STAR Cricket presenter Jatin Sapru shares his experience with English fans after Australia were knocked out of the ICC World T20.

Everyone knew what would happened if Sri Lanka beat them. Just the second match for the Kangaroos, and an exit from the ICC World Twenty20 was staring at them.

The stands were full of Sri Lankan supporters, with a handful of typically loud, beer guzzling Aussies.

Relive the ICC World Twenty20 in England

There wasn't a shortage of English supporters too, who were there to make a mockery of the guys in yellow. After all a dent in their confidence here, would surely show some signs in the upcoming Ashes.

Punter missed a trick too many, and just when Sri Lanka needed about 30 off three overs I was making a trip to the dug-out area to line up my post match interviews. The over started from the Pavilion End, and hence I could not walk across, was asked by a steward to wait.

Just about there, were two old women (also stewards), who were talking about the match and sharing a laughter. Since I happened to stand next to them, we got chatting and they were funny as hell. One of them said, ‘My day's so made, I can't wait to see Ricky's face when they lose'.

The other one, a little more English, said in a typically astute dignified fan manner, ‘Well you can't come to a World Championship with an alcoholic all-rounder, an arrogant captain, and a few young bunnies who perform once a blue moon'.

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‘Absolutely Shite, They deserve this'. It was the mid-over break as I bid goodbye and walked further, wondering if Australia have really lost the plot, forget the dominance. The scene was no better near the dug-out in the pavilion stands. Comments aimed at the Aussies in the dug-out were hilarious.

A fat drunk Englishman shouted, ‘It ain't as simple as making a Kangaroo steak eh!, Coom the Ashes, we'll embarrass you foorther you shites'.

Phew, the temperature was rising despite chilly winds. And just when Mitch's wide got the Lankans home, the roar in the crowd was loud and seemed to have equal Lankan and English cheers.

That's the most fascinating thing I've come across in this country. Perhaps cricket isn't a religion here, like it is in India, but even if a 100 million of them like the game, they literally live it.

It isn't just packed stands in the World Cup games, but you see the same in a county game.

They don't just follow the stars, they follow the game. And what adds to the fun is the way they see the cricket.

Once the security checks are done outside the stadium, it's carnival time. Beer flows, lamb and pork steakes, fish n chips, ah what not. So time for me to head back to enjoy some more English flavor, see you again.

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