Tweets taunt trounced Poms

Irish Sun (ANI) Friday 20th January, 2012

The acidic world of Twitter has compounded ICC No 1-ranked England's misery after its amazing capitulation to Pakistan in three days in the first Test in Dubai.

Tweeters from around the planet responded to England's upset defeat, with some self-deprecating British humour.

Sports24 quoted former England opening batsman Graeme Fowler as suggesting: "England's batting: if their brains were made of gunpowder, they wouldn't have enough to blow their hats off!"

Commentator Jonathan Agnew (@Aggerscricket) said: "The question after this is 'how quickly can the best team in the world learn and adapt?' Interesting to see."

Cricinfo humorist and observer Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) put the slaughter into statistical perspective: "STAT ALERT: First time since 1988 that England have lost their 7th wicket for less than 100 in both innings of a Test."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan put it particularly bluntly: "Poor ... that's all I will say."

Test Match Special commentator Simon Mann, restoring a lighter touch, said: "This is a very unbalanced England team. You simply can't go into a Test match with no batsmen ..."

Andrew Miller, editor of The Cricketer magazine in the UK, noted: "When England lose, they really do get clobbered. Inns in Kingston, Leeds and Joburg. 267 runs in Perth."

British-born but now US-based CNN heavyweight presenter Piers Morgan said: "Great morning to be somewhere (Charleston) where they think cricket is an insect. DubaiDebacle."

A prolific South African sports tweeter @Followthebounce couldn't resist a dig at Kevin Pietersen, who scored two and nought in Dubai: "Unlucky with only getting 2 runs this Test, @kevinpp24. All of us back here in SA really feel for you."

And former Proteas bowling coach Vincent Barnes (@VincentBarnes50) made the following observation: "Commentators always say how (Eoin) Morgan is such a good player of spin. Yet spin always gets him out!" (ANI)