It was a little disheartening reading that big headline plastered all over the sports news.
“Sam Robson rejects Australia to pledge future to England”.
And how the English stuck a little pocket knife in with that mild gloating and teasing undertone to their journalism.
I felt a little lump in the throat at the thought that we had somehow let a gun of a young batsmen slip through our fingers. He’d chosen the old enemy over the country he was born and bred in.
Our administrators and youth development professionals had failed. It’s a crime!
The young man would have his reasons though. Maybe he had a soft spot for England while growing up.
His English born mum may have been a strong cultural influence in his life, or he may have fallen for a saucy English bird at the local Walkabout.
These things happen.
Whatever the reason, a spiteful part of me considered at the time…”You can have him”.
If he wants to turn his back on the baggy green and defect to the English cricket team as so many have done before him, then we don’t want him!
And just for that fact, that last knife in the gut after giving it every bit of desperation to turn around our bad Test form of late, it was a symbolic message to our boys.
It’s time to show the world what we’ve got.
And boy are we smiling now.
Yep… Sam, you chose the wrong team.
You chose the team that were overly fancied the moment they arrived for this tour.
Your chose the team that is notorious for luring talented men from all parts of the globe.
You chose the team that were overrated during the last Ashes series.
You chose the team that is on a downward slide in the world cricket rankings.
You chose the team that we bloody well love to beat.
And Sam…you also chose the team that is currently the laughing stock of the cricket world.
Have I gone too far?
Nah…
Sammy boy, we don’t want you. Our great cricket side – yes, the undisputed greatest cricket nation of all time, doesn’t need you.
We’ve got enough young talent in our country, and the passion to wear the green and gold no matter what.
Some of the young guys rising up the ranks in Australian domestic cricket would give their right arm to wear a baggy green for Australia.
And yes, they will go on to become legends of the game like the Steve Waughs, Adam Gilchrists and Shane Warnes of our great nation.
But not you Sam. You will play for England, and best of luck to you sonny boy.
RWB
Guest
Ever heard of the world wide web and I'm in Australia Matt. Your article got a pretty neg reaction so as far as I can see you changed your tune and called it tongue in cheek. Tongue in cheek is easier to spot.
Matt Sterne
Roar Rookie
I'm convinced you are English. Might want to get some support on English sport sites then!
Prosenjit majumdar
Guest
So has he done a martin mcague?worth mentioning that in mcague's case england was loser, he was such a poor bowler.
fadida
Guest
First gen Australian here of British parents. No question where my allegiances would lie, and no devotion to my parents country. It's one thing for a person to choose another nation to represent if they aren't good enough to play for their "own" country eg all of those rubbish Aussie cricketers who picked up easy caps for England in the 90's. It's another entirely when the likes of Joe Simunic, Ante Seric atc who chose the (stronger) country of their parents OVER the country of their birth and residence (who were desperately keen to keep them). Robson, well if he has chosen England because they are (were :) ) stronger then Boooooooooo! If he has chosen them for professional career prospects (which I believe is the case with overseas quotas in the CC) then ok, but still disappointing that he wouldn't try to beak into our side and get a juicy ACB contract. But understandable
fadida
Guest
Agree Matt. If we were still the number 1 side I expect he'd want to play for us. Enjoying the delicious irony as the Ashes return to their rightful owners
RWB
Guest
"I'm not a complete knob" Well....................................I'm not convinced.
Steve Kerr
Roar Rookie
Ah, now fair enough: if the author comes out and says he was stirring the pot, that's a little different.
Matt Sterne
Roar Rookie
It came from the dozens and dozens of websites, facebook pages, blogs and other cricket sites I frequent, where the sentiment from cricket fans the world over is quite unanimous. Not to mention the media. And yeah, it's nice to puff the chest out, it's been a while! We put up with more than enough from the Poms the last few series, it feels bloody good to have the shoe on the other foot for once.
Matt Sterne
Roar Rookie
It is a bit of tongue in cheek guys... I'm not a complete knob! ;) But I stand by that comment - the record books do speak for themselves, correct me if I am wrong but Australia does have the best record of any test cricket nation. Boom.
Matt Sterne
Roar Rookie
Ha! Not bitter mate. I see my planned stirring of the pot has worked though. The idea for the article really came about because the Aussies have now turned it around. I wonder if the Aussies had won the last few series if Sam might have been swayed our way?? It's nice to be on top for once... Regardless, the article is meant to be sarcastic and the young bloke deserves every chance to have a great career for England... And hope that our bowlers give him a warm welcome when he does!!! haha :)
RWB
Guest
What does Disco need to check James? Symonds born in England with a father of West Indian extraction.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Disco - bit of a boo boo on Symonds there. MIght want to check your facts first.
jameswm
Roar Guru
He's been brought up in Australia. It's a fair sledge, from a gloating Aussie point of view. Good luck to him, but expect some lip.
trev
Guest
Looks like Ben Stokes did too, but with Corey Anderson (and Jimmy Neesham plus a bloke called big Jesse Ryder) around, he wouldn't make the NZ team anyway
Steve Kerr
Roar Rookie
I was looking for a 'ha', and seeing if this writer was having fun with this. But it looks like he's for real. I don't really like it when people get critical of the writers, but this guy doesn't come out of this looking very good. A sour, small-minded article indeed.
RWB
Guest
Yeah all good Matt.
RWB
Guest
Keppler Wessels? The question of nationality never came up.
Johnno
Guest
money 1st, nationalism 2nd, that's a sad situation cricket and pro sport is, when today's modern cricketer is more concerned with there bank balance, than playing for the country they should morally be playing for.
Disco
Roar Guru
Quite.
Pom in Oz
Roar Guru
I think you mucked up your first sentence, but we all know what you meant. It raises an interesting question though, because as a professional sportsman you have to think about your (usually) time-limited career and earning potential. Also, you say you would never have played for another country if you'd had the chance. But, therein lies the reason for the dilemma. Why would you have had the chance? Probably because one (or both) of your parents were from another country. If that were the case, I'm sure you would have a soft spot for that country. Where I'm living now, I know many Australians with Italian and Greek heritage and they certainly have that devotion to their parent's country of origin, as well as to Australia...