It’s not often that Saffas get to watch two teams we completely loathe lock horns and fight to the death for the smallest trophy in sporting history. Well, it’s only every two years, really.
Everything about this tournament is fantastic. It’s everything you got taught cricket would be and everything our great, great, great grandkids will one day read about when the five day format is nothing but an urban legend. With every great tournament, comes the great responsibility of choosing sides and just like you don’t want to be the fat kid in gym class, you don’t want to be Australia when the Ashes come around.
The general consensus across the world seems to be “everybody but the Aussies” simply because South Africans were apparently brought up to hate the Australians. Really? Not this Saffa. In fact, this is probably the only time in my life where I feel like I have something in common with Australians.
Many years ago the British came to South African shores and waged war on our forefathers, they had some serious beef with the Afrikaaner folk and to this day a ‘boer’ still can’t escape a chirp from an arrogant soutie who just can’t resist the ‘but we still won the war chirp’ after they won an argument. No need to get into the details of how the Australian population came to be, we all know that the English just weren’t very nice people back in the day. And who can blame them? In psychology they call it projecting. With miserable beaches, miserable weather, country ruled by a monarchy (who does that still?) it’s easy to see why England had to take their frustrations out on other countries and other people.
Needless to say then that I pick Australia for the Ashes. Add to whole war issue the fact that on principle I simply cannot support Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott or whoever the hell else forms part of South African B, as well as my massive crush on Michael Clarke and I rest my case for supporting the boys from Down Under.
Nothing beats seeing a a mutual enemy crushed.
Everybody seems to have written off the Aussies this year around but many people underestimate just how difficult it is to go Down Under and win. On paper, both teams are pretty evenly matched with only Graeme Swann really standing out for the Poms, Australia boast with the likes of Simon Katich, Peter Siddle, Brad Haddin and, cough cough spit, Shane Watson.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Who do you support when SA play the Windies?
South Africa, of course. I was born here after all.
“Australia boast with the likes of Simon Katich, Peter Siddle, Brad Haddin and, cough cough spit, Shane Watson.”
Well, that sentence just tells you everything you need to know on why England will win the Ashes. Easy.
Haha.
Kato for 200 at The Gabba
as a half indian-half english, i sincerely hope that england win the ashes, just to rub salt in ponting’s wounds….for all the misery he heaped on us, over the last decade, in the company of his world beating legends….