What are the SA fans saying? LOL...

[Mr. Wicket]

It is only natural to hate the team which has dominated the sport for the past decade :two_thumbs_up:

Actually, it's a lot easier to dislike the team that's dominated the sport for the past 6 years (with the stamp of Ponting and others like Symonds and Hayden). I've been following the Australian team and quite often rooting for them if India weren't playing since the 1993 Ashes when Warne and Slater got me hooked. As much as I loved the teams of the 90s (particularly under Mark Taylor, what a leader and a gentleman ), and really admired the unit that Steve Waugh created - under Ponting Australia have become easily dislikeable with none of the charm and class on the field that their predecessors had. In the last couple of years with Hayden and Symonds moving out of the picture - two of the more obnoxious cricketers I've seen, though they were absolutely fantastic talents as well - their behaviour has certainly improved a huge deal and they're a lot easier to admire as people as well as cricketers, now that they're not getting into hyperchoreographed appeals and picking fights with umpires or opposition as often. I certainly don't associate the team under Ponting with the units that Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor led, regardless of what RTP's final record as a batsman or captain turns out to be. On an aside: Do you recollect the 1998 tour to India where Warne got thrashed all over by Tendulkar and co.? One of the most striking aspects of that tour was the toss at the Bangalore test - after the captains had tossed and announced their teams, Sunil Gavaskar (who was conducting it with the mic for Star Sports) took a few moments away from discussing tactics to thank Mark Taylor for being such a great ambassador for the game on that tour in India and leading his team so well, despite the 0-2 scoreline. Taylor was gracious as anything, proof that a captain could be a gentleman and successful at the same time, and very well liked and respected. South Africans, Indians, etc all held the man and his side in tremendous regard. Waugh brought a much tougher exterior to the team, a more abrasive character and the side was less liked - though far more respected as SRW turned the side into a really ruthless juggernaut that could roll over pretty much any opposition in the world bar India in India, and players like McGrath, Warne, Gilchrist and co. commanded that sort of respect. Ponting on the other hand has often been a petulant, irritating pr-ck, claiming bump catches, trying to be a paragon of virtue and ending up acting like a total hypocrite quite a bit with an attitude that's been reflected by other senior players like Symonds and Hayden. Not to mention that unlike Waugh and Taylor (who were genuinely good captains), he's basically had a top unit in cruise control, and other times made some stellar f-ck ups as a leader. Far better record than the other two, but I rate him as the worst captain Aus has had since Kim Hughes. When you're an iffy leader who's just lucky enough to be captaining the very best side in the world and players who barely need leadership (and failing when there's some tactical nous and leadership needed, rather than just a strong batting record leading from the front) and for the large part a petulant, ungracious assh-le - your team ends up being disliked. Nothing to do with the fact that they've been dominant.

[Bradman99]

It does have some to do with being dominant because it means more of what we do is in the spotlight, therefore others are going to look at what we do a lot more then that of what other teams do. We haven't been the only ones to claim bump catches or do unsporting behaviour, in fact it is India who have been in trouble the most. For your informantion, I can see quite clearly why people don't like Ponting, he is certainly not as likeable as other captains in the game. However, Ponting aside, who else is there really to dislike in the current aussie side ? Good post though. As for Symo and Haydos, they did some stupid things on the pitch at times and off the pitch (Symo), but it's part of what made them the player they were.

[Temujin Khaghan]

It is only natural to hate the team which has dominated the sport for the past decade :two_thumbs_up:

Acc to your logic Chicago Bulls were the most hated team during the jordan-era

[Bradman99]

Acc to your logic Chicago Bulls were the most hated team during the jordan-era

Obviously it's not implied all the time. But it is easier to hate the best team.

[Arminder]

South African media hardly praised Sachin for his 200. Instead the newspapers were saying that Belinda Clark was the was cricketer to score 200 in an ODI innings. Real sour grapes and sore losers. See Link below http://www.sport24.co.za/Content/Cricket/245/0e42639018fe46d4a65a0947f4c0ba13/25-02-2010-03-06/Tendulkar_NOT_first_to_200

that 200 was with denmark :omg: :hysterical: :haha: :finger: tendulkar scored against SA :yay:.. SA ain't small team.

[dev.goswami]

Actually, it's a lot easier to dislike the team that's dominated the sport for the past 6 years (with the stamp of Ponting and others like Symonds and Hayden). I've been following the Australian team and quite often rooting for them if India weren't playing since the 1993 Ashes when Warne and Slater got me hooked. As much as I loved the teams of the 90s (particularly under Mark Taylor, what a leader and a gentleman ), and really admired the unit that Steve Waugh created - under Ponting Australia have become easily dislikeable with none of the charm and class on the field that their predecessors had. In the last couple of years with Hayden and Symonds moving out of the picture - two of the more obnoxious cricketers I've seen, though they were absolutely fantastic talents as well - their behaviour has certainly improved a huge deal and they're a lot easier to admire as people as well as cricketers, now that they're not getting into hyperchoreographed appeals and picking fights with umpires or opposition as often. I certainly don't associate the team under Ponting with the units that Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor led, regardless of what RTP's final record as a batsman or captain turns out to be. On an aside: Do you recollect the 1998 tour to India where Warne got thrashed all over by Tendulkar and co.? One of the most striking aspects of that tour was the toss at the Bangalore test - after the captains had tossed and announced their teams, Sunil Gavaskar (who was conducting it with the mic for Star Sports) took a few moments away from discussing tactics to thank Mark Taylor for being such a great ambassador for the game on that tour in India and leading his team so well, despite the 0-2 scoreline. Taylor was gracious as anything, proof that a captain could be a gentleman and successful at the same time, and very well liked and respected. South Africans, Indians, etc all held the man and his side in tremendous regard. Waugh brought a much tougher exterior to the team, a more abrasive character and the side was less liked - though far more respected as SRW turned the side into a really ruthless juggernaut that could roll over pretty much any opposition in the world bar India in India, and players like McGrath, Warne, Gilchrist and co. commanded that sort of respect. Ponting on the other hand has often been a petulant, irritating pr-ck, claiming bump catches, trying to be a paragon of virtue and ending up acting like a total hypocrite quite a bit with an attitude that's been reflected by other senior players like Symonds and Hayden. Not to mention that unlike Waugh and Taylor (who were genuinely good captains), he's basically had a top unit in cruise control, and other times made some stellar f-ck ups as a leader. Far better record than the other two, but I rate him as the worst captain Aus has had since Kim Hughes. When you're an iffy leader who's just lucky enough to be captaining the very best side in the world and players who barely need leadership (and failing when there's some tactical nous and leadership needed, rather than just a strong batting record leading from the front) and for the large part a petulant, ungracious assh-le - your team ends up being disliked. Nothing to do with the fact that they've been dominant.

Great post :hatsoff:

[Temujin Khaghan]

South African media hardly praised Sachin for his 200. Instead the newspapers were saying that Belinda Clark was the was cricketer to score 200 in an ODI innings. Real sour grapes and sore losers. See Link below http://www.sport24.co.za/Content/Cricket/245/0e42639018fe46d4a65a0947f4c0ba13/25-02-2010-03-06/Tendulkar_NOT_first_to_200

is that a girl? she looks more manly than katich.

[achilles]

^ All respect to her, but I agree with you. Katich :hysterical:

[Temujin Khaghan]

^ All respect to her' date=' but I agree with you. Katich :hysterical:[/quote'] bloody look at her man... if she tightens her fist and hits akhtar in his balls, he will go back to rehab for another 1 year.

[vvvslaxman]

is that a girl? she looks more manly than katich.

Check iol.co.za. That is where i usually read their news. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=17&art_id=iol1267083827393S363 Stuart Hess Another identity theft:hmmm:

[f.b.m]

I can see quite clearly why people don't like Ponting, he is certainly not as likeable as other captains in the game. However, Ponting aside, who else is there really to dislike in the current aussie side ?

Shamus Twatsonathan

[Mr. Wicket]

Obviously it's not implied all the time. But it is easier to hate the best team.

Wrong. You're trying to find justification that isn't related to the boorish behaviour of many of the Australian players. The All Blacks when dominating rugby have never been the most disliked nation. When Bradman led an Australian on both sides of WW II that barely dropped a game, he (and the side) was basically hero worshipped wherever they set foot. Lauded to the heavens in India/Ceylon when they made brief visits, New Zealand and England. The West Indian side of the 80s garnered huge support. Heck, they had more people cheering them on in some tests in England than the home team did! Roger Federer is another in that aspect. Pete Sampras too. Dominated their sport, regarded immensely by opponents and fans. Players and teams are looked at at people and role models, and the Australian sides of the last 6-7 years have been very poor in that regard. Hence why so few people like them. There isn't always a correlation between how well a team/player does and how he's regarded. Hence why someone like Pietersen is so easily disliked whether or not he averages 30 or 50, and whether England is ranked #2 or #6. Or the opposite - Tendulkar is the finest batsman of this generation, and few genuinely dislike him in the sane regard. When Taylor took Australia to the top in 1995 with that historic series win in WI, they were still a very, very well liked and regarded team and stayed that way for a good while. Again, Australia are disliked not because they're the best. They're disliked because Ponting is a petulant git and the day he leaves and the Australian side has guys like Hussey and Johnson as the senior players, they will be liked and appreciated a lot more.

[achilles]

Ponting is a moron, but not every Aussie is Jeff Thomson and Bradman99 certainly doesn't seem like him.

[achilles]

I forgot to add one thing. :punter: is the BIGGEST hypocrite the World has ever seen. When Lara got his 400, Punter said this - http://www.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/134528.html When Ponting bowled part-timers during the Aus tour of India in 2008 so that he would save himself a ban, he wasn't being selfish and actually criticized fellow Australians for trying malign his character(???). ABSOLUTE MUPPET

[Watson87]

Mark Taylor was an absolute gentleman, what a legend.

[straight.drive]

This has to be the best comment:

60. grant10Reply to this comment : February 24th, 2010 at 4:08 pm i reckon the Indians should have declared….at least then we would of had a decent game….maybe india could of called it a day after 30 overs!

:hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical: and this one

77. BlindspotReply to this comment : February 24th, 2010 at 5:09 pm Are they playing on the same pitch? You would swear SA are batting on a green mamba by the score. Are India that good or are we just that bad?

again :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:

[Bradman99]

Wrong. You're trying to find justification that isn't related to the boorish behaviour of many of the Australian players. The All Blacks when dominating rugby have never been the most disliked nation. When Bradman led an Australian on both sides of WW II that barely dropped a game, he (and the side) was basically hero worshipped wherever they set foot. Lauded to the heavens in India/Ceylon when they made brief visits, New Zealand and England. The West Indian side of the 80s garnered huge support. Heck, they had more people cheering them on in some tests in England than the home team did! Roger Federer is another in that aspect. Pete Sampras too. Dominated their sport, regarded immensely by opponents and fans. Players and teams are looked at at people and role models, and the Australian sides of the last 6-7 years have been very poor in that regard. Hence why so few people like them. There isn't always a correlation between how well a team/player does and how he's regarded. Hence why someone like Pietersen is so easily disliked whether or not he averages 30 or 50, and whether England is ranked #2 or #6. Or the opposite - Tendulkar is the finest batsman of this generation, and few genuinely dislike him in the sane regard. When Taylor took Australia to the top in 1995 with that historic series win in WI, they were still a very, very well liked and regarded team and stayed that way for a good while. Again, Australia are disliked not because they're the best. They're disliked because Ponting is a petulant git and the day he leaves and the Australian side has guys like Hussey and Johnson as the senior players, they will be liked and appreciated a lot more.

Fair enough.

[Mr. Wicket]

On an aside Bradman99 (where's the .94?), did you ever follow any of the 1997 Ashes series? Taylor's genius at the Old Trafford test was one of the ballsiest moves I have EVER seen by any leader in the game. One of the greatest and most educated gambles any captain has ever pulled.

[patriot]

On an aside Bradman99 (where's the .94?), did you ever follow any of the 1997 Ashes series? Taylor's genius at the Old Trafford test was one of the ballsiest moves I have EVER seen by any leader in the game. One of the greatest and most educated gambles any captain has ever pulled.

Ganguly emulated him in Headingley in 2002. :winky:

[Bradman99]

Just thought I'd keep it short and sweet :two_thumbs_up: Noope, sorry too I would a been too young haha