Fair enough if you can't accept it

But I'd add to APB's list the biggest factor, which is that Australia have better cricketers than we do.

The media (and lots of supporters who swallow what they write) go through this every time we go there. In advance. build up the England team, downplay the quality of the Aussies. Write loads of pieces saying the result is in the balance, this could be the time, we really are if anything slight favourites this time etc etc

Then we start losing.

The media - and the TMS crew are now a big part of this - know that people back home are going to stop paying attention. And that's the worst outcome for them. So they start writing increasingly hysterical pieces blaming the coach, the captain, the ECB, it was all terrible preparation, awful planning, rubbish tactics, culminating when we finish the final test with HEADS MUST ROLL!

Because of course it can't be that our team just isn't that good, theirs is better, the British media have overhyped the likelihood of the series being close yet again, like they always do.

Oh no, it can't possibly be that.

Watch out for the whole thing again in three years time.

Posted By: Tricky Hawes, Jan 8, 10:20:38