Cricket- the sport not the insect

[movingtarget]

Since both countries did **** in India and the conditions that the England curators will arguably throw up will be similar to Indian conditions, it should be pretty even I would say. Only difference - well big difference is the quality of your spinner and as a whole, you're probably better off by one batsmen.

I'm an Aussie. Just because I sometimes praise the English, don't make that mistake !

 

[darwin553]

I'm an Aussie. Just because I sometimes praise the English, don't make that mistake !

Probably why you made that mistake about England's recent fortunes in India, am I right?

 

[movingtarget]

Probably why you made that mistake about England's recent fortunes in India, am I right?

Not sure that was me. But we beat India easy in Australia then they did the same to us in India. Always hard to win over there.

 

[Alphabet]

Winning a test series in India is one of the toughest challenges in world cricket. Certainly the toughest for non-Asian teams (in turn, for Asian teams, the biggest challenge is winning a series in Australia/England/South Africa). A 4-0 loss is certainly unacceptable, but there was no way Australia were going to win that series with such a pathetic squad. Moises Henriques and Xavier Doherty, I ask you.

 

[darwin553]

Winning a test series in India is one of the toughest challenges in world cricket. Certainly the toughest for non-Asian teams (in turn, for Asian teams, the biggest challenge is winning a series in Australia/England/South Africa). A 4-0 loss is certainly unacceptable, but there was no way Australia were going to win that series with such a pathetic squad. Moises Henriques and Xavier Doherty, I ask you.

Blame Doherty at least Henriques contributed with the bat.

 

[Alphabet]

The umpiring has been really poor this test.

 

[movingtarget]

Now we have blind umpires to contend with. What was the umpire thinking and Broad should have walked anyway. He must have known that he hit it. Shocking decision by the umpire.

 

[Alphabet]

It's regrettable that Broad didn't walk, but he's not a cheater. He didn't break any rules of the sport. Sportsmanship and fair play aren't rules. It's not comparable to say, Suarez's handball at the 2010 World Cup.

 

[cycladianpirate]

Now we have blind umpires to contend with. What was the umpire thinking and Broad should have walked anyway. He must have known that he hit it. Shocking decision by the umpire.

I think it's got to the point when only the English are supposed to walk (no doubt with a stiff upper lip firmly ensconced on their face as they head back to the pavilion) and it only shocks when an englishman doesn't. Frankly, those days are over. I'd say the majority of test cricketers don't walk these days.

 

[Cyivel]

Now that was a bad decision.

 

[Pricey_sky]

There have been some poor decisions in this match.

How many do England need to be safe then? At the start of the day if have probably taken a lead of 250 but the pitch doesn't look like it's doing a great deal this evening. Swann will be the key I feel.

 

[Alphabet]

You can't blame him for not walking. The sport has changed, cricket isn't the gentleman's pastime anymore, it's serious business. When Gilchrist walked in the 2003 World Cup final, apparently when he got back in the dressing room the rest of the Australian team were very, very angry with him.

Of course, the guys back in the viewing room were a bit stunned at what I'd done. Flabbergasted, really, that I'd do it in a World Cup semi. While I sat there, thinking about it and being asked about it, I kept going back to the fact that, well, at the end of the day, I had been honest with myself. I felt it was time that players made a stand to take back responsibility for the game. I was at ease with that. The more I thought about it, the more settled I became with what I'd done. You did it for the right reasons.

That was on a personal level. But what about my commitment to the team? I couldn't entirely keep a lid on the negative thoughts. If we lose this game, how am I going to feel?

We were 1-34 in the sixth when I came back into the sheds. But suddenly Ricky [Ponting] had scooped one up from Vaas in the next over and we were 2-37 in the seventh. It was the sort of wicket that was difficult to play big shots on. Playing through a ball a bit early encourages it to pop up, and that's how Vaas got Matt Hayden in the 12th. Three for 51.

The nerves were so intense at that point, my self-doubt was mounting. Even if I'd been bowled middle stump, I still would have been kicking myself for having lost control of the game.

I suppose Broad would have gotten the same reception from the English team if he walked.

 

[movingtarget]

I think it's got to the point when only the English are supposed to walk (no doubt with a stiff upper lip firmly ensconced on their face as they head back to the pavilion) and it only shocks when an englishman doesn't. Frankly, those days are over. I'd say the majority of test cricketers don't walk these days.

I don't expect only English to walk. But if they know they hit it and sometimes they don't, then they should walk. He definitely knew he hit that one and the noise was clear as was the deflection. I know most players don't walk but to me that's not a good thing. It's a personal thing. That was not a slight edge it was a clear deflection backed up by the replay, hot spot and snicko. More importantly I hope these umpires are not doing the whole series. Even the commentator said "what is he standing there for" and another one said later, it took courage not to walk. What sort of comment is that ? They are praising people now for not walking when they are clearly out. It's absurd. And they have to overhaul the stupid review system, a handful of reviews is not enough for a whole innings. They have the technology why not use it more often.

 

[cycladianpirate]

I don't expect only English to walk. But if they know they hit it and sometimes they don't, then they should walk. He definitely knew he hit that one and the noise was clear as was the deflection. I know most players don't walk but to me that's not a good thing. It's a personal thing. That was not a slight edge it was a clear deflection backed up by the replay, hot spot and snicko. More importantly I hope these umpires are not doing the whole series. Even the commentator said "what is he standing there for" and another one said later, it took courage not to walk. What sort of comment is that ? They are praising people now for not walking when they are clearly out. It's absurd. And they have to overhaul the stupid review system, a handful of reviews is not enough for a whole innings. They have the technology why not use it more often.

OK:

1. Even if it's the slightest snick - you know you've hit it - anyone who's played knows that if their honest. Not walking on an absolutely obvious deflection is no worse, morally, than on a feather touch.

2. I don't know how you were watching/listening to the match but on BBC Test Match Special there was thinly disguised moral outrage against Broad (save for Boycott (quelle surprise) and Glenn McGrath who didn't see what the problem was. There is still an element of "it's simply not done old chap - never mind what the colonials do" in the mindset of Messrs Blofeld and Agnew.

3. To some extent, the Aussies have only themselves to blame. They used up their reviews on spurious LBW appeals. If they had confined themselves to reviewing the truly egregious umpiring ****-ups, this wouldn't be a problem. They've tried to use the system to their advantage and got caught out. No sympathy whatsoever.

4. Lastly, if you take the view that there should still be a 'spirit of the game', I entirely agree with you. But it's not just in Cricket that that sort of mindset has disappeared - perhaps forever.

 

[darwin553]

Good day for England. As for Broad not walking and being a cricketer myself I can understand the need to stand your ground until you have been given out, so I don't really have an axe to grind with him. Dar on the other hand...both umpies should be given their marching orders from umpiring any other test for the rest of this series and maybe the next.

 

[darwin553]

Now that was a bad decision.

There are degrees of bad - and that one last night was way up there but as bad as this one? I don't know - notice the umpire...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAcFSR8C0rQ

 

[movingtarget]

There are degrees of bad - and that one last night was way up there but as bad as this one? I don't know - notice the umpire...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAcFSR8C0rQ

My God. Bring in some decent umpires.

 

[movingtarget]

OK:

1. Even if it's the slightest snick - you know you've hit it - anyone who's played knows that if their honest. Not walking on an absolutely obvious deflection is no worse, morally, than on a feather touch.

2. I don't know how you were watching/listening to the match but on BBC Test Match Special there was thinly disguised moral outrage against Broad (save for Boycott (quelle surprise) and Glenn McGrath who didn't see what the problem was. There is still an element of "it's simply not done old chap - never mind what the colonials do" in the mindset of Messrs Blofeld and Agnew.

3. To some extent, the Aussies have only themselves to blame. They used up their reviews on spurious LBW appeals. If they had confined themselves to reviewing the truly egregious umpiring ****-ups, this wouldn't be a problem. They've tried to use the system to their advantage and got caught out. No sympathy whatsoever.

4. Lastly, if you take the view that there should still be a 'spirit of the game', I entirely agree with you. But it's not just in Cricket that that sort of mindset has disappeared - perhaps forever.

Both teams have received terrible decisions. Agar's stumping, he was given benefit of the doubt and those ones go both ways. I did not see enough of the game to see how the Aussies wasted their reviews but I still think that system could be improved a lot and then you have the problems with the technology break downs which happen from time to time. Umpiring is not easy and I have seen Dar do excellently but what Warne said is right. He gets the crucial decisions wrong sometimes.

 

[darwin553]

Both teams have received terrible decisions. Agar's stumping, he was given benefit of the doubt and those ones go both ways. I did not see enough of the game to see how the Aussies wasted their reviews but I still think that system could be improved a lot and then you have the problems with the technology break downs which happen from time to time. Umpiring is not easy and I have seen Dar do excellently but what Warne said is right. He gets the crucial decisions wrong sometimes.

I think we have to be careful as to who really has had the short end of the stick when it comes to bad umpiring decisions.

For argument's sake because they both are 'benefit of the doubt' decisions, let us say Agar's decision and Rogers' decision cancel each other out, so therefore the slate is cleaned. That non-decision by Dar was not a wicket with any doubt surrounding it and Broad was clearly out.

 

[movingtarget]

I think we have to be careful as to who really has had the short end of the stick when it comes to bad umpiring decisions.

For argument's sake because they both are 'benefit of the doubt' decisions, let us say Agar's decision and Rogers' decision cancel each other out, so therefore the slate is cleaned. That non-decision by Dar was not a wicket with any doubt surrounding it and Broad was clearly out.

Typical Ashes. These decisions against both teams will just ramp up the rivalry and the sledging. Ashes cricket still the best contest in cricket.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

God save our Aussie team, Long live our Aussie team, God save the Aussie Team, Send them victorious, happy and glorious, long to reign over England, God save the Aussie team!

This could be a glorious anthem for Australia JOhn Farnham - You're The Voice

 

[movingtarget]

Record run chase needed by Aussies.

 

[movingtarget]

Record run chase needed by the Aussies at this ground.

 

[darwin553]

Record run chase needed by the Aussies at this ground.

I liked your first attempt. Much more concise

 

[Alphabet]

Australia will probably end up about 100 runs short here, unless Clarke scores a double century or something.