Peter Hayter questions those who leap to the defence of players who always choose to take the attacking option

Oops! David Gower gets out to another attacking shot
PICTURE: Getty Images

How many times, when supporters of a particular player have attempted to elicit our understanding and sympathy after another of their hero’s brainless dismissals, have we heard the following words?
“That’s the way he plays,” we are told. “That’s his game,” they say, “that’s his natural instinct. You can’t criticise him for that and don’t...