***Official*** India in England

[GIMH]

Yeah, great cricket to watch from a neutral perspective. India completely outplayed England in this test. The talk about the toss being the winning factor is complete BS and loser talk from English fans - the fact is that India still had to bowl well to exploit the conditions.

The swing bowling that India produced in England's 2nd Innings was by far superior to their bowling to England in the 1st innings, yet England managed to hit 300+ with the bowl moving crazily... don't really see why the Sky commentators put it down to India's luck for winning the toss, it was just rubbish batting from England in the 1st innings!

Oh, and the guy who thinks there is justice for England if it rains tomorrow, I really do feel sorry for you.

Who was it who said luck evens itself out? If that was the case, then it would rain all day today and it would be justice. A weather hit match is one thing, but the effing rain might well cost us a six year unbeaten record at home, pretty ****in dire tbh.

 

[honestbharani]

Course it is. You don't start brandishing a bat around because of jelly beans, you can either laugh it off or make a wisecrack back. To get that angry over that is completely unjustfied.

I don't think you have the right to tell what Zaheer should get angry at and what he shouldn't. The fielders had absolutely no business doing what they were doing and it upset Zaheer. Maybe it won't upset you but it doesn't mean it shouldn't upset others. If it is something that upsets him, then it is upto the fielders to not do it because batsmen own the crease... Sense of humour is different for different people and there is no way to say that one SHOULD NOT get angry over certain things, simply because it all hinges on the individual's opinion and perspective. You are certainly not the one to decide whether he should get angry or not on issues that affect him.

 

[pasag]

Meh, it was always going to rain iirc and the fact we got 4 days in the first was Test lucky as it was. It would be different if it rained here when there was a clear forecast for the last day.

 

[honestbharani]

You may take it as a joke sitting on your ass in front of a computer but test cricket is an entirely different atmosphere. Sure, Zaheer (tbf, he does get wound up rather easily) would have done well to respond with class to the jelly bean incident, which was quite lame and pathetic btw. I really doubt that it was only about the jelly beans though ... there has been plenty of verbal crap thrown about in this match. Anyways, not a big deal.

By the way, I enjoyed Prior's sleding. Some nice one-liners at Lord's IIRC.

I reckon the best one liner came from our own Dhoni, who is not very good at all this wise-cracks, AFAIC. He apparently greeted Vaughan with "It's not so easy without Freddie, is it?".

 

[GIMH]

Meh, it was always going to rain iirc and the fact we got 4 days in the first was Test lucky as it was. It would be different if it rained here when there was a clear forecast for the last day.

That doesn't make us any less lucky though does it?

Look, it happens, and I accept that, but it doesn't give an accurate reflection of the series. India are lucky that they got into form when the sun was out, for the only bloody time in this Godforsaken summer.

 

[honestbharani]

That doesn't make us any less lucky though does it?

Look, it happens, and I accept that, but it doesn't give an accurate reflection of the series. India are lucky that they got into form when the sun was out, for the only bloody time in this Godforsaken summer.

yeah, I would think it should have been 1-1 as well. I am not sure if England "deserved" to win last test because some have been pointing out their slow over rates even though they knew it would rain and it certainly wasn't helping them in their quest.... But I do think India "deserved" to lose the last test the way they played just like how England "deserve" to lose this test.

 

[pasag]

That doesn't make us any less lucky though does it?

Look, it happens, and I accept that, but it doesn't give an accurate reflection of the series. India are lucky that they got into form when the sun was out, for the only bloody time in this Godforsaken summer.

I think it does tbh, if it's always going to rain, effectively you only have a 3/4 day Test from the outset and you have to take that into account when playing and making decisions. If the rain comes out of nowhere then fine, you're unlucky, but if like in the first Test, you weren't able to bowl the other side out and the predicted rain comes, you might still be a touch unlucky, but nowhere near as unlucky as if it would happen today.

 

[honestbharani]

yeah, I would think it should have been 1-1 as well. I am not sure if England "deserved" to win last test because some have been pointing out their slow over rates even though they knew it would rain and it certainly wasn't helping them in their quest.... But I do think India "deserved" to lose the last test the way they played just like how England "deserve" to lose this test.

I am a big fan of Sreesanth as well but it is about bloody time the guy grows a brain inside that head of his. I don't mind sledging the batsmen now and then, I don't mind getting into heated verbal exchanges against the likes of Nel, Prior, Pieterson etc. who aren't exactly shy of a word or two themselves but it is completely over the line when you start shoulder barging guys like Vaughan.... It is even more unacceptable when you start to bowl no-balls deliberately so that you can try and hurt the batsman. Wavell Hinds was the most recent to do it against Graeme Smith I think, but at least he had a reason because he thought Smith said something racist. This was just ridiculous at best and atrocious at worst. I don't care if we lose the next test because of this but this guy should not play for the rest of the tour. And then let's see if someone can knock some sense into his head. What the hell has he achieved to be behaving like this, I don't understand. He is becoming the Marlon Samuels of our team.

 

[GIMH]

I think it does tbh, if it's always going to rain, effectively you only have a 3/4 day Test from the outset and you have to take that into account when playing and making decisions. If the rain comes out of nowhere then fine, you're unlucky, but if like in the first Test, you weren't able to bowl the other side out and the predicted rain comes, you might still be a touch unlucky, but nowhere near as unlucky as if it would happen today.

Disagree, but there you go. Let's not forget that almost every time it has rained, play has been safe to resume around 5.30/6pm. The exception? Day 5, Lord's. Rain is rain, and it came at a bad time for us

 

[pasag]

Anyways, hope India get the runs quickly, need to start doing uni work again.

 

[Fiery]

Anyways, hope India get the runs quickly, need to start doing uni work again.

That's what laps are for

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Disagree, but there you go. Let's not forget that almost every time it has rained, play has been safe to resume around 5.30/6pm. The exception? Day 5, Lord's. Rain is rain, and it came at a bad time for us

I agree to an extent with you here. Let's not forget that Pakistan have been given dispensation for 6 day tests because the 'sun sets too early' (as I recall). Why shouldn't there be a set number of overs to be bowled that should fit into a 5 day period if rain/bad light doesn't come - with (maybe) two reserve days to catch up - meaning a week long period is set aside for any individual test match.

If there's no play in more than 2 of the first five days, then end it after 5. Its about time that rain wasn't the determining factor in modern day test matches and teams had to earn draws rather than the rain saved them.

By the way, this is as much a recognition of the fact that NZC keeps arranging our (very limited number of) test matches for March when the weather cannot be relied upon to last for more than a day without some poor weather intervening. If Pakistan can have 'special dispensation' due to the sunset, why can't other countries guarantee a certain number of overs?

 

[shehanwije]

Pietersen vs Indians: Sledging, Beamers and Controversy - 2nd Test, 2007

Controversy from Trent Bridge, July 2007.

The umpires (Taufel and Howell) were forced to intervene after Zaheer advanced on Pietersen brandishing his bat as tempers frayed on the third evening of the second Test - shades of the infamous Lillee and Miandad exchange from the 80's. Srishanth then bowled a beamer at Pietersen when he came into bat.

See video clip at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLDotfoDHms

 

[Jono]

Lesson of this test... don't **** with Zaheer Khan.

What a gun!

 

[PhoenixFire]

Sreesanth getting fined part of his match fee for shoulder barging Vaughan, what a moron.

 

[Perm]

I must say I'm surprised with the attitude that the Indians have got, Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan both seemed to have had quite aggressive moments and it seems as though they are showing a fair bit of fight. The attitude is good to see, although I'm not overly fond of the shoulder barging, beamers or bat waving.

 

[Jono]

Has anyone noticed that Zaheer has been conventionally swinging the ball as a left-hander more so than he did in SA, where he mainly swung it into the left hander, with the odd ball swinging away?

 

[Pratters]

Sreesanth getting fined part of his match fee for shoulder barging Vaughan, what a moron.

I was just seeing the highlights of day 3. He throws the ball directly at Strauss when Strauss has made no attempt to run and hits him with the ball.

 

[pasag]

Shastri and Botham both calling for punishment for the no-ball from the Indian management.

 

[Perm]

Shastri and Botham both calling for punishment for the no-ball from the Indian management.

I agree with their opinions.