Buchanan, Hayden and Symonds: World Cricket's Clowns of the Month, August 2015
With the dust still settling in Beijing after the recent World Athletics Championships, let's borrow that sport's podium system to judge the latest World Cricket Clown of the Month award.
As per usual, the field was strong, but as the finish line approached, one party mimicked Usain Bolt to pull away from the rest and claim the glory.
So without further ado (and dubious, gratuitous athletics references), here are the three winners (or losers) starting with the third-placed finisher.
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Bronze Medal: Brendan Taylor
Former Zimbabwean skipper Brendan Taylor, who is plying his trade for Nottinghamshire on the English domestic circuit this summer, recently made national news in the UK for all the wrong reasons.
After a post-game session to celebrate his adopted county's quarter-final victory over Durham, next morning the 29-year-old was found asleep in the back of a complete stranger's car.
Fortunately for Taylor, who has been in fine first-class form of late, despite the police being called, he was not charged with an offence and the incident passed without consequence.
Except for the epic embarrassment, of course.
"Good people of surrey, lock up your cars, @BrendanTaylor86 is on his way!
— Notts C.C.C fans (@NottsCCCfans) August 28, 2015"
Silver Medal: Kevin Pietersen
A regular contributor to this award, Kevin Pietersen comes in second after unleashing a series of strange and somewhat pointless tweets criticising Adam Lyth.
While Lyth's contribution to England's cause was disappointing, it's likely the Yorkshire opener is fully aware of this himself and probably didn't need his fellow professional to announce his thoughts to the world:
"Lyth needs to be replaced for sure! Out of his depth! Hales needs a gig! He could open against SA!
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) August 23, 2015"
"And I would have averaged more than 10 batting left handed without pads! 😂
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) August 23, 2015"
One thing is for sure—after England's Ashes success, the door has securely been closed on KP's international ambitions, and his time would, perhaps, be better spent actually playing cricket rather than tweeting.
Gold Medal: John Buchanan, Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden
But clearly the winner of this contest is a trio of Australians who seemingly couldn't wait to stick the knife into Michael Clarke's captaincy and international career.
First up was John Buchanan, the former Australian coach who, as reported by espncricinfo, claimed that the Baggy Green culture within the side seemed to have "disappeared a bit" under Clarke's captaincy.
Next, respected batsman Matthew Hayden said on the radio show Triple M Willow Talk that Clarke "polarised people" and once threatened to hand his Baggy Green cap back.
"Matthew Hayden on @BrisGrillTeam '[Michael Clarke] ruffled a few feathers'. STORY + AUDIO: http://t.co/lIHsOufj1p #Ashes2015
— Triple M Sport (@triplemsport) August 10, 2015"
Finally, Andrew Symonds joined the bandwagon, telling an Aussie TV show that his former friend and team-mate Clarke "wasn't a natural leader."
This most un-Australian-like backstabbing of an old team-mate seems a bit pointless and, if it had to be said at all, could surely have waited a while for passions to cool down.
That is why Buchanan, Hayden and Symonds are this month's World Cricket's Clowns of the Month.
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