They are the ODI title winners and a formidable force in the short-format games. They have a swashbuckling wicket-keeper who changes matches in limited-overs cricket and has as such been drafted into the Test team. They are in the face of the opponents and sledge mercilessly. 

Here's what their keeper told South Africa batsman Vernon Philander in the last game: "Move f***ing knobhead. How do you expect me to get past that f***ing gut". The keeper was fined 15 per cent of the match fee and handed one demerit point. 

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Surely we are talking about the Aussies here? Nah.

The incident involving England wicket-keeper Jos Buttler isn't the first time England have distanced themselves from the fans and thrown themselves under the bus. 

Everything about England reeks about Australia a lot of fans hated in the late 90s and early 2000s even when they stumped them with outstanding performances on the field.  

Even their commentators have been sources of nausea for fans for the vehement, yet rather one-sided, support they lend. For instance, Kevin Pietersen had tweeted this during the Ashes when Tim Paine was throwing some funny taunts at the batsmen: "Nothing more annoying than Tim Paine & Matthew Wade carrying on like pork chops, close to the bat! SHUT UP!"

When Buttler was at Philander, in a pretty obvious and more arrogant manner, Pietersen was quick to jump to his fellow Englishman's defence. "LOTS having a go at Jos Buttler here! LEAVE HIM ALONE! This is Test cricket and believe me, this is nothing compared to lots that goes on, on the field. Series is alive big time! END OF!"

The hypocrisy is pretty evident here even disregarding the fact that Buttler was abusing when Paine, in his own jestful manner, was having fun with some actually funny sledges. 

If Australia under Paine have become the good guys, their arch-rivals, England, have suddenly turned the clock back to become the Aussies who taunted them right through late 20th century and early 21st century.  

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Feature image courtesy: AFP / Marco Longari

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