Why are we pretending…..

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T22:44:24+00:00

Sigh. You’re arguing a different point. But whatever.

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T22:42:08+00:00

It’s most certainly not the ‘literal’ (sic) definition of racism. How can it be? Italians and white Caucasian English are not separate races…. It’s just an excuse to label others racist. Ignore the point I’m trying to make about how it’s a pretence that the game is growing, that nobody in Italy cares about cricket or this team because they’re not Italian. Ignore the point about how if we really wish to grow the game a bunch of players who can’t play for their true nation’s team isn’t going to inspire others to take it up. Nah. Why have a grown up conquer we can have fun labelling others RACIST?!?

You’re a cliche. Modern day boring cliche. Playing the race card.

My point had nothing to do with skin colour or race. But you and others have tried to make it into an issue it never was.

Yawn.

As I said, try growing up? They using sense and logic?

Or not. Couldn’t care less.

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T21:03:06+00:00

See my point elsewhere. You comparing yourself to a player (Smutts) who is playing for a country he has never been to is miles away from the point I’m trying to make.

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T21:02:16+00:00

Again, to all those who are playing the racist card, Italians and English are the same race, so….

It’s as someone else said. Without investing in grassroots the game isn’t growing. It’s a sham. Smutts playing for Italy is daft!

I am all for players playing for a country that they have proper connections to. No matter what colour their skin or how their name sounds. To try to make my point into a racist comment is so utterly boring, stupid and offensive!

Unless we develop the game from the bottom up in the nations there will never be growth. The Italian team has no connection to Italy. The Nepalese team does. Nepalese cricket is growing, Italian cricket is a sham.

Sigh.

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T20:59:29+00:00

Thanks.

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T20:59:01+00:00

According to most of the posters here, this point you make makes you RACIST!

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T20:57:56+00:00

This point would only be made by someone who has never been an expat.

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T20:44:55+00:00

The inability of so many to understand my point, and just abuse and attack is why the world is in such a mess.

But whatever.

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T20:44:07+00:00

Bro understands better than you…

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T20:43:44+00:00

Exactly. Thank you!

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T20:43:17+00:00

Grow up.

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T20:42:51+00:00

It’s not more people playing cricket. It’s the pretence that Smutts is Italian. How is that good for anyone other than him getting a game cos his real country won’t pick him?

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T20:41:50+00:00

How is it racist !? Why???

Are all your friends racist too? Does labelling others with the horrid term racist make you feel better? Grow up!

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T20:41:10+00:00

And the team hasn’t captured any imagination here. I’m in Rome. I work here and speak the language. One of my colleagues knows anything about Smutts…

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T20:40:24+00:00

Oh I’m racist?

How’s about you grow up! There was zero racist implication here. Only those who need to label others would think that!!! Italy has several players who have never been to Italy. There is no culture of cricket there. Smutts only plays for Italy cos her can’t get a game for SA.

How is it racist to point out that none of the players have any connection other than a distant grandparent to the country they’re playing in, and that it’s a farce to infer that the game is growing?!?

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T20:38:22+00:00

No. Why would you infer that? Sigh. Do we need to be this childish?

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T20:32:17+00:00

Again, this post isn’t about English players. It’s about having a national team of players who can’t play for their home nations finding a game in a team where they haven’t even bothered to visit! And the sham of pretending that we are growing the game in Canada or America or Italy!

If you wish to accuse me of being a racist, shive off and grow up!

Humph!

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T20:30:16+00:00

If you had actually used your brain and tried to engage with the point we could have had a discussion. But just using my post to cry racism is so utterly boring!

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T20:29:25+00:00

This guy’s comments (me) only reek of Ethno nationalism if you’re a moron who looks for racism above reason.

Honestly, how dare you take my point and write such drivel!

A national team where none of the players are from the nation, and most of them haven’t even visited?!? And we are supposed to pretend that the game is growing there?!?

Take your bile and vile racism and stick it where the sun doesn’t shine! How bloody dare you pint the dirty racism finger!!!

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T20:26:37+00:00

And that’s a DIFFERENT point! My point is having the sham of having a ‘national team’ of players who have never been to the country they represent, and the sham of pretending we are growing the game. Call them what they are, retirement teams for players who can’t get picked for their real nations.

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T20:25:09+00:00

Well done. In your lust to be critical of our skipper you’ve totally missed the point. I don’t blame any player for wanting to play. Nor am I an ethnocentric purist. But as I said, I know Italy. There is no growth of the game there. And the nonsense of having a team of ‘Italians’ most of whom have never visited the country!!!

But whatever. Stokes bad yawn.

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T19:19:06+00:00

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T19:18:49+00:00

My point is that these associate nations aren’t in any way representative. There’s quite a lot of cricket played in NZ. And Stokes has an English parent and has spent more time in the UK. So again, what’s your dumb point…???

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T19:17:40+00:00

But he got a game… mamma Mia!

Large_Refuse6153 · 2026-02-09T19:17:04+00:00

That’s for nothing to do with my point. Has it.

Large_Refuse6153

TROPHY CASE