Ollie Robinson

At last, some sanity... and a story covered by the BBC which is more surprising.

The establishment from all quarters of life are running around like headless chickens, right now, not knowing what to do. They are aware that there are "political forces" at work, trying to tie the noose around the publics' freedom of speech, which has led to "cancel culture" and the like, but as you say, if the ECB do nothing they are accused of being "sexist and racist" and if they do something they are described as "over-reacting". While hilarious to view, it is also rather sad. 

Hopefully, the attempt to control society's narrative and train of thought will end in tears. As ever, there is a balance and moderation to be had. Robinson made his comments eight/nine years ago. He has apologised. He deeply regrets what he wrote and has matured since. That is enough, surely? Let him move on. You don't hang someone out to dry twice.

Silly, silly, silly ECB. Egg is all over your face and you know it.

What will be interesting to follow is the Euro football tournament. Will the police evict anyone from the grounds who dares to boo during the players taking the knee? Will the TV stations be ordered to turn the volume off when the crowd boos? The stupidity of the situation is all apparent.

I have always believed the minority should never be allowed to control the majority. That is not democracy, it is fascism. And I believe a majority of people are sane enough and know deep in their hearts that cancel culture and the attempts to control society's narrative and the way you think is deeply disturbing and completely wrong.

I'm not sure allowing the majority to control the minority is any better either. You can look at the result of that as regards the Uighurs in China for example, or how minority groups (like homosexuals or single mothers, say) were treated in the UK (and many other countries) until relatively recently.

NB Still haven't worked out what 'fascism' means, I see.  😉

Carberry saying he doesn't think Robinson should be playing professional cricket at all and there is no room for rehabilitation. Majority of those tweets are like something you would have seen in the inbetweeners! Politicians talking about it has done him no favours and this will get worse for Ollie.

And even if you apologise, you will be condemned forever. The woke lefties have forgotten that principle of forgiveness.

Being a political cricket ball during this most recent woke spat, as Joe and A.S say, is not good for a nascent international career, but this should die down, hopefully, quite quickly.

I note the latest development is that an England cricketer has been dobbed in now by Wisden... Yes, Wisden (!) but the publication is keeping this person's name a secret. The player was 15 years-old at the time when this alleged racist/sexist tweet was posted. What the hell!? This is not so much the In-Betweeners, but Monty Python! Hopefully, the public can see through this farce and understand how ridiculous woke culture can be.

Meanwhile, the influential cricket pundits are running around like more headless chickens not knowing what side to take. Michael Vaughan has sided with the ECB, but Vaughan being Vaughan, do not be surprised if he changes sides if he sees the wind change.

As for Michael Carberry does anyone listen to him? OK, he's black and recovered from cancer which gives him the sympathy vote, but Leicester CCC supporters are still scratching their heads over what exactly happened at the club a few years back and his huge row with Paul Nixon. Carberry is a promising artist now, but carries baggage from the past which may affect his view on the Robinson matter. This Cricketer Magazine interview offers some insight.

www.thecricketer.com/Topics/hampshire/michael_carberry_england_batsman_cancer_survivor_artist.html

Presumably, Ollie can now play for Sussex and will open the bowling against Hampshire on Saturday. At least, there is a silver lining for the South Coast amidst this absurd debacle.

Sadly Joe, I think you are right.

The latest news on the incident is developing as expected.

The more politically right leaning papers like the Telegraph and Express are supporting the calls of Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, whereas the more politically left media are not. For example, the Daily Express ran a poll from 4.15pm on Monday, June 7th until 7am on Tuesday, June 8th, which asked: "Should Ollie Robinson be suspended for old tweets?"

A massive 95 percent (7,394 readers) said Robinson should not be suspended. The remaining five percent (330 readers) disagreed, while less than one percent (41 readers) were undecided. One furious Express reader (no doubt from Tunbridge-Wells) warned, "We are returning to the days of the Salem witch trials. This stifling of free speech and trial by woke has got to be stamped out."

Re: Politically, straight down the middle as expected. Conservative you disagree with the ECB, Labour/Liberal agree. Here is a typical tweet from George Freeman, a Conservative MP for Mid Norfolk.



Re: The cricketing pundits, those who have dared to place their heads above the parapet is again as expected. Michael Vaughan and Mark Ramprakash are for punishing Robinson and David Gower and (I'm sure) Lord Sir Ian Botham are supporting the Government. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on Monday, David Gower said he did not think a suspension was the right way forward and the ECB should instead make Robinson "do the equivalent of community service". 

Once Ollie is seen not to be playing for England in the 2nd NZ Test, the furore will quickly disappear, and we look forward to seeing him later on in an England shirt against India. Thanks to social media we live in a histrionic media cocoon.