I think the tendency to minutely criticise individual performance in cricket is a function of the game’s odd nature. Despite being a team game, it puts immense scrutiny and pressure on individuals because, at its most crucial points, it is a contest between individuals rather than a team sport. This means that fans inevitably focus on individual performance to what must seem a forensic degree for a football fan. It’s not unhappiness, it’s simply how the game works.
I have met many Australians. Like Americans, South Africans or New Zealanders, they are utterly irrelevant as human beings, neither one thing nor another, and certainly not worthy of an Englishman's ire.
Now losing to a real enemy, I could understand being distressed by that. Germany, Ireland or Belgium, losing to those freaks would offend me.
Indeed. And one in which technical and psychological flaws are quickly and ruthlessly exposed.
So, for instance, a footballer can make a cock up and then redeem themselves by playing brilliantly for the rest of the game. The batsman has no such luxury. More often than not if he fúcks up, he’s out. That makes the scrutiny of technique and mentality highly relevant.
Last edited by Burney; 12-06-2017 at 10:30 AM.