Must read for red. Vaughan, Ponting hated more than Smith

Sorry don't know from which publication.

Graeme Smith passes the hate test

Ricky Ponting and Michael Vaughan ahead of the South African skipper in global poll to find the most disliked cricket captain


by Greg Smith on 28 July 2008



Sorry don't know fromm which publication.

The man cricket fans in England and Australasia love to hate - their nemesis Graeme Smith - is having the last laugh if you believe the findings of an opinion poll from the prestigious independent researchers Opinions Researched Corp.

According to them, people ''hate'' Ricky Ponting and Michael Vaughan more than Smith!

Of the random 50 000 global participants polled, an overwhelming 67 per cent most ''hated'' the Aussie captain, Punter Ponting, well-soiled by the India-Australia ''season of spite'' in 2008. This might come as a surprise to secluded Aussie fans but Opinions Researched Corp. say the poll is balanced and weighted to allow for ''population parity''. They explain the results may thus only be surprising if you're reading this in English!

They also explain that Ponting might rely on a relatively small Aussie support base, but that the bulk of the global cricketing population is not Australian and thus it's a numbers game. Africa, with a population of one billion, and India, with even more than that, take the credit for this ''mood swing'' away from the Aussie hero.

The same applies to England's hapless Vaughan, who is substantially 'out-hated'' when compared with Smith. Vaughan is less fortunate than Ponting though, as those polled believed Vaughan was merely part of a team judged to rely on their ''mean streak cheating'' more than any other.

When asked: ''Which team is consistantly likely to bend/break the rules to win?'', a whopping 78 per cent answered England! Although Vaughan is not the ball tampering Micheal Atherton, 22 per cent of the global demographic of cricket fans voted him the most hated. The relatively loved Smith scored just nine per cent on the global ''hate-o-meter''.

Proteas fans are obviously delighted with the findings of the research and believe the weight of South Africa's 50 million population has ''outgunned'' the Aussies' 20 million people off the field - and that the trend will continue on the field later this year when the sides lock horns for the No.1 spot in international Test cricket.

African solidarity is promising for Proteas fans, too, as is the preponderance of support for the Proteas in countries in Asia. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan rated the South Africans ''more praise-worthy'' than slated teams and players from Oz, New Zealand or England.

''Which team is consistantly likely to bend/break the rules to win?'', a whopping 78 per cent answered England!

Has anybody come up with the theory it was the Pommy batsmen who tampered with the ball at Ovalgate?.....

"Vaughan was merely part of a team judged to rely on their ''mean streak cheating'' more than any other"

That article does make some sagacious points. Although, currently being a walking wicket, you would think opposition fans would love Vaughan. Maybe it is in fact the English who have voted for him.

G.Wood wrote:"Vaughan was merely part of a team judged to rely on their ''mean streak cheating'' more than any other"

That article does make some sagacious points. Although, currently being a walking wicket, you would think opposition fans would love Vaughan. Maybe it is in fact the English who have voted for him.

I certainly voted for Ponting.

as part of the asian bloc?

Didn't Nassar refer to him as Greg Smith?

Maybe it was Smith himself who wrote that article.

On second thoughts I mean, had a ghost writer do it.

I doubt he's literate enough to read let alone write.

Hold up... what's 'mean streak cheating'? The phrase sounds f'in ridic.

Red wrote:
I doubt he's literate enough to read let alone write.

Yes, that's probably why he's not responded to any of your love letters of desperation. Whatever helps you sleep at night.

Smith must have a huge gay following.

Zat wrote:Smith must have a huge gay following.

Yes he would be a hit in the pink press.

Is that supposed to be an insult?

Brass Monkey wrote:Hold up... what's 'mean streak cheating'? The phrase sounds f'in ridic.

Jelly beans Danny... It means Jelly Beans!!!!

If this was a worldwide poll, then the majority of people asked would have been Asian. It would have to be based on the amount of supporters and population base.

Looking closer into it, Ponting will be disliked as he is skipper of Aus, Yawn will be disliked because of the Jelly Bean who ha (aswell as the Oval fiasco - which would have been the England Skippers fault as well, even though he didn't play). And Smith, well he hasn't really irritated any of the Asian teams from what I understand!

Zat wrote:Smith must have a huge gay following.

Yep, red is the chairperson.

Cheers Chas. I get it. Twatfaces.

taipan wrote:

Zat wrote:Smith must have a huge gay following.

Yep, red is the chairperson.

Wrong gender Taipan.

Mark Nicholas might be chairperson of the fuchsia press though.

Mmmmm jellybabies.

Ban India.

Ironic that he calls everyone queer but himself.

Five years ago the Test series between England and South Africa began at Edgbaston, where home captain Nasser Hussain introduced his counterpart to match referee Ranjan Madugalle as 'Greg Smith'.




This resolve to undermine his opponent was reasonable in principle if rather feeble in execution. The 22-year-old was horribly insecure (he confirmed the impression of a kid just out of school cricket by calling anyone and everyone "queer") and with some good cause: Hussain was in a minority in Birmingham in knowing the 10-cap visiting skipper's name that Thursday morning.

sounds about right. the other teams dont have captains who are anything but likeable - kumble, jayawardene, vettori, gayle, taibu, misbah and whoever is the current bangladeshi captain

Meh... Vaughan & Ponting are always going to be on that list.

'Too white'

If Smith was as good and as successful as Ponting the other teams fans would hate him as much.

Its a back-handed compliment more than anything.

Gary 111 wrote:If Smith was as good and as successful as Ponting the other teams fans would hate him as much.

That explains red.