Why some don't support Australia???

[swooper]

I agree 100% with JLC!!

My sentiments exactly..

[I@n S]

Well with me I agree with JLC.
Australian cricket team is full of wankers to be honest. As far as Ireland Vs Australia in the international rules goes. I don't really care about it.
Ireland's game, Australias game are both different and trying to merge them is silly. It doesn't work IMO.

Regarding me supporting England. I came to Australia when I was six. Why support England and not Australia if you been here longer you ask?

Well it's just like following Collingwood. It's like how many of you who do because your Parents or friends do and you got it from an early age.
Collingwood was from a best friend when I was about 11 and following England was from my Dad. Since the 1992 world cup I starting following Cricket. I went to every England game at the MCG back then including the WC final agaist Pakistan.

So thats my story

[Blanch]

Thanks for the input Ian. Would you say that you feel more patriotic towards our mother country that Australia, because of your dad etc?

[Joe]

The Aussies are definitely aggressive and possibly arrogant on the field.I do not have a problem with this.From a young child I always loved the confidence and class that the Windies played with.Also the aussies used to call me names coming from a migrant background lo.So I automatically went for the team playing the aussies,The windies,I just stuck with them.

[lihei]

Good Topic!

I think the answer to the question stems back to this "underdog" mentality that we have all grown up on. Rightly or wrongly it exists and becomes obvious in times when Australia reigns in a particular field. Further, we have a "tall poppy" syndrome that attempts to knock down bigheads (some deservedly!). The two combined may lay claim to this anti-Australia sentiment??

[I@n S]

[HAL]

I could say it. "that you feel more patriotic towards our mother country than Australia because of your dad etc"

[Blanch]

I asked "would" you, not "could" you. HAL, your english skills are dropping.

[HAL]

Im not sure Id like to not could you.

[foxy]

nice topic. i've always been on the anti-oz side of things myself.

for starters, being an arts student & all, i despise a lotta things about my country.

2nd, i think too many of the australian players have ludicrously big reputations (and thus ludicrously big heads) despite the fact they've had literally ZILCH international competition for 5 odd years. the core of the problem (and the reason why certain average aussie batsmen have over-inflated averages) is that there's a MASSIVE dearth of decent fast bowlers overseas. certainly, there's a few rare exceptions - one or two playing for certain countries maybe - but has the hayden/langer opening combo REALLY been challenged by a SERIOUS opening bowling attack? hell no.

what this has lead to is a string of immensely boring australian summers - basically just opportunities for australian batsmen to boost their averages & score EXTREMELY dull centuries. think about langer's double century at the MCG last summer. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. double centuries (even just centuries) are meant to be amazing, memorable achievements, earned after fending off a decent bowling attack. TEST CRICKET is all about the thrill of those intense sessions, in which a decent bowler ties down a decent batsman, & the batsman fights back.

certainly, one can argue that australia (& steve waugh) have made the test game much more exciting & one-day-ish. but this is only because the aussie batsmen are allowed to score so bloody fast by extremely shitful bowlers. look at those so-called 'spinners' hayden slaughtered on his way to that remorselessly dull 300-whatever. taylor's 334 was THAT much more memorable it's just not funny.

of course, the lack of decent players overseas has nothing to do with australia. australia isn't to blame for the state of the international game. but i hate the way this current team is trumpeted like one of the greatest ever or some such. & i love listening to old-time commentators who laugh off suggestions that mcgrath (line & length zzzzzz) is ANYWHERE NEAR the bowler lillee was.

occasionally they show old test cricket from the 70's & 80's on foxtel, featuring guys like lillee. have a look at the way lillee reacts after pretty much shattering a set of stumps & one can understand why people despise brett lee's antics so much. so there's a multitude of reasons why a lot of aussies prefer watching the aussies get beat - or prefer watching decent, competitive test cricket. that test series a few years ago against india in india - now THAT was test cricket. brilliant competition. unforgettable intensity. almost football-esque.

[couragous cloke]

The 1 good thing about Australia is The way they are captained, by steve waugh!

[HAL]

Huh. . . . really?

[Newelly]

Pity the Windies team of the 70's and 80's can't be cloned and transplanted into the new millenium.

[Newelly]

[London Dave]

Not really having a go at foxy here per se, but.....