Gentleman Players

[Rebecca]

Do you think there ever really was a time of Gentleman Players; panama hats, deck chairs and Pimms...., or has there always been unsporting moments and matches not played in the spirit of the game?

 

[Anil]

there could well have been...prior to the commercialization of the sport, there are clearly none now, i am afraid...

 

[Rebecca]

When was it?

 

[Richard]

Well there still is at some levels, certainly at the non-competetive levels in The UK.

At the competetive levels, well, there'd probably be 50 different people who gave you 50 different answers to when the last was. Some would tell you 1969; some would tell you 1946; some would tell you 1932; some would tell you 1891; some would tell you any number of other dates (most of the previous ones were simply random). Some would tell you there really never was at all. Without a time machine, there can be no real answer.

 

[Rebecca]

So, in general terms then, would you say that, in competitive levels, it never really existed?

 

[Richard]

I'd say we really can't know. We'd need a time-machine to. In no other way can a genuine comparison be made.

 

[Rebecca]

Okay!
Can anyone come up with any examples of gentleman-like conduct, or where the 'spirit of the game' was truly played.....in the past, more so than it is now?

 

[Pup Clarke]

There is an example of the present where Andrew Flintoff consoled Brett Lee staright after England had squared the series at Edgbaston 2005.

It was later revealed that Flintoff had said to Lee "It's 1-1 now you Aussie *******" which took the gloss of it IMO.

 

[BoyBrumby]

There is an example of the present where Andrew Flintoff consoled Brett Lee staright after England had squared the series at Edgbaston 2005.

It was later revealed that Flintoff had said to Lee "It's 1-1 now you Aussie *******" which took the gloss of it IMO.

I actually did laugh out loud at that.

I kind of like the idea of Fred going "There you go, Brett, you wanker, shove that up your arse!" whilst being hailed as a latter day corinthian.

 

[Richard]

There is an example of the present where Andrew Flintoff consoled Brett Lee staright after England had squared the series at Edgbaston 2005.

It was later revealed that Flintoff had said to Lee "It's 1-1 now you Aussie *******" which took the gloss of it IMO.

WTF? Really?

 

[PhoenixFire]

All in jest of course, allthough that's what he was supposed to have said.

 

[Richard]

Would suggest that wasn't exactly the right moment to make a jested comment of that nature, really...

 

[PhoenixFire]

Hmm, since they were good friends before the incidence and they both seem like guys who could take a joke, I would suggest it wouldn't be so bad. Sometimes when I'm in that situation I hate people being sincere about stuff and consoling you ect.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Yeah, there's a YT video where he tells us the events after that moment with Lee.

Will try and find it for you.

 

[Rebecca]

Hurry up then...we're all waiting!

Anyway, I really meant in days gone by.... not as current as 2005

 

[Pup Clarke]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lsKCd0L9RA

 

[Rebecca]

That's brilliant!
Thank you.

 

[Richard]

Hmm, since they were good friends before the incidence and they both seem like guys who could take a joke, I would suggest it wouldn't be so bad. Sometimes when I'm in that situation I hate people being sincere about stuff and consoling you ect.

Well I can imagine a great many instances where even the closest of friends could easily take that sort of thing the wrong way in circumstances as taut as that (we're talking about a finish as close as just about any in cricket history), but I guess we can fairly safely assume Lee took it well, and no harm was done.

But I'm truly amazed Flintoff really would go there.

 

[Langeveldt]

Richard you have 48,196 posts..

That's mental

 

[Goughy]

or has there always been unsporting moments and matches not played in the spirit of the game?

Without a doubt there was many controversial games and situations way back in the deep and distant past.

Its not a new development. The history of intimidatory bowling, illegal actions, match fixing etc is alive with examples during the 19th Century and after.