Don’t let the bastards grind you down

ECB Chairman Clarke at Kensington Oval before the fourth test against the West Indies at Bridgetown

It’s telling that last week’s article by my co-editor James – Time To Move On – received more reader comments than any other post in the nearly five year history of this blog.

Thanks to all of you who took the time and trouble to join the debate. We really appreciate every contribution. The range of views and strength of opinion on both sides was fascinating.

I recognise that there is a heavy irony in publishing a piece above ‘moving on’ and then proceeding to do the complete opposite. But the sheer continuing volubility and turbulence of the debate makes it impossible simply to walk away, while so many loose ends remain untied.

But first, I want to make a few qualifiers, at the risk of self-indulgence. As cricket bloggers, James and I have two main aims, the first of which is to look at cricket from the perspective of an everyday England supporter. The second is to entertain.

It’s regrettable that during the last four months here on The Full Toss we’ve so often had to strike such a negative tone. Many of our posts have groaned under the weight of bile and anger. Those of you kind enough to read us on a regular basis may have begun to roll your eyes at the constant excoriation and vilification of the England and Wales Cricket Board, most of which has been by me. We have run the grave risk of becoming boring.

But here’s the problem: how do we move on when nothing has been resolved and nothing has changed?

How can any of us honestly try to feel excited by an ODI squad announcement, or the start of the T20 Blast, as if anything like that matters compared with recent events?

The giant elephant in the room simply cannot be ignored. It is no exaggeration to say that we, the followers of the England team, have been the victims of one of the greatest scandals in the history of British sporting administration.

This is certainly not just about the sacking of one player. As blogger Dmitri Old puts it, “Pietersen is the symptom, not the cure”. KP’s assassination simply planted the seed, or removed the pin from the grenade. Because it set in train a series of events which revealed the extent of the contempt and disregard in which the ECB hold the English cricketing public.

At every stage their attitude has been: “We could not care less what you think, or how you feel. In fact, stay out of our business. This is nothing to do with you. Just be grateful and keep buying the tickets”.

That would have been bad enough had the ECB not then descended into outright hostility towards their own supporters. In one of their few public utterances, their press release of 9th February, the Board condemned the intervention of anyone “outside cricket” and expended most of their energies in defending their personal reputations against the barbs of Piers Morgan, instead of addressing their paying public’s anger.

Until today, chairman Giles Clarke’s sole comment on the furore was the infamous “England supporters must move on”. Note how this takes the form of an order, and that he couldn’t even be bothered to address us in the second person. This was English cricket’s “let them eat cake” moment.

This morning Clarke’s interview with BBC Sport was published. He’s rubbed a great deal of salt into the wounds, and we’ll look at what he said in more detail another day.

Paul Downton, meanwhile, hid away completely – either too scared, arrogant or lazy to appear in public. However, you may have noticed the way print journalists gush about how persuasive and impressive Downton is behind the scenes. The deduction is a simple one to make. To shore up his own position, Downton has taken great pains to schmooze the inner press corps, charming them into complicity, and briefing them with off-the-record innuendo and unsubstantiated gossip.

Either Downton felt it beneath him to address the great unwashed, or he knew his story wouldn’t stand up to close public scrutiny. Either way, the only interests he cared to further were his own.

It speaks volumes that at the Peter Moores press conference, Downton made great pains to thank his newspaper friends for attending, but didn’t address a single word to the cricketing public.

In trying to explain Pietersen’s sacking, the ECB have dissembled, obfuscated, and quite frankly told lies. If I am wrong, they can sue me.

The ECB’s incoherent back-pedalling drives a bulldozer through the notion that they only had the best interests of the team at heart. They probably sacked Pietersen because of a mixture of personal grudge, Downton’s ego, and the desire to protect Cook. But when, to their great surprise, the supporter base rebelled, and the unravelling of the official ECB line began to endanger their jobs, they responded by floundering and fibbing.

Downton has overall tried to maintain the obtuse line of Pietersen’s “disengagement”. On 1st April, Cook said that “there will be a time…when I can give you the whole side of my story. Things will become clear in a little time now”. That’s not quite what happened.

At the Moores conference, Downton simultaneously said that “there is no smoking gun, no specific issues”, but also that it was Andy Flower’s idea as early as 31st December; and because he thought Pietersen looked disengaged during the Sydney test; and also because, he implied, Cook was too weak to handle KP.  Whereas in the past England were “a strong side with strong leadership that could accommodate Kevin”, now “that balance has shifted and a new side won’t accommodate Kevin”.

Meanwhile, someone – and the ECB must be the prime culprit – leaked contradictory-sounding stories about Pietersen’s supposed acts of dressing-room insurrection. And then came the alleged four-page dossier listing Pietersen’s fifty misdemeanours during the Ashes tour. Does this document actually exist or not? Who told the press about it?

I’m not sure which was more distasteful about this story. Either that the ECB just invented it, or that it was true – and Andy Flower had nothing better to do than carry a notebook around with him all tour, jotting down every time Pietersen looked at him in a funny way.

Exactly what part of any of this was for the benefit of the England team?

Alastair Cook hardly emerges from the saga covered in glory. Either it was his idea to sack Pietersen – in which case he should say so – or he just went along with it, in a weasily way. He is the bosses’ placeman, an inept spokesman for the regime, whose talk of “reconnecting” with the fanbase and upping the “Englishness” amounts solely to cookery stunts for Waitrose, which itself belies the Board’s abiding philosophy that the sponsors come first.

How on earth do you “move on” from all this? Moving on is not just acquiescence: it’s an act of deference, and even obedience. It’s to say, “we know our place”. To try and forget what’s happened, when the ECB have offered not one iota of compromise, apology, or humility, is to vindicate everything they have done, and to exonerate them of any wrong-doing. It accepts that they were right all along.

Then comes the argument that, in Jonathan Agnew’s words, “true fans” should now “get behind the team”. But what exactly are we getting behind? From this point onwards, victories for the England men’s team are victories for Giles Clarke, Paul Downton, and Alastair Cook – not only for them as individuals, but for their mindset, their authority, and their legitimacy. Victories reinforce their positions, and endow them with righteousness.

I’m not going to go so far as to say we should hope England lose. And I’m not going to tell anyone what to think or do. None of this is the fault of the majority of the England players, and we don’t want to damage their individual careers. But the degree to which we, as individual supporters, care about the short-term fortunes of this team is perhaps a matter of personal conscience.

I bow to no one when it comes to passionate support for the England cricket team. For more than thirty years, the side, and its fortunes, have held a mortal grip on my emotions.

I have travelled around the world to see them play. In the pre-Sky days, I have watched crucial sessions in their entirety on Ceefax, just staring at the screen and hoping for another line of blue. When Harmison dismissed Kasprowicz I danced an insane jig of joy and hugged complete strangers. The team’s triumphs and disasters have for long periods taken over my entire physical and emotional being. At times of opportunity or crisis, I cannot think about or do anything apart from finding out what’s happening in the cricket.

Why? Because they were my team. I identified with them utterly, because the players represented all of us. My friends, family and I might be a million miles from professional cricket, but the England team played on behalf of the entire English cricket family.

What about now? The last few months have revealed the true width of the gaping chasm between the people who run the team, and the people who follow it. As far as the ECB are concerned, it’s their team. Their own personal fiefdom. It’s nothing to do with us, and we should keep our noses out of their business. Except, of course, when it comes to buying tickets. A pair for Sri Lanka test at Lord’s? That’ll be £170.

Ultimately it comes down not to anger or politicking, but enthusiasm. Today’s T20 aside, when Alastair Cook walks out for the toss for Thursday’s ODI at the Oval, what kind of feelings will flow through you? Pride? Empathy? Community of spirit in a shared purpose?

Can you find it in your heart to cheer him to the rafters? Will you be hanging on to every ball, desperate for the side to overcome Sri Lanka, willing them on with every fibre of soul, identifying your own fortunes with theirs, your emotions entirely invested in the side’s endeavours and the outcome of the match? Or will you find, instead, that you just no longer care?

14 comments

  • Great piece Maxie. In support of my earlier position, I sill think it’s possible for a man to hate the royal family, hate the government, despise the PM, but still love his country. I know the parallels aren’t exact, but you can probably see what I mean.

    At least England defeats will now come with a silver lining: it puts more pressure on those in the charge and undermines the current management. Then again, England wins will now come with a downside too.

    Perhaps some fans will now support individual players rather than the team itself. I still love the majority of our cricketers and hope they do well. I would much rather Cook / Moores prove me wrong than see the team lose. And let’s not forget that Downton and Clarke won’t be around forever! They’ll move on in time.

    I still believe the ECB are blundering and incompetent rather than deliberately self-interested and prejudiced, but I can see where you’re coming from.

  • Lots of true words from both you guys. Liked the “insane jig of joy”! For the ultimate jig, can I mention 1981 – how joyful and proud were we then! Not the same feeling when we won the Ashes last summer and that illustrates the disenchantment rather well.

    I’d like to support the team but it’s difficult when you observe who gets picked and who doesn’t. Monty’s place is rumoured to be in doubt (must be taking too many wickets) and what more does Taylor need to do?

    Sorry James but I believe that the ECB bigwigs are indeed driven by self-interest and all about their status in society – the higher echelons of course.

  • I agree with almost everything you say, except your comment that we should not go so far as wantlng England to lose. I do want England to lose – until Cook is replaced and Kevin Pietersen given the opportunity to get back in the side. And if that never happens, then I will never support England again. There are sometimes when you have to stand up for what is right even if it leads to uncomfortable decisions. The ECB have crossed the Rubicon with their actions for me. I loathe them with all my might and will not give them one crumb of comfort. However you frame it, in my view if an England fan does anything else, it will be perceived as acceptance by these conceited cowards and that you have indeed “moved on”. And will never ever give them that satisfaction.

    • As an England fan, I don’t envisage myself watching any of the cricket this year. I will regularly check in on score but I will not pay money to watch anymore! That joy of following the successes & failures of the team is no longer their. Replaced is the feeling of who gives a shit?

      If it accelerates a better future, I hope England have a terrible summer. Every decision by the ECB since the ashes has been like a game of chicken limbo, ‘How low can you go?’

      Thank FIFA for the world cup that will occupy my summer.

  • Thanks for all your comments. Jeremy – to clarify, I didn’t say we shouldn’t hope they lose, more that I didn’t want to go quite as far as encourage that view. I don’t want to preach to other supporters about what they should or shouldn’t do. I think it’s a matter of personal conscience. That said, your stance is a very persuasive one, and my own feelings are fairly close to yours on the spectrum. Acquiescence is acceptance.

    • I’m a bit behind on this one – having only recently discovered your fantastic blog – but it is brilliant and says all I was thinking about at the time. I just cannot watch the team play – or the highlights as we do not have Sky – with Cook in the team. If he is not playing then I might watch. This saga and the unprofessional conduct of the ECB has turned everything I love about England Cricket into something that only rats would enjoy! It has been so sordid. The drip drip of venom and the lies from Downton and condescending, patronising attitude from both Downton and Clark just leaves me, as a supporter, disenfranchised. They only seem to care about their sponsors, Cook and themselves but have not a care for the supporters who pay their salaries and pay for tickets to see the games. They utterly disgust me. Thanks so much Maxie. You and James and the commenters have been such a joy after all the crappy stuff from some of the ex-cricketing-mates of ECB, especially Derek Pringle! Cheers.

  • I’m genuinely excited by the T20 cup, as I am every year.

    This year as I am ignoring England I would like to pay it even more attention, but seeing that a) I can’t afford sky, b) very few pubs round here appear to be able to either, c) those that do won’t be showing the cricket and d) Sky barely bother to televise it at the best of times. I probably won’t watch a single game. Which says it all, really.

  • Super article – can’t face watching Clarke though – as anybody ever heard him use the word ‘CRICKET’???
    Agree with Jeremy – why should I spend any money on the ECB/England cricket team when I am a person non gratia?? Is that not an expectation too far??? by doing so I would be suggesting an allegiance with them that I do not have. As I’ve said elsewhere I hope the ground opens up and swallows them whole!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • I can understand why some people feel they can’t give up on a side they have supported over many years but I do think you have to look at this from the ECB’s point of view. Their greatest fear is that England will lose match after match and that interest (and money) starts to drop in the team over the coming year. Given their contemptible treatment of Pietersen, I cannot contemplate giving them even a hint of support.

    On a more positive note, I am enjoying listening to county cricket this year for the first time in years. My side Gloucestershire aren’t great shakes but they did beat Kent today which is good news. I have been too busy at work to see much so far but hope to get to Nevil Road a couple of times before the season’s over.

    • It’s a very good thought, but I wonder if even a boycott would pierce their pomposity and insularity. They’d be very disgruntled, but I doubt it would occur to them that it demonstrated they were in the wrong, They’d probably just curse us for our insolence and disobedience. Not that that makes it the wrong thing to do.

  • Maxie – maybe England fans could learn lessons from those in other sports? Throughout the Glazers’ unhappy stewardship of Manchester United, a slogan seen a lot around Old Trafford is “LUHG” – Love United, Hate Glazer. Similarly, the Green and Gold campaign (though it’s gone quiet recently) sent out the message of unequivocal support for the team on the pitch, but opposition to those in the boardroom. Although English cricket fans aren’t usually ones to make a fuss, some kind of visible protest against those in charge, while giving our full backing to the players, might make the point much better. Wanting England to lose ultimately helps no one.

    • It’s a very interesting thought. The parallel is not exact because the Glazers have not interfered with team selection, whereas KP-gate is entirely about that – a faceless stockbroker telling the selectors who they can’t pick, on non cricketing grounds, Also, none of the Man Utd players are Glazer stooges, so you can support the team without supporting the owners, but with the cricket team, Cook is in this up to his neck. That said, I think your basic idea is the best one I’ve yet heard.

  • I went off the England cricket team for a few years (I still watched my county Kent) when Giles Clarke became ECB dictator (has he got the job for life??) and sold all the cricket to Sky! At that moment English cricket was ruined.

    I have no interest in the English domestic T20 as for some bizarre reason even highlights are not on free tv; I thought t20 was supposed to promote cricket?

    Even in the height of Clarke hatred I always listened to test match special – a tradition – and followed world cricket like an anorak. I’ll continue to enjoy test match special and watch the highlights on 5 but share the original posters misgivings about the arrogant ECB and dour team.

    p.s. do England have to change the one-day kit after every match: money grabbing crooks!

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