Why do only a few neutral fans support England?

[Mian]

I have noticed it many times that neutral cricket fans specially from sub continent including myself want every other team to win against England i even supported India many times against England!

This is not something new i am following cricket from decades and i have seen it happening in every era for England. Is it because of most cricketing nation's history with England or because of the old boring brand of cricket England used to play and cricket fans are still unable to change their view even though there is a clear change in England's style of playing with this new golden generation?

Discuss

 

[Ram Shekhar]

Believe me there are a lot of fans for the way England plays these days. Buttler, Morgan, Roy, and Stokes are admired all around the world. It is the arrogance of their ex-players and the constant comparisons with the great Australian teams that pisses off fans. It is also one of the reasons why India is hated. The likes of Sanjay Manjrekar and Michael Vaughan do more harm than good to their teams.

 

[Mian]

Believe me there are a lot of fans for the way England plays these days. Buttler, Morgan, Roy, and Stokes are admired all around the world. It is the arrogance of their ex-players and the constant comparisons with the great Australian teams that pisses off fans. It is also one of the reasons why India is hated. The likes of Sanjay Manjrekar and Michael Vaughan do more harm than good to their teams.

Valid point!

In my view there are multiple factors one of them is that in past England always played boring or orthodox cricket with hardly any exciting players so they are finding it hard to remove this boring tag?

England ruled over most of these cricketing nations maybe it give fans from these nations pleasure to watch poms being beaten? You will always see more neutral fans supporting Aussies in Ashes then England.

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

I support them like i support west indies and south africa.Jason roy is my favourite batsman i like jofra and mark wood too.

 

[Ram Shekhar]

Valid point!

In my view there are multiple factors one of them is that in past England always played boring or orthodox cricket with hardly any exciting players so they are finding it hard to remove this boring tag?

England ruled over most of these cricketing nations maybe it give fans from these nations pleasure to watch poms being beaten? You will always see more neutral fans supporting Aussies in Ashes then England.

At least the modern Indians don't hold much of this view. Can't speak for everyone, though. And look, when it comes to Australia, most of our generation have grown up with Australian supremacy. Most of us held a grudging respect for the great Aussie teams from late 1990's. We all aspired to beat them but we also supported them when they played a mediocre English side. Even now we have the respect for Australian team in general. England and even teams like South Africa, New Zealand will not be taken seriously until they win a world cup.

 

[Robert]

Valid point!

In my view there are multiple factors one of them is that in past England always played boring or orthodox cricket with hardly any exciting players so they are finding it hard to remove this boring tag?

England ruled over most of these cricketing nations maybe it give fans from these nations pleasure to watch poms being beaten? You will always see more neutral fans supporting Aussies in Ashes then England.

A bit sad if they do, given that the Empire builders are all in the ground and the current England players were not even born then.

 

[big_gamer007]

I think it takes time to get fan support from neutrals.

Generally teams like WI, Pakistan, SA get fan support because of the nostalgic moments they created in previous world cups. England teams have been poor in world cups since a long time and they need this team to produce a memorable WC then casuals who don't watch bilaterals will remember this English team and become it's fans.

For people on PP they are fans of cricket so they know about English teams strengths and are already fans but casuals only watch icc tournaments and England needs to show up big time to get a bigger fanbase

 

[Technics 1210]

A bit sad if they do, given that the Empire builders are all in the ground and the current England players were not even born then.

Many English still go on about WW1 and WW2, and 99% of these people were not born then either. But history is important right?

The reality is the legacy of the British Empire will not be forgotten in the SC, for obvious reasons.

 

[Robert]

Many English still go on about WW1 and WW2, and 99% of these people were not born then either. But history is important right?

The reality is the legacy of the British Empire will not be forgotten in the SC, for obvious reasons.

Not if somebody holds grudges or views the world based on what somebody’s ancestors did to somebody. It’s pointless. Those Britons who interpret the world through the lenses of WW1 and WW2 are fools. They don’t even understand those times properly.

 

[Hasan123]

This current English team is likeable due to the way that they play. But the way [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] hypes them and makes pathetic excuses for them is really funny.

If England get through I wouldn't be upset like some . But I can see why other posters are annoyed and don't like them.

 

[Convict]

From my observations, with the obvious exception of India and Pakistan, Asian fans tend to support their fellow Asian teams against non Asian ones.
England don't get that bonus because their closest cricket country (Aus) loves watching England lose.

West Indies are super popular for neutrals because 1. they have charismatic players 2. Everyone of a certain age grew up on the West Indian superstars and 3. the Windies aren't any good so they aren't really rivals with everyone.

Aus/Ind/Eng are the big 3 and have plenty of rivals so aren't well liked by neutrals. Australia in particular have always been bully boys so naturally we are hated.

Then as a final factor due to England historically avoiding the IPL they don't get the Indian bandwagon of people supporting their favourite IPL superstars.

 

[Pakistanian]

From my observations, with the obvious exception of India and Pakistan, Asian fans tend to support their fellow Asian teams against non Asian ones.
England don't get that bonus because their closest cricket country (Aus) loves watching England lose.

West Indies are super popular for neutrals because 1. they have charismatic players 2. Everyone of a certain age grew up on the West Indian superstars and 3. the Windies aren't any good so they aren't really rivals with everyone.

Aus/Ind/Eng are the big 3 and have plenty of rivals so aren't well liked by neutrals. Australia in particular have always been bully boys so naturally we are hated.

Then as a final factor due to England historically avoiding the IPL they don't get the Indian bandwagon of people supporting their favourite IPL superstars.

I feel like a lot of people like Australia though, especially Pakistanis. They kinda remind of America with their domination of the sport.

 

[CricFan2012]

It's ironic that the British born Asians don't support England.

I really wanted England to win this World Cup but it looks like they're lacking mentally so far, that is not to say they can't win from here, but I will still have to support Pakistan because its either Pak or England who will get the semis ticket from here.

 

[Pakistanian]

England spread the game through colonialism, when former colonies play them it's like fighting the former master. It's like the relation between an abusive step father and his step son after he grows up and gets all jacked up. He will never like him, never forgive him.

 

[Pakistanian]

It's ironic that the British born Asians don't support England.

I really wanted England to win this World Cup but it looks like they're lacking mentally so far, that is not to say they can't win from here, but I will still have to support Pakistan because its either Pak or England who will get the semis ticket from here.

A lot of them do support England but they don't have to, 1st/2nd/3rd gen migrants will always feel closer to the old country.

 

[jnaveen1980]

English media , commies went hyperbole over their team. Look at Australian media. They term it is India's cup to lose even though Australia is regaining their world cup form.

 

[Ashraful_Rox]

Australia is a more exciting team than England, they are a complete package. England is a multinational team, their captain is Irish and I don’t think his heart is at the right place He looks emotionless in press conference after losing, even Aussies and Kiwis after losses you can feel emotions. Morgan is like a statue, I wish I was like him

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

I will talk for myself. I grew up watching ENG as being a mid-low ranked ODI side they never had any aura/ charisma in their limited overs side for neutrals to get attracted.

Even in test i was excited with their team only around 2004-05 time when they had a damn good team def Aus in Ashes. Then i saw them gradually develop into a stronger test unit and were no 1 for some time, during this time their pundits, x players were so cocky i despised them.

Ever since 2010 i see Eng/ Uk has become a good sporting nation compared to 90's or mid 00's (may be they invested in their grass root school sport systems), be it olympics, Cwg, f1, cricket, field hockey, tennis, CL i see more successful sportsmen now a days.

Buttler is like AB, probably most liked Eng player after KP in India. Now most of us do not have any undue hate except for their x players, pundits who come up with audacious comments when they win

PS: Another minor reason why i feel they should not win is because of imports, not their fault though.

 

[JattMaula]

Their teams have historically lacked any characteristics which attracts the neutral support. No real superstars, no standout moments of glory and they were not even the clear underdogs.

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Because they are arrogant

 

[Shaka81]

It's ironic that the British born Asians don't support England.

I really wanted England to win this World Cup but it looks like they're lacking mentally so far, that is not to say they can't win from here, but I will still have to support Pakistan because its either Pak or England who will get the semis ticket from here.

I think you mean English born because I was born in Scotland and always support Scotland first and my default position is always for England to lose!

In general terms I think England is a difficult team to support as a neutral because of the arrogance of their media and some of their ex-players. I've been following some of the World cup games on radio 5 live and the commentary has been so biased and condescending that it really puts you off supporting them.
Also they don't really have any likeable players with charisma like West Indies. They have a lot of sore losers who like to whinge whenever they are defeated.

 

[Robert]

England spread the game through colonialism, when former colonies play them it's like fighting the former master. It's like the relation between an abusive step father and his step son after he grows up and gets all jacked up. He will never like him, never forgive him.

But the abusive stepfather is dead, the stepson is dead, so why does the stepson’s grandson still hate the abusers’s grandson?

 

[Robert]

From my observations, with the obvious exception of India and Pakistan, Asian fans tend to support their fellow Asian teams against non Asian ones.
England don't get that bonus because their closest cricket country (Aus) loves watching England lose.

West Indies are super popular for neutrals because 1. they have charismatic players 2. Everyone of a certain age grew up on the West Indian superstars and 3. the Windies aren't any good so they aren't really rivals with everyone.

Aus/Ind/Eng are the big 3 and have plenty of rivals so aren't well liked by neutrals. Australia in particular have always been bully boys so naturally we are hated.

Not always. You were bullied boys in the middle eighties when Chappell, Lillee and Marsh all retired at once and you lost Hughes, Alderman, Rackemann, Maguire etc. to SAB. I shouted for you when you got beaten by WI and NZ.

We like to see the underdog do well as long as it isn’t against us.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Because they are boring . There is nothing 'organic' about their cricket. Even when they play an aggressive brand of cricket in ODIs , it still comes across as robotic and dull and Morgan is a very robotic captain as well. No flair or charisma. Even Jos buttler is at best a Chinese imitation of AB DeVilliers. I disagree with the notion that they are disliked because of their arrogance. Plenty of arrogant cricketers have been well liked by fans. It's just that when these guys are arrogant it looks very contrived and not because they are playing with a whole lot of self - belief. Swann is the only English cricketer that I found interesting (KP was Saffer, doesn't count)

 

[Technics 1210]

It's ironic that the British born Asians don't support England.

How did you arrive at this conclusion? Based on PP posts? Every british born Asian I know supports their native country first, then England. Given cricket is a colonial sport, this pattern is common and not unusual. Even non Asians born in england support their native country, such as Australians and Kiwis, when it comes to cricket.

Saying this when it comes to other sports Asians support england in my experience. I still remember how the country united in supporting Britain during the Olympics in 2012. One of the most amazing experiences I have ever witnessed.

 

[Pakistanian]

But the abusive stepfather is dead, the stepson is dead, so why does the stepson’s grandson still hate the abusers’s grandson?

touche

 

[Majid Khan]

As much as things are starting to change,
but on the whole I agree with the point made earlier about English players lacking flare and style — watching England in attacking mode feels like watching a PlayStation cricket game, batsmen so technically orthodox and playing the same shots - and not that I’m the first to rate Pakistani players, but anyone watching the Babar Azam and Haris Sohail partnership the other day, that looked so refreshing and easy on the eye, such flamboyance in the way they played their strokes.

Same when watching the likes of Rohit Sharma, Kohli or even Shakib and Mushfiq — maybe it’s an Asian quality due to the batsmen being less coached and relying more on their natural style , but these players somehow don’t look mechanical and artificial in their batting, or ‘Playstation’ like.

And not just Asian, you will observe the same with West Indies batsmen , there is some flamboyance about them that you don’t see with Cook, Root or Stokes.

 

[James]

England spread the game through colonialism, when former colonies play them it's like fighting the former master. It's like the relation between an abusive step father and his step son after he grows up and gets all jacked up. He will never like him, never forgive him.

I agree with this. It’s mostly the colonial context.

Some of the desire to beat England also comes from begrudging respect because England is the home of cricket, Lord’s is the Mecca and everyone wants to beat “the old enemy”, etc.

But it’s mainly the colonialism that has done it. I appreciate [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] ‘s points, but no country can ever escape the darker points of its history.

 

[Technics 1210]

Someone who hates their native country through choice vs some who has no choice in where they are born, has no right to comment on neutrality.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Might nations usually suffer this fate.

England in particular also don’t happen to be known as a humble bunch like NZ or Sri Lanka hence little support.

I’m sure everyone loves to see India lose too

 

[bujhee kom]

England are my 2nd team. By far.

 

[WebGuru]

Just wondering if any SC fan supporting India today just because they don't like England winning or all are just supporting India because their team's chances of going into semi depends on indian victory?

 

[tahir_dj]

Their own fans dont support them much
Cricket has become 3rd or 4th tier sport for english people.

And its just something about england where it is very hard to support them.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I agree with this. It’s mostly the colonial context.

Some of the desire to beat England also comes from begrudging respect because England is the home of cricket, Lord’s is the Mecca and everyone wants to beat “the old enemy”, etc.

But it’s mainly the colonialism that has done it. I appreciate [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] ‘s points, but no country can ever escape the darker points of its history.

Plus there's still some remnants of it which echo even today, it is not open, but subtle. You will see it in the movies and entertainment shows how different ethnicities are portrayed. It is starting to be picked up by some commentators, but most are still oblivious to it.