*Official* England in Bangladesh

[BoyBrumby]

Reads like a misjudged attempt at humour to me. On its own and out of context it does sound a bit twattish, but if one reads the full quote,

“It’s important when you are touring to switch off and rest when you are not playing. It won’t be easy to find a golf course in Bangladesh — if there is one, they’ll probably have wooden clubs — but if I can find a bit of grass somewhere, I’ll clear my mind by chipping balls into a net or putting along the hotel corridor.”

it's obvious he wasn't just having a pop apropos of nothing.

 

[wpdavid]

Reads like a misjudged attempt at humour to me. On its own and out of context it does sound a bit twattish, but if one reads the full quote,

“It’s important when you are touring to switch off and rest when you are not playing. It won’t be easy to find a golf course in Bangladesh — if there is one, they’ll probably have wooden clubs — but if I can find a bit of grass somewhere, I’ll clear my mind by chipping balls into a net or putting along the hotel corridor.”

it's obvious he wasn't just having a pop apropos of nothing.

I suppose he wouldn't, but it still looks pretty dumb to me. Not convinced that the full quote does a lot to make Colly come out of this any better tbh. It's not the first time he's pissed off the locals before a tour either, so you'd think he'd have learnt to engage brain before opening mouth by now.

EDIT - it seems they have moved beyond the middle ages in terms of golfing facilities
http://www.bangladesh.com/golf-courses/

 

[Richard]

Think Greig-esque would be the best way of putting it. Not quite as stupid and insensitive as "I intend to make them grovel" but not a million miles behind.

Doubt any malice was intended, as there wasn't with Greig in '76, but very careless.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I suppose he wouldn't, but it still looks pretty dumb to me. Not convinced that the full quote does a lot to make Colly come out of this any better tbh. It's not the first time he's pissed off the locals before a tour either, so you'd think he'd have learnt to engage brain before opening mouth by now.

EDIT - it seems they have moved beyond the middle ages in terms of golfing facilities
Golf Courses in Bangladesh | By Bangladesh Channel

He was definitely culturally insensitive and I suppose as a senior player from a (relatively) affluent country touring a less well-off state one would hope he'd engage his brain before speaking, but I struggle to believe he's been anything other than a bit crass. I hate to fall back on hoary old chestnuts like "he doesn't seem that kind of bloke" but, well, he doesn't. To me at least. Seems one of the most four-square members of our squad.

I think the perceived correlation between golf and affluence has heighten sensitivity around the gaff too. If (say) Mortaza had said "It won't be easy to find a <insert suitable Bangladeshi cuisine> in England - and if there is one it'll probably be boiled" I doubt there'd have been half the fuss, despite it displaying a similar cultural ignorance.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

And I hardly think Liam is hardly one to pass judgement on what is offensive to a Bangladeshi since he is not a Bangladeshi. And so what if it was on their economic status, they are hardly a super power like China.

I'm not looking at it from a Bangladeshi perspective. When did I say I was? I'm looking at it from a "if anyone said that about my country" perspective. And I'm actually from a MUCH smaller country than Bangladesh too.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Think Greig-esque would be the best way of putting it. Not quite as stupid and insensitive as "I intend to make them grovel" but not a million miles behind.

Doubt any malice was intended, as there wasn't with Greig in '76, but very careless.

Agree with all of this. I like Collingwood as a player. In fact he's probably the English player I enjoy seeing succeed the most, aside from Trott. But this was a very careless comment.

 

[Uppercut]

It was a comment on their economic prowess (or lack of), not their golfing prowess.

How do you know?

 

[Jono]

Because Collingwood would know **** all about golf in Bangladesh.

 

[L Trumper]

Should Keiswetter replace prior in limited internationals in this tour it self?

 

[Uppercut]

Because Collingwood would know **** all about golf in Bangladesh.

How do you know that! If I planned on playing golf in Bangladesh next year I'd most certainly try to find something out about it. Why wouldn't he?

I don't get where the presumption of his motives is coming from.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

It's incredibly naive to think that Collingwood was referring to anything else. And regardless of what he was referring to, he had to have known how it would sound. IMO.

 

[Uppercut]

I knew someone would say that.

Well, it might be. I've no idea what's going on his head. If you're going to pass comment on the economic standard of a country then "it might be hard to find a golf course, and if there is one it'll probably have wooden clubs" seems seriously weird and obscure, particularly if you're considering that the fact that Bangladesh does indeed have next to no golf facilities as entirely coincidental. The whole thing just seems really bizarre to me. I don't know how people can ascertain what the hell is going on in his head with such confidence.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Ftr, it's not the "might be hard to find a golf course" bit that I find offensive. Left at that, it'd be all good and happy days. I like Collingwood, I didn't like that. But I'm over it.

 

[The_roc]

Kieswetter added to the one day squad for the tour of Bangladesh

 

[cricman]

Kieswetter added to the one day squad for the tour of Bangladesh

He scored 143 in the practice match today

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

Looks like Collingwood teed off nicely towards the end as well.

 

[Woodster]

Dream start for Kieswetter today, against admittedly below standard opposition, however won't do his confidence any harm.

 

[King Pietersen]

Looking more and more likely that Trott's not going to be included in the first ODi. He hasn't featured in either of the 2 warm-ups, which is worrying. It took him a long time to finally get picked, and then despite averaging 49.33 in the 4 ODi's he's played so far, it's looking like he's going to be dropped, with players like Prior, Kieswetter and Cook picked ahead of him. Just makes no sense at all.

BCB XI made 153/8 from their 37 overs today. Sidebottom picked up 2/35, Bresnan 2/32, Plunkett 1/21, Shahzad 1/26 and Tredwell 2/17. Should be able to chase that down quite comfortably, hopefully Kieswetter'll get a few more runs.

Edit: 14/1. KP gone after opening the innings. Prior coming in at 3. Hopefully he won't get many and we can pray that he'll be dropped.

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

Bit worrying for Bangladesh that, half their first choice batting lineup is there.

Mohammad Ashraful also made a duck for Dhaka yesterday. Hopefully he's finished for now.

 

[Athlai]

Bit worrying for Bangladesh that, half their first choice batting lineup is there.

Mohammad Ashraful also made a duck for Dhaka yesterday. Hopefully he's finished for now.

Is the admittedly crap half.