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CATCH A CHEATING STAR

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Catch a cheating star who’s hiding in his pocket tape;

He thought he’d be OK;

He scratched a little scar on the ball you bowl in cricket

To help its flight to swing away.

But TV cameras caught his little con tricks,

To his surprise;

But if your ancestors descend from convicts

You just can’t help but cheat and tell lies.

Catch a cheating star who’s hiding in his pocket tape;

He thought he’d be OK;

He scratched a little scar on the ball get a wicket

And forfeited his Test match pay;

And sent home just the other day;

With a year-long ban from further play.

◄ SAMMY SAMMY (SELBY CHARITY BIKE RIDE)

THE WATER METER ►

Comments

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John Coopey

Fri 30th Mar 2018 09:40

Many thanks, Frances.
Aussies have a reputation as tough competitors and that’s fine. As sore losers and that’s fine. It irritates me that we celebrate our “plucky Brits” for losing. (Nigel Mansell won Sports Personality of the Year for coming 2nd in the Drivers’ Championship, for example).
But cheating is cheating. And cheating in full view of TV cameras is mind-bogglingly stupid.
That said, Warner. It couldn’t happen to a nicer bloke!
And “convicts”? The symmetry with “con tricks” was just too tempting.

Frances Macaulay Forde

Fri 30th Mar 2018 03:48

As an Aussie immigrant, I balk at us all being lumped into the same 'convict' mould, but fully understand the connection.
The traditional inference; "...it's just not cricket", has always been; you DON'T cheat!
Mortified at a new generation who seems to think it OK to act so, apologise, then it's in the past - NO!
We are mortified that the guilty EVER thought it 'cricket' to cheat!
It is so UN-Fair-Dinkum-Australian!

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raypool

Fri 30th Mar 2018 00:14

Appreciate you taking it that way John! Cheers.

Ray

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John Coopey

Thu 29th Mar 2018 22:49

Thanks, Ray.
Your point about the “convicts” line is well made and I confess I thought twice about it. But both times mischief got the better of restraint.

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raypool

Thu 29th Mar 2018 22:25

Clever and to the point, John. Rolf is paying a price too, but I don't think his origin has much to do with that. Your line about convicts seems to imply condemnation of the nation - perhaps a step too far for the poem? I know you will be undaunted though! Just my honest thoughts, no disrespect.

Ray

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John Coopey

Thu 29th Mar 2018 15:51

Thanks, fellas.
There is a wonderful video of the 1967 Battle of Montevideo between Celtic and Racing Club which is probably the dirtiest game Ive ever seen.
In one incident john Hughes, celtic's centre forward, kicks the Racing goalie and while he is on the floor kicks him again. Hughes explains that he didn't think anyone would see it. (There was a 60,000 crowd).
In the same game in a Melee, Booby Lennox kicks a Racing player in the nuts and coolly walks away.
Marvellous entertainment caught on camera.

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Graham Sherwood

Thu 29th Mar 2018 13:33

Anyone remember a bloke named Atherton? Me neither!

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M.C. Newberry

Thu 29th Mar 2018 13:09

Always bang up to date with your takes in song on events
in the news. What on earth is in the minds of these
favoured sports people who have the honour, kudos, pay
and respect that goes with representing their country -
in this case one where cricket is next to religion in its
importance to the national psyche?

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