Symonds sent home

[KiWiNiNjA]

Well, it could reasonably be argued both ways, but it must be kept in mind that the KFC game clashed with a domestic game back home.

Otago was already through to the finals, and McCullum's match fee went to Otago Cricket.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Otago was already through to the finals, and McCullum's match fee went to Otago Cricket.

Well, so were NSW. This sets a precedent of it being acceptable to pick and choose your teams. And to be completely cynical, paying out $6000 to your junior team now is pocket change compared to just the appearance fees he'll get for representing NSW in the Champions League.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Well, so were NSW. This sets a precedent of it being acceptable to pick and choose your teams. And to be completely cynical, paying out $6000 to your junior team now is pocket change compared to just the appearance fees he'll get for representing NSW in the Champions League.

I agree.
A million dollar pay day will do that.

I don't really like the idea of a Champions League that much, but it isn't surprising that this is happening. What is suprising is everybodies reaction to it, like it was never going to happen.

Also, remember, if Kolkata makes it though to the Champions League, then NSW will receive compensation for not having the services of McCullum. So it makes a lot of sense, especially with all the money being thrown around.

 

[G.I.Joe]

I agree.
A million dollar pay day will do that.

I don't really like the idea of a Champions League that much, but it isn't surprising that this is happening. What is suprising is everybodies reaction to it, like it was never going to happen.

Also, remember, if Kolkata makes it though to the Champions League, then NSW will receive compensation for not having the services of McCullum. So it makes a lot of sense, especially with all the money being thrown around.

Yeah, things are really messed up. NSW know they're going to benefit either way if Kolkata qualify. Though a part of me is mildly delighted that someone has figured out a loophole to stick it into Lalit Modi's inflated ego. The IPL franchises are going to be baying for his blood if other the other teams realise this is like stealing candy from a baby. This could backfire on McCullum too, if Kolkata qualify, and they and NSW both decide they'd rather cut corners by not shelling out the compensation and leave McCullum out of the CL.

 

[silentstriker]

Well, if he is merely not picked by Kolkata despite being available, or if he is merely released to NSW, he would still be due his contracted sum of money. They simply wouldn't have to pay anyone any bonuses.

I think you'll see in a few years that a system will be worked out regarding which franchise a player must appear for that doesn't involve an exchange of money - e.g, it'll be built into the contracts in some way.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Could be wrong, but I don't think the details of the CL payments are written into the IPL contracts.

 

[Hoggy31]

Haha what a ****, wouldn't disagree with his comments though. Should be dropped regardless of this, form has been poor and selectors need to face that there's a stock of other batsmen more talented (most younger) than him.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Haha what a ****, wouldn't disagree with his comments though.

Yeah, it's probably true that McCullum is a bit of a dick, but going on national radio and actually saying it? Haha, that goes one step further, and is pretty comical.

 

[silentstriker]

Just listened to it, yea he was quite clearly drunk. He does have a problem with alcohol. I found it sad actually.

 

[MendisNuffSaid]

Symonds acknowledged that McCullum was in no way to blame - it was NSW cricket that did the wrong thing by not putting faith in the players that got them to the final

Rubbish, he replaced only one player and they needed a classy player to replace Warner who had almost singlehandedly got NSW into the final. Don't you think that it's unfair for someone to perform duties for their country whilst the state side is affected by his absence? It was a good decision to grab a batsman who had the potential to replicate Warner's performances. They were playing for a lot of cash as well, the 20/20 competition isn't about experimenting with youngsters.

In the case of Symonds, that was true but he still referred to him as being a "lump of ****".

 

[pup11]

I don't really think Symonds really cared whether, McCullum was blocking a place of an Australian player, or it was poor form on the part of NSW to sign him just for the final, but just because he was asked regarding this, and therefore he came up with this jewel of a statement, and probably the fact he might have been drunk didn't help his cause either.

Now clearly Symonds talks crap half of the time whenever he speaks, so shouldn't a bloke like him stay away from the media as much as possible, especially when he is drunk, but if at the age of 33 he can't work out what's good or bad for him, then i guess there ain't much hope for him.

 

[social]

I don't really think Symonds really cared whether, McCullum was blocking a place of an Australian player, or it was poor form on the part of NSW to sign him just for the final, but just because he was asked regarding this, and therefore he came up with this jewel of a statement, and probably the fact he might have been drunk didn't help his cause either.

Now clearly Symonds talks crap half of the time whenever he speaks, so shouldn't a bloke like him stay away from the media as much as possible, especially when he is drunk, but if at the age of 33 he can't work out what's good or bad for him, then i guess there ain't much hope for him.

If he was American, he's more than qualified for President

 

[Precambrian]

If he was American, he's more than qualified for President

Na, perhaps he'd got a seat to the Indian parliament. We usually send all our stupids there so that we can be left minding our business.

 

[pup11]

If he was American, he's more than qualified for President

Barack Obama begs to differ....

 

[Smudge]

Well, as others have observed McCullum is something of a **** (apparently, never struck me as such tbh), .

Yeah, I love anonymous tough-guys (obviously, I know Heath, but you get my point) throwing around insults towards international players - and no, not having a crack at you, BB, as you don't seem to think he is a ****. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one on here who knows Bazza in any capacity more than just a "hi, can I have your autograph". I haven't seen or spoken to him in six years, but he's not a ****, he's actually a pretty nice guy.

He has cleaned up his act big-time from when he was about 17-18 when he was more interested in causing **** in Dunedin on a night out - the last time I saw him, in fact, he and his wife gave me a ride from one end of Dunedin to the other when I was caught at our club without a ride home. Considering they lived back at the other end of town, they well and truly went out of their way (even if some of you might scoff at the size of Dunedin). Frankly, meeting his wife is probably the best thing that happened to him. And I'm sure if we saw each other in the street, we'd have a chat. Bazza that is, not his wife. Although....

 

[Flem274*]

Agree with Volty. Don't think most of us are in any place to make judgements on those we don't really know, unless they obviously prove themselves to be something (like Symonds, Harbhajan etc).

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Yeah, I love anonymous tough-guys (obviously, I know Heath, but you get my point) throwing around insults towards international players.

Yeah, we've had this conversation before but McCullum certainly acts very differently on the pitch than most international players; the most recent example being that big argument between him and Fidel Edwards in the Napier ODI with regards to the lack of a no-ball call.

Frankly, his reaction was well over the top. Since when was the umpires decision so questionable in cricket. I very much doubt that many other players would have reacted in the same way.

 

[Smudge]

Surely, Symonds' description of "a lump of ****" covers not just his on-field personality but his off-field as well, considering I'm sure they've socialised in some capacity over the last few years. Yes, McCullum gets a bit overaggressive on the paddock - there's no denying that - but fact is, off-field, he's not a ****. And frankly, without trying to be too self-absorbed, I think I'm in a better position than anyone else on here to make that call.

 

[Uppercut]

Yeah, we've had this conversation before but McCullum certainly acts very differently on the pitch than most international players; the most recent example being that big argument between him and Fidel Edwards in the Napier ODI with regards to the lack of a no-ball call.

Frankly, his reaction was well over the top. Since when was the umpires decision so questionable in cricket. I very much doubt that many other players would have reacted in the same way.

I didn't make any comment on it at the time, but i think McCullum was well within his rights at that incident. This was a full toss at about rib-high from Fidel Edwards, a bloody fast bowler. It was a clear no-ball and it very nearly led to his dismissal because it dropped just short of third man.

Now if you get out to a dodgy decision, like he did in the 2nd test, you respect the umpire's decision and leave the field. But when someone bowls a 90mph new ball at your ribs and the umpire stands there looking at you like a bell-end, you have every right to be pissed off.

And tbh, i love the way McCullum plays the game. He's not out there to make friends, but what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch and in interviews (and by Volty's account) he's a completely different person. It's the perfect balance between Andrew "**** all the time" Symonds and Ian "anti-competitive" Bell.

 

[silentstriker]

He's not out there to make friends, but what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch

I don't like that attitude - it's just an excuse to allow you to act like a moron without repercussions. It acts as a get-out-of-being-an-idiot clause, which wouldn't work in any other endeavor.