I went into the New Zealand team hotel on Sunday morning to get some autographs, and I couldn’t believe it when some of the Australian team walked past. The two teams staying in the same hotel before a World Cup Final!
As each Black Cap came past I asked them to autograph a book I had, and each of them could not have been more obliging. They all smiled, came over and signed my book, and when I thanked them and wished them well, every single one of them thanked me.
An Australian fan saw what I was doing and came over to chat. We were together for about 15 minutes, and during this time several of the Australian team walked past.
His “Good luck, Michael” and “Good luck, Brad” got no response. The only exception to this lack of responsiveness was when Mitchell Starc walked past with Dan Vettori, and they laughed and chatted together.
People may look at what happened later in the day and say that the Australian reserve was part of the focus that enabled them to play so well in the Final, but I wonder. Starc didn’t do too badly for a man who seemed to be enjoying himself earlier.
It’s generally accepted that a national representative is under the microscope whenever they are in the public eye, and a smile to a fan off the field would give a lot of leeway for a bit of sledging on it.
AdrianK
Guest
I'll add two anecdotes and then some theories. (1) my son and two of his 10 year old friends were amongst many in the crowd at the Gabba about 5 years ago that had no trouble getting Mitchell Johnson's autograph on the boundary. He signed them for kids the whole time he was fielding there. Also threw a beach ball back: and (2) I remember a Test (also at the Gabba) that was was clearly going to be over within the first hour on day five. Late day four it was announced there would be free entry the next day, and the Australian team would be making themselves available to sign autographs for the fans after the game. The next day, the Aussies won, but none of them showed up to sign those autographs. Except Stuart Clark - who chatted and signed autographs for 2 hours - that bloke has class. Theory (1) look at the common link - Starc, Vettori, Johnson, S Clark - all bowlers, all good blokes. Bowlers as a species, descend from honest decent working class folk - Northern England coal miners and the such. While batsman descend from Lords and other upper class gentry. (Full disclosure - I am a bowler, and have always had a stong-hold on number 11 in the batting order of any team I played in - I might not be considered a completely impartial observer :) ): and Theory (2) There are always 2 sides to any story. We maybe don't have the full context around the hotel foyer anecdote. Best not to extrapolate judgement on an entire team on the basis of a snippet.
Prosenjit
Guest
You went there for autographs as a kiwi fan,and was obliged.your aussie mate showed up as if he was friends to them and got no response.natural.
Jo M
Guest
Maybe it is more like how seriously they take the game they are about to play. I have no doubt that Clarke's mind would have been running over every single thing with plans and what not. How does the author even know he heard him? Of course Starc and Vettori would talk. Vettori is coaching Starc's IPL team and he was probably telling him not to injure himself or something, oops. I actually think it is a bit rude to front up at a hotel to ask for autographs before they play the biggest game of the tournament. After would have been better.
Prosenjit
Guest
And you asked for the australians' autographs which they refused, right?tell full story. :-)
trigger
Guest
it tells you a lot about the two sides ,about what they're all about and how seriously they take themselves.Good article .
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Ha.
Chui
Guest
Is that the basis for a whole article. Look out Danny Weidler and Phil Rothfield.