Ravi Bopara - another pretender?

[Richard]

The 'softy' thing has nothing to do with them being either southern or batsmen Richard, it's just a perception of their mental strength, whether right or wrong. Bell is barely even a southerner anyway

The perception is based on how they bat, and where they're from. If Bell or Bopara were northern (Bell may not be a southerner but he's a midlander) they'd not be called soft. Mostly in cricket, "soft" is bandied around as a stereotype by people who don't have a clue what they're on about. To get it, all a player requires is a) not being a northerner and b) having a non-awkward-looking technique. Pretty much any batsman who has both of those will get branded soft by a large number of England cricket fans. No insight into their pysche is ever attained by said branders, it's purely a cosmetic perception.

As a bowler it makes far less difference and is based more on how they bowl (if they don't bowl enough short stuff being one such case) than area of origin.

Yeah, he's had two shockers, but why is that? Because he always looks so likely to get out lbw. I'd personally say that needs to be his first priority.

I'd say a fairly strong second after learning to hit the ball down. It's bad enough having one glaring fault without having another pretty bad one to go with it.

 

[zaremba]

Mostly in cricket, "soft" is bandied around as a stereotype by people who don't have a clue what they're on about. To get it, all a player requires is a) not being a northerner and b) having a non-awkward-looking technique. Pretty much any batsman who has both of those will get branded soft by a large number of England cricket fans. No insight into their pysche is ever attained by said branders, it's purely a cosmetic perception.

A few exceptions: Gooch, Thorpe, Stewart, Butcher, Gatting, Smith, Gower, Botham.

 

[GIMH]

Botham isn't a southerner :|

 

[zaremba]

Botham isn't a southerner :|

He played for the Scilly Isles or somesuch though so to my mind he qualifies as southern.

 

[zaremba]

Grace, Hammond, Dexter, Cowdrey, Hobbs, May

 

[fredfertang]

Botham isn't a southerner :|

Comes from the Wirral doesn't he?

..... not a proper northerner - neither one thing nor t'other

 

[GIMH]

Comes from the Wirral doesn't he?

Was born here yeah, Heswall.

..... not a proper northerner - neither one thing nor t'other

 

[fredfertang]

Sorry mate - that was thoughtless
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actually that's rubbish it was entirely deliberate - I am ashamed

 

[GIMH]

I'm not the one who betrayed the north and set up camp just outside the capital

 

[zaremba]

I love how these Northerners pretend to themselves that coming from the North is some sort of badge of pride.

 

[GIMH]

There's a time and place for this debate. The Ashes forum isn't it. We must unite against the true southerners, the ones who stole our bicycles! Down with australia!

 

[fredfertang]

When I were a lad oop north we 'ad no brass for pushbikes - them crims nicked my clogs!

 

[zaremba]

Clogs? Clogs?! Luxury!! We 'ad to mek do wit' dried out cowpat wrapped round our feet IF WE WERE LUCKY!!

 

[four_or_six]

YouTube - Monty Python - Four Yorkshiremen

 

[sledger]

There's a shop round the corner from my house called "Ravi Store". Burn it down just to be on the safe side?

 

[zaremba]

There's a shop round the corner from my house called "Ravi Store". Burn it down just to be on the safe side?

Say that name out loud and it sounds like something that Mr Bopara won't be going on in South Africa this winter

 

[BoyBrumby]

Botham isn't a southerner :|

Yeah he is. Grew up in Yeovil from the age of three. Struggle to get much further south.

I'll chuck in Nasser as another southern non-softie too.

 

[GIMH]

I class he who is born in the north as a northerner if it means the greatest English all-rounder ever (barring Fred, obv) was born in my county

 

[fredfertang]

There's a shop round the corner from my house called "Ravi Store". Burn it down just to be on the safe side?

Not at this time of night thanks sledger - all those blues and twos will disturb me

 

[sledger]

Not at this time of night thanks sledger - all those blues and twos will disturb me

Bah, you live on the other side of campus, wouldn't disturb you surely!?