England currently have a number of South African born players. Jonathan Trott’s the latest and he seems to be under some suspicion at the minute, despite spending seven years qualifying to play for England.
Mike Norrish, writing on the Telegraph’s site, says:
“I guess the whole thing boils down to representation and whether or not we want England’s cricketers to represent ‘us’.”
Does Jonathan Trott represent you? Does he represent your country?
Over the years, we’ve met a number of people who were born in South Africa who are working and making new lives for themselves in the UK. Conversely, we’ve met very few people like Alastair Cook, for example.
Jonathan Trott represents our version of England pretty well.
Trotty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why were these players not registered with the British Embassy at birth as English Born. It would have saved all the controversey………….because their parents wanted them to be South African……….ask Micheal Lumb’s Father who was a Yorks and England player ???????????
this great piece from andy bull pretty much sums it up
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/nov/03/defence-jonathan-trott-england-imports
Andy Bull looks a lot like a cross between me and Andy Murray.
Andy Bull taking over the Spin is the silver lining in the cloud of Lawrence Booth’s defection to the Daily Mail.
Anyway, completely agreed, KC. I don’t think I’ve ever tried hard at any single thing for seven years, and I expect if I did, and someone questioned my motives at the end of it, well … I’d probably say “eh” and do something else, to be honest.
I think I had a point there originally. Not sure what it was, though.
I think we should entertain the possibility that Michael Vaughan had more or less nothing to say in his book.
So, well advised by his PR folk, Vaughan concocted a controversy about a topical person, i.e. the player who scored brilliantly in the most recent England test match and is about to return to the land of his borth as part of the oppo.
Of course, when Dolly was similarly embroiled in controversy, those who doubted his right to play (albeit for different political reasons) were contemptable and loathesome.
Rant over, must get on.
The problem with making the argument that Trott is not one of you (ie a proper Englishmen), is the inference then that you must instead be an awful lot like Ian Bell.
I don’t think anyone wants that argument made about them.
I think this is all Vaughny’s way to get his book sold….
My time at castrol cricket with Harsha Bhogle.
Cheers;
In other news, another Aussie gets injured
http://www.cricinfo.com/indvaus2009/content/current/story/432891.html
This is getting funny. By the 7th ODI if Aus will even be able to get a fit XI onto the pitch? This has been the most interesting part of this pointless series.