Comments on: Samit Patel in ‘unacceptable level of fitness’ shocker

By: Benno

Benno — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:38:01 +0000

Mahinda, your comment reminded me of a couple of classic sledges from Ian Healey:

Ian Healy once became frustrated with an overweight batsman from a South
African provincial side who seemed not the least interested in
scoring runs. Eventually Healy called to the bowler: “Why don’t we put a
Mars bar on a good length to see if we can lure him out of his crease?”

During a WSC final at the SCG where the game had been shortened due to
rain
and the atmosphere was running at about 95% humidity a very
exhausted Arjuna Ranatunga appealed that he had “sprained” something. He
duly asked the umpire for a runner. As clear as a bell through the effects
mic you heard Healey’s legendary reply “you don’t get a runner for being
an
overweight, unfit, fat cunt”.

By: Mahinda

Mahinda — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:18:14 +0000

…as opposed to what happened when the SL cricket management told Arjuna Ranatunga that he was too fat and dropped him.

I seem to remember some sort of senior players revolt! Probably calmed down with a few Mars bars, mind…

By: tgdub

tgdub — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:56:33 +0000

I think he resembles an Asian Darren Gough in that picture from the Sun. He was always ‘a bit fat’ but it never seemed to hinder his career. I reckon the fittest Goughie ever got was on Strictly Come Dancing!

That said, surely the point about Patel is that they said to him, ‘you’re not fit enough’ ages ago, then he got fatter! A bit dozy of him, even if he is a talented cricketer.

By: Bert

Bert — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 02:20:16 +0000

The Times has an article today that compares Rob Key with Grace, Armstrong, Millburn and Botham – rare company indeed.

http://timesonline.typepad.com/line_and_length/2009/03/tubby-or-not-tu.html

(I’d have liked there to have been a bit more surprise for people when they clicked on the link, but I’ve never understood how to hide hyperlinks in text, and the last part of the URL kind of gives it away. Still, persumably a boycott of the Times is in order.)

By: the librarian

the librarian — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:17:52 +0000

ksb – Of course Samit is an easy target, especially when he turns side-on.

By: King Cricket

King Cricket — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:41:36 +0000

It’s less romantic and there’s more neck stretching involved because the Connect 4’s bigger, but basically, yes.

By: D Charlton

D Charlton — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:22:12 +0000

Brilliant – thank you so much. I thought it’d look a bit like that but in reality, it is so much better. Is that what you dream about KC?

By: ksb

ksb — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:14:24 +0000

this is a joke to be honest! clearly has been picked on, like sidebottom was fit enough to play in the last test!!
and however fitter batty is than samit, batty wouldnt even do half the job!! this is cricket, samit just scored 100 for the lions, what more do coaches want than see their players performing! i feel he was an easy target! just goes to show why england will never be a top team, by leaving players of his talent out!

By: Ceci

Ceci — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:10:56 +0000

I am D Charlton’s bitch and must obey:
http://tinyurl.com/douglasflamingo

By: A P Webster

A P Webster — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:18:10 +0000

What does this mean for Rob Key’s England chances?