A George for all of us
It’s time to announce it, it’s time to come clean – I am in love with George Bailey. I know, I’m a bit late to the party but he did my interview for me (despite me basically storming the players lunch room and demanding to speak to someone) and he emailed me with it at 8am on a match day, which I thought was pretty cool.
But George Bailey is not a deity along the lines of Lord and Little Nate. Neither is George Bailey a superhero, in the canon with SuperMussey (Superman’s hero). George Bailey is above such things. He is a George Bailey for all of us.
He is Our George.
I know his position is frequently debated – some say he shouldn’t be T20 captain because he can’t bat in that format; others say he is not designed for the longer format of the game. I say, get on board – he is Our George. He is suitable for all ages and abilities; he is durable and long lasting.
And it’s not just me that thinks so, see below for some George Bailey testimonials:
George Bailey is ginger, it’s true, and a Tasmanian but he mows my lawn whenever I click my fingers and can really grill a snapper. My husband wouldn’t be without him.
Sarah Winstone, Lorne, Victoria
Since we got George Bailey, we haven’t had to discuss how crap Bloody Vic Cam White is, and that makes for more harmonious dinners in my house. Thank you, George Bailey.
Ted Williams, Scarborough, Western Australia
So, there you go – what are you all waiting for? Get on board with the George Bailey love. He mightn’t be that good at T20, and he does play IPL, and he is ginger. And a Tasmanian … wait, what was I saying?
Oh yes, learn to love Our George.
He did this interview with me.
LOL love the pic, “Rub him all over your face”! Bailey’s got an average of 40 in ODIs, and 30 in T20Is. Not so bad, after all.
I don’t think he’s done too bad, but it does seem that CA opted for captaincy prowess over dynamic T20 batting. Not that there’s anything wrong with it – Cam White could be pretty dynamic and look how well that went; Clarke is not much for the T20 batting but took the team to the final of the last ICC world T20. Someone like Bailey seems the right answer to me.
He’s a funny player, Bailey: he doesn’t register in your consciousness with a bang like, for instance, Warner; he sort of sneaks into it until you can’t quite imagine things without him, and you can’t quite remember ever thinking that he isn’t quietly fantastic.
Plus he can really grill a snapper.
Lately, I’ve had people question not only his place in the T20 side but also in the Australia A side. I would never go so far as to say Cricket Australia know what they’re doing, but I do wonder if the fans are feeling something like you’ve described above – he doesn’t get in your face, he’s just quietly good. A bit like Simon Katich, maybe.
Our George is Captain Fantastic and can grill snapper? Say no more! He’s a Man we cannot do without.
I no longer know anyone questioning Our George’s place in any side. Possibly, this has to do with … *ahem* someone’s aggressiveness in pointing out the error of their ways or simply unfollowing on twitter.
Were you being aggressive about Our George again?
Well, carry on. It’s clearly working.
He has an appealing personality and the ability to say more than media platitudes so stick with him.
Players like that are so few and far between in the Aus cricket team. Who cares if he’s not the greatest player in the world? It’s never stopped Watson from being maddeningly ever present.
So true! Although, I don’t think he’s as bad as some people claim. Maybe he’s not the greatest T20 batsman in the world, but he isn’t awful is he?
Maybe that could be our new national team motto? “Australia – they aren’t awful, are they?”