Cricket QuoteBook: What They Said, Really Meant and Definitely Did Not

Shake-ups, machines, chatty politicos, 'skinhead' wicket-keepers and pulling out of hair all find their way into this weekend's installment of quotes from the world of cricket.

Tim Nielsen exaggerates his math and Mushtaq Mohammad finds Indian cricketers ill-treated.

Barrack Obama takes David Cameron down a peg and Matt Prior reveals second thoughts about continuing with the sport.

Finally, Andrew Flintoff bats and bowls for his ex-coach and mentor, Duncan Fletcher.

What they said, really meant and definitely did not.

Tim Nielsen Puts on a Brave Face for Cricket Australia

What he said:

"

"We are 100,000 per cent behind Australia being the best cricket team in the world.”

"

Tim Nielsen welcomes the changes in Cricket Australia’s structure. The shake-up will force current national coach Nielsen to reapply for his position, if he wants it.

Nielsen said:

"

“I think the most important thing is it’s been an exhaustive look at how we’re going to get Australian cricket back to where it wants to be, number one in all forms of the game.”

"You don’t do that by skirting around the edges and having nice, feel-good looks at things and hoping you’re going to fix things up by doing them the same way.”

"

What he really meant:

"

“The positive is that I can reapply for my position whereas  Greg (Chappell) got the boot and Andrew (Hilditch) saves face by claiming he does not want a full-time role. Also, I get to choose the players from now on.”

"

What he definitely didn’t:

"

“No, I didn’t know that England are No. 1 now. None of us did. ”

"

Mushtaq Mohammad Is Not Robotic in His Reactions

What he said:

"

“They thought their cricketers were machines and are being treated like machines.”

"

Former Pakistan cricket skipper, Mushtaq Mohammad, is indignant at the callous treatment of Indian cricketers by the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI).

Mohammad said:

"

“I also blame the players for running after the money in the IPL. They had put their body through all kind of strain and pain and didn’t think about the tour of England, which was a very important tour. I hope they learn their lesson that too much IPL and unnecessary cricket spoils the ranking of the team.”

"

What he really meant:

"

“The BCCI honchos evidently have not played cricket themselves and are blissfully unaware of the wear and tear from the grind of continuous cricket. Indian cricketers were found out as their ill-conditioned bodies gave in.”

"

What he definitely didn’t:

"

“The India-England series ought to have been billed ‘War Of The Machines’.”

"

Barrack Obama Gets David Cameron's Goat

What he said:

"

“You invented the game. That’s like saying America is number one at baseball or American football.”

"

British Prime Minister, David Cameron, relates US President Barrack Obama’s riposte to his boast of England being the No.1 side in world cricket.

What he really meant:

"

“Frankly, I don’t know much about cricket. But then, you don’t know much about baseball or American football, for that matter.”

"

What he definitely didn’t:

"

“Crickets??? Aren’t those garden insects?”

"

Matt Prior Has Been There, Seen That

What he said:

"

“I got chewed up and spat out.”

"

Matt Prior, in an interview, discloses that he almost gave up the game when he first made it into  the English cricket XI.

Prior said:

"

“I never thought I didn’t belong at this level but I did think about knocking keeping on the head and playing just as a batter.”

"

The wicketkeeper batsman adds:

"

“It’s not the good times that make you the player and person you are, it’s the bad times.

I was called an uneducated skinhead and people were even having a go at my mother for things I was supposed to have done. It was a complete character assassination. It all killed me. But it spurred me on and I’ve emerged stronger."

"

What he really meant:

"

“I felt like tobacco—masticated, used and spat out.”

"

What he definitely didn’t:

"

“I still have bite marks on me. Love bites from the game, these.”

"

Andrew Flintoff Scores a Goal for Duncan Fletcher

What he said:

"

“I bet you he’s tearing his hair out.”

"

Andrew Flintoff contends that Team India coach,Duncan Fletcher, is extremely frustrated by the Indian team’s performance in England. The Indians trail 0-3 in the Test series.

What he really meant:

"

“Fletcher’s tearing his hair out—for now. He’ll soon start tearing out other body parts as well, if the trend continues.”

"

What he definitely didn’t:

"

“Fletcher’s to have a hair transplant soon. He’s creating space.”

"

Disclaimer

Disclaimer:

"What he said" quotes are true and attributed.

"What he really meant" and "What he definitely didn't" quotes are fictional.