Having been watching the cricket over the last couple of days and following the games in general, I couldn't help but compare the current West Indian cricket side to Carlton Football Club. I know that it's difficult to compare teams in two different sports and generally refrain from doing so myself; but I think there are several similarities:

- Both are young sides with some promising talent and one or two older heads; West Indies with Lara, Sarwan, Chanderpaul. Carlton with Koutoufides, Lappin, previously Camporeale. This is NOT intended to be a one-for-one, direct comparison between Lara/Kouta etc; merely it highlights a point for the purpose of this exercise;

- Both are capable on their day of performing well and hurting the opposition but are ultimately no match for the good sides in their respective sports as things stand currently;

-Both are still recovering from heavy falls from grace, and are mere shadows of sides of yesteryear;

-Following on from the above, both enjoyed arguably their halcyon days during the exact same period; the Windies did not lose a Test Series from 1979-1994, Carlton in that same period, if we can include 1995, won five premierships, featured in a total of seven grand finals and made the finals in all but 4 seasons during that stretch;

-Both have had their off field troubles over recent years, the West Indies in several prolonged contractual disputes and Carlton struggling financially;

-Both have had some of the greatest players their respective sports have seen, West Indies with anyone from Lara, Richards, Walsh, Ambrose, Garner, Marshall, Lloyd, Greenidge, Haynes etc. Carlton obviously has had Kernahan, Williams, Bradley, Hunter, Jesaulenko, Fitzpatrick, Nicholls, Johnston etc.

Personally I believe that whilst teams across several sports are often incomparable, I think that this comparison has merit, and that in some ways, the parallels are uncanny, certainly when you consider just how different a game cricket is from footy. I realise that there are certain things that can not be compared, and certain things unique to various sports, such as the draft in footy. Both are in a similar position in a very general sense; neither side is at rock bottom as such, both sides are traversing the slow and painstaking upward curve but for both sides, it will take time.

Thoughts?

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Formerly Blues-Back2003.

When Fev's set shot technique resembles Shiv Chanderpaul's batting stance, I'll know we've totally gone calypso.

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Congratulations CK95

Blues, you forgot the most important one:
- Both have inept leadership. The West Indies have had it for close to 10 years, The Blues for not quite as long.

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"Carlton's most loyal, their bruised and battered egos now seemingly a bad dream, drank beers, murdered pies and cheered every time Judd touched the ball."

I was thinking this exact thing over the weekend, but hadn't been able to break it down into point form as eloquently as you, so was sitting on it for a bit. Thanks for doing the heavy lifting

My first thought about the similarities was that both teams were feared, home or away, and the concept of an "honourable loss" against either was common. Now, the situations are reversed, and we're not feared any more, and the veneer of the team is fragile, and once broken the structure of the team as a whole is exposed horribly.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

And the supporters..........

there's a lot in common there.............!


kindest regards tommi

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

Scott Camporeale = Sherwin Campbell

Vice captain not going anywhere....

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Formerly: Ackland the Wonderkid / Army the Wonderkid / quivering mess / molsey / Tony Lynn Fan Club

I think it's a great analogy.

We were feared as were the Windies....and Clive Lloyd and Kernahan were great inspiring leaders.

"How the mighty have fallen" applies; but no team stays on top forever.

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No ones listening till you make a mistake.

If were not at rockbottom .. where are we???

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Actually a better comparison may be with Princess Diana:



1. Carlton has had a contractual dispute with "Skinny" Lappin; Diana just wanted to be skinny.

2. Princess Diana once dressed as a policewoman in order to gatecrash Prince Andrew's buck's night; Jon Dorotich once introduced himself to a policewoman.

3. Carlton a captain named Charles (Canet); Diana had a husband named Charles.

4. Diana's son Harry likes to dress up as Adolf Hitler; John Elliott thought he was Adolf Hitler.

5. Diana once doofed a man named Oliver Hoare. Scott Camporeale is Kevin Sheedy's whore.

6. Princess Diana didn't like wearing seatbelts; Carlton footballers don't move fast enough to need seatbelts.

7. "(Everything I do) I do it for you" was a hit for another of Diana's lovers (Bryan Adams); "(Everything I do) I do it for me" was a hit for any of Carlton's senior players circa 2002-2005.

8. Just before she died Diana had been dining at the Riz-Carlton Hotel.

9. The car Diana died in was driven by Henri Paul; Henri Paul had absolutely nothing to do with the Carlton Football Club.

10. Many Carlton supporters accuse Denis Pagan of not being flexible enough and having "tunnel vision"; apparently Diana once drove into a tunnel.


Scary isn't it?

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

the Queen that turned their back on us must be Hamill?

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Who in the royal family is a down hill skiier?

Fergie?

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Writer for SuperCoach Paige www.scpaige.com.au
Twitter - @johnfeeney24

Theyre all downhillers.. often seen in Banff or Whistler.. or Switzerland...

But Fergie is Lance .. Big Red...

Half leopard half man... (spots)

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Great analogy Blues2005. The Windies also won a non-descript competition (ICC champions trophy), that no-one really cares about to give their fans some false hope of a return to prominence....mmmm....The question now begs, who will rise first ?

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...I'll ride the wave, where it takes me...

Yep great pickups guys, especially the second one, I remember watching the match against England at the time too, but didn't think of it until I read that post.

The leadership point is also a good one, interesting today to read about the apparent lack of support for Chanderpaul as Windies' captain..

I reckon that this would have to be about as close an analogy you will find in comparing two clubs/teams/nations over two sports, the similarities are uncanny!

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Formerly Blues-Back2003.

WI is the most selfish team going around. They came to Australia to hit our clubs, and pick up our chicks. (maybe not quite) but neway... a team that has a living "36" year old legend who shows no leadership to his youngsters. He batted for 3days for a personal milestone of 400, to draw a test, with no attempt to win. The only thing on his mind was to be the first person to score 400 runs. riiiight.

You dont see Kouda doing this...he doesnt just pick balls off the ground, kick up and unders, chase them himself so he can build up his stats. He leads!! so does the rest of the leadership group. If a young player is being slack...then the leaders will smack him at the back of the head, tell him to get his head straight...and off he goes trying.

The Windies dont do this...look at Chris Gayle...the 2nd most laziest cricketer ever (after Inzaman)..he needs to be taught the team way, to take responsibility. His true character was def shown in the ICC champs, where he cbf about the team jelling.

tTheres too many individuals in that team, worried only about personal contracts and what nightspot they jolling in the night.

Brian, tell dwight yorke i say hi, and that united need him.

(biggest load of bull ive ever written, except on my exam yesterday )

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All at Carlton are Equal, Except some are More Equal than others