"Foreign" English Players. So What?

[high_on_linseed]

With Pieterson an almost inevitable shoo-in for the ODI, and also probably the test side, and Graveneys comments on Stuart Law, much has been made recently of so-called non-English flying under the Union Jack for the sake of expediency.

Well, here is one view:

So what?

No, really! Its like this. Whatever the good points and evils of colonialism, and there are many of both, England invented the game. Then we taught it to other countries. Countries who got good at it, and later came back and whooped our asses. But thats another story....

The point is, England gave the game to the world. And so much of other countires success stands on English endeavour. How many countries still play on grounds and train their youngsters on grounds built with English (colonial) money? How many of the Kiwis, and Aussies, and Zimbabweans, even South Africans, who have palyed against us in the past have British ancestry? British parents, even? Quite a fair percentage, though Im just guessing here.

Viewed this way, the fact that guys like Geraint Jones, Kevin Pieterson, hell yeah, even Stuart Law want to play for us now is just good cricketing karma, I reckon. We are just getting back from the cricketing world all that we have put in over the years.

Btw, this is not designed to annoy rival fans, just stating an often overlooked truth. Though if I post it on the beeb, itll probably get modded.

[James M]

It is not the colonialist argument that I am against. It's just that for every Hick, Pietersen, Grieg, Hussain etc etc, just imagine how many non-English born EU qualified players there are clogging up the system. I'm sorry, but as much as I admire the way Sven Koenig/Nic Pothas play there's no way I'd consider them Test standard.

[high_on_linseed]

Ah, but that wasnt really my point. I was talking about the test-qualified players like Law, and Pieterson. Players, who have genuine test ability (we think!), but arent strictly speaking as English as Pimms at Wimbledon.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Hmmmmm. Interesting point. If we get results OK, but if they're in on reputation more than skill its a very bad thing. Cricket isnt as popular as it used to be in this country so its likley to get worse.

Not sure about law but I'd love to see heath streak get tossed the ball from vaughan.

[James M]

If they are good enough (we think) and England qualified, get them in the team. That should answer the original question. Was any thought given about Nasser's Indian origins? Don't think so.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

nasser hussain is as english as I am. Forget ancestory, colour etc his attitude, style is totally english. If you told him any different to his face, he'd kick your face in.

[Pete]

Stuart Law doesn't really want to play for England, he just wants some more test appearences. It was only 6 or so months ago he was doubting whether he'd want to play for us, saying his heart wouldn't be in it.

[James M]

And so he should. My point is that why can't we have 'British South African' and 'British Australian' as well as 'British Asian'? I'm not saying Nasser is British Asian or whatever, I agree he'sa British British. My point is if you qualify, you qualify but if you're good enough you should also be selected for England.

[high_on_linseed]

Lol! I can imagine. Btw, at the risk of sounding really airy-fairy, my girlfriend is really into astrology and its amazing how many English captains were Aries or Scorpions. Apparently, because these star-signs are natural leaders, and Aries particuarly natural sportsmen. I say this because I share the same birthday as Nas. Spooky!

[Teatime FatCat]

Oh God, I'm going to sound all ageist again! Is there any point to having Law selected for the side when he's 36 +. I'm sure everyone will point to Gooch and Stewart who played on past that age, but the Test and One day schedule is much, much fuller than for most of their careers and would surely take a toll on him. How much good is it to have a 36 year old of undoubted talent, score a few runs then retire. I keep thinking of the Kiwi feller Leslie who played for scotland at rugby towards the end of his career and was a good player, but I think he retired after a year and a half. It just seems pointless to me.

Plus why would he want to play for England seeing as he is a 'fair dinkum' Aussie, the guy's played a test and 54 one-dayers for another country for goodness sake! what would his motivation for playing for us be?