The International Cricket Thread

[LeeB]

I can't agree with the idea that this decision was over the top, etc. We're in a summer of sport where racial inequality is front and centre and this came to light at almost the same time as the England squad presenting a unity message.

Yes he was a teenager but that can't be an excuse for what were a series of horrible tweets that were offensive across a whole range of issues. As soon as they came to light the ECB had no choice but to suspend him, anything less would've shown that the unity message was nothing but empty words.

This ****** disagrees, doesn't fit in with the war he and his mates are fighting I guess:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jun/07/sports-minister-oliver-dowden-says-ecb-over-the-top-to-suspend-ollie-robinson-england-cricket

[paul_e]

I can't agree with the idea that this decision was over the top, etc. We're in a summer of sport where racial inequality is front and centre and this came to light at almost the same time as the England squad presenting a unity message.

Yes he was a teenager but that can't be an excuse for what were a series of horrible tweets that were offensive across a whole range of issues. As soon as they came to light the ECB had no choice but to suspend him, anything less would've shown that the unity message was nothing but empty words.

This ****** disagrees, doesn't fit in with the war he and his mates are fighting I guess:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jun/07/sports-minister-oliver-dowden-says-ecb-over-the-top-to-suspend-ollie-robinson-england-cricket

Of course he does, and Johnson has agreed with him.

[UK Redsox]

The same people who wouldn't condemn booing players who take the knee

[Lastfootstamper]

David Gower has piped up that Robinson should be used as an ambassador/exemplar to help others navigate social media, subsequently not having to bother with all that stopping being a racist misogynist instead.

[PaulWinch again]

David Gower has piped up that Robinson should be used as an ambassador/exemplar to help others navigate social media, subsequently not having to bother with all that stopping being a racist misogynist instead.

Yes somewhat missing the point. Rather like Hulk Hogan when he was videoed using a racial slur and then failed to apologise, instead warning of the pitfalls of talking when being taped. His career has died as a result.

In Robinson’s case, assuming there are no more skeletons in the closet and he his genuinely contrite then he should go through some fairly lengthy education and demonstrate he’s learned from his past mistakes.

[Flamingo Lane]

Quite impressed listening to Michael Carberry just now speaking on Sky, taking to task Dowden and Johnson for piping up on the suspension of Robinson.

[Lastfootstamper]

I've just seen Michael Carberry expressing his views. He did all but call PM Johnson a racist. He is not happy.

[Steve67]

I've just seen Michael Carberry expressing his views. He did all but call PM Johnson a racist. He is not happy.

To the fair, this is the same Prime Minister who called ladies wearing burkha's 'letterboxes'.  Carberry is right, where is this education?

[paul_e]

Fair play to Carberry, I agree with him completely. Dowden and Johnson know that playing to the twats that boo taking the knee or post 'all lives matter' on facebook reinforces large parts of the new voter base.

[PaulWinch again]

I’m struggling as to why it’s a matter for the Government to get involved with.

[PaulWinch again]

Fair play to Carberry, I agree with him completely. Dowden and Johnson know that playing to the twats that boo taking the knee or post 'all lives matter' on facebook reinforces large parts of the new voter base.

Yup it’s pretty shameful. Also I’m not sure what option there is other to suspend whilst it’s investigated. They should be doing better due diligence in advance of selection, but given that fell short this seems an appropriate step.

[PaulWinch again]

They’ve found a second player now. Albeit they were under 16 when it was posted.

[sid1964]

Noticed the interview with James Anderson on sky sports saying how it was correct that Robinson was suspended and he will learn a valuable lesson from this

The interviewer then pointed out that Anderson had sent out a message on social media 10 years ago that he ought to be ashamed of , Anderson said well it was 10 years ago (he would have been in his late 20s at that time) - personally he should never play for England again any caps that he has won should be taken off him and all his wicket records etc.. should be deleted from the record books - you cannot have different rules for different players

I would imagine every sportsman is now checking all their tweets!

[PaulWinch again]

Having reflected on all this I think the ECB’s action is correct and I also think that whoever the player is they should be afforded a second chance - provided they are genuinely remorseful and their subsequent actions prove they have become better people. That doesn’t mean being a teenager is an excuse, it isn’t, but I have to believe people can change and want to change - the alternative is very grim.

[paul_e]

I think people can change and I think it's only right to give them a chance to but the Robinson and Anderson situations are very different.

The Anderson one was poorly worded but fundamentally he was taking the piss out a teammate for having a dodgy haircut. His wording was poor and I can understand why people think it was inappropriate but it's low on the scale of offence.

Robinson made a bunch of tweets that, individually, are worse and collectively make him look like he was intentionally being offensive to random groups 'for a laugh'.

Morgan, Buttler and McCullum I honestly don't know what I think. On here we've seen people comment on how fans from Tanzania, Egypt, etc are all a bit over the top when they comment on posts by some of our players and I wouldn't classify any of that as offensive. I don't se what they tweeted as being massively different to that, a bit silly but I'd say is was mimicking something they're not used to rather than mocking it, it's a fine line though.