TOPIC:

How disappointing all the crap since Pup retired. People unnecessarily slagged him as soon as he pulled the pin, then he retaliated in an immature way. The guy was a brilliant batsman, a captain of Australia and deserves better. Everyone was in love with him while we were winning, but when he retires, he is vilified. Sure he was a bit of an elitist, but his career is over and why doesn't he and the press let him be remembered for all the good he did in cricket.

58shark wrote: How disappointing all the crap since Pup retired. People unnecessarily slagged him as soon as he pulled the pin, then he retaliated in an immature way. The guy was a brilliant batsman, a captain of Australia and deserves better. Everyone was in love with him while we were winning, but when he retires, he is vilified. Sure he was a bit of an elitist, but his career is over and why doesn't he and the press let him be remembered for all the good he did in cricket.

My guess is cos he WASN'T a man of the people mate.

What was so great about him 58? Just another one of Bingle's stats

Dirty Weekender wrote: What was so great about him 58? Just another one of Bingle's stats

BRILLIANT DW. Could you give me the number he was?

Leather Stops wrote:

Dirty Weekender wrote: What was so great about him 58? Just another one of Bingle's stats

BRILLIANT DW. Could you give me the number he was?

Dunno, but assume he was always "next in!"

Leather Stops wrote:

Dirty Weekender wrote: What was so great about him 58? Just another one of Bingle's stats

BRILLIANT DW. Could you give me the number he was?

Pup popping the question to LB certainly would have it a bit awkward for 90% of the changerooms!

..and Warner's missus knows her way around a sporting team as well...cricket, AFL, ARL, ...you name and she's done it.

BC wrote: ..and Warner's missus knows her way around a sporting team as well...cricket, AFL, ARL, ...you name and she's done it.

I believe she is an avid bird watcher BC ...and she has seen many a cockatoo!!

OK guys, I get it. If one of the world's best batman/cricketers gets involved with a "Lara" type of person, he's not really a good batsman and deserves all the ridicule you can come up with. Hmmmm....very interesting way to judge him....childish, but interesting.

58shark wrote: How disappointing all the crap since Pup retired. People unnecessarily slagged him as soon as he pulled the pin, then he retaliated in an immature way. The guy was a brilliant batsman, a captain of Australia and deserves better. Everyone was in love with him while we were winning, but when he retires, he is vilified. Sure he was a bit of an elitist, but his career is over and why doesn't he and the press let him be remembered for all the good he did in cricket.

Shark58 I think the rather banal responses to your post sums it up really. He copped a lot of unfair flak because he wasn't your typical ra - ra back slapping, beer swilling, "Beneath the southern cross I stand" type cricketer. He was obviously a complex character but any judgement of him as a person needs to be looked at in the context of the degenerative back condition that he battled throughout his career. His sledging of Anderson and Steyn when he was captain looked contrived because he wasn't naturally an aggressive player. No doubt he had some flaws as a leader but as you say, he deserves respect for being one of the best batsman this country has produced.

Anyone who doubts his courage should have a look at his 150 against South Africa when he stood up to Steyn and Morkel at their fastest on a dodgy pitch ( that was in the first innings of the game that Australia got skittled for 47 in the 2nd dig). Also his leadership and demeanor after the death of Phillip Hughes just 12 months ago was outstanding. His response to the criticism from ex team mates was immature and ill advised but everyone has a limit and it must have galled him that one of his strongest critics was Andrew Symonds, one of the least disciplined cricketers ever to play for Australia