection to anyone describing my skin colour by use of glib metaphor or simile.

[Rich]

Which, of course, they are. How is that racist? No denigration was implied, it was simply a description of your average Lankan's skin colour (particularly Tamils). I have no objection to anyone describing my skin colour by use of glib metaphor or simile.

I'm not one to argue semantics but how do you feel your average chap from the non-Tamil majority would feel about your sweeping generalisation?

[Burney]

I'm not one to argue semantics but how do you feel your average chap from the non-Tamil majority would feel about your sweeping generalisation?

I wouldn't really care, r. They all talk funny and píss in the same pot as far as I'm concerned.

I suppose, if pressed, I would point out that, on average, they are pretty damn black as far as I'm concerned.

[Peter]

I wouldn't really care, r. They all talk funny and píss in the same pot as far as I'm concerned.

I suppose, if pressed, I would point out that, on average, they are pretty damn black as far as I'm concerned.

And as you said, their approach to cricket leaves a fair bit to be desired. They make aussies appear sporting.

[Burney]

And as you said, their approach to cricket leaves a fair bit to be desired. They make aussies appear sporting.

In my experience, Aussies don't cheat that much. They play pretty fast and loose with the spirit of the game, but they generally don't cheat.

[Peter]

In my experience, Aussies don't cheat that much. They play pretty fast and loose with the spirit of the game, but they generally don't cheat.

Yeah, same here. One game they gave me absolute dogs abuse for two hours because they thought I had nicked and not walked. I hadn't actually, but nothing shut them up.

My captain, the complete and utter ****, made me bowl to them after all this. I got mercilessly carted. Worse figures than a fat bird convention

[Burney]

Yeah, same here. One game they gave me absolute dogs abuse for two hours because they thought I had nicked and not walked. I hadn't actually, but nothing shut them up.

My captain, the complete and utter ****, made me bowl to them after all this. I got mercilessly carted. Worse figures than a fat bird convention

Oh, yeah. They're horrible people to play cricket against, but they aren't cheats. It was an aussie wicketkeeper who sledged me endlessly for not walking for a stumping. Stupid cünt. How am I supposed to know where my back foot is?

[Peter]

Which, of course, they are. How is that racist? No denigration was implied, it was simply a description of your average Lankan's skin colour (particularly Tamils). I have no objection to anyone describing my skin colour by use of glib metaphor or simile.

I must admit whenever I hear Under African Skies on Graceland the first line appears in my head as 'Joseph's face was as black as your hat'

[Burney]

I must admit whenever I hear Under African Skies on Graceland the first line appears in my head as 'Joseph's face was as black as your hat'

My father only stopped describing things as 'as dark as a n*gger's pocket' about 15 years ago. So that's progress, I suppose.

[Peter]

My father only stopped describing things as 'as dark as a n*gger's pocket' about 15 years ago. So that's progress, I suppose.

I remember my nan getting the right hump when 'coloured' became offensive. 'I was trying to be bloody nice, you don't want to know what I call them in private!'......

Good old nan.....