Haha, really? Was absorbed.How long did people stay with this game yesterday? I managed about one and half hours until I fell asleep and in that time I saw one good shot from the captain and almost no chances created by the New Zealanders.
Just watching the highlights now and they could even make one hour’s worth of condensed footage interesting. Martin Crowe spent the best part of his commentary stint discussing ball tampering, Pakistan and Pringle.
Yeah, it was a more interesting story than what was actually happening on the field but whenever commentators discuss what they had for dinner last night and if they were drinking red or white, you kinda get the impression they too have lost the will to live.Earlier in the day it was a bit dull, but as I say (probably about 30-40 posts or so ago) it livened-up with Vettori and Patel bowling at Pietersen and Bell. Both of them were looking dangerous, you knew New Zealand were right on top if they could force another breakthrough or three, and the batsmen had to keep their wits about them to keep them out - which they managed.
Mills bowled one absolutely unbelievable delivery at Pietersen with the new-ball too. Shortly after the new-ball was taken, I went to bed, not through dissatisfaction with the cricket but through tiredness (have generally had to be up at 8:30-9 through this match so don't really want to leave it much later than 1:30-2 to head to bed). And so I don't know what things were like during the Collingwood-Ambrose partnership.
Was vaguely interesting, FWIW, to hear Crowe talk of the Pringle-Pakistan incident - have only ever read briefly about it before. And not sure whether there's easily-available footage as far back as 1990\91.
I'm Irish tbh.Same feeling over here supporting Kenya, I guess this makes us the only impartial commentators on this thread
What was said?Y'know, Harmison almost looks like he's about to cry as Hussain interviews him before the fourth day. One of the most revealing interviews I've ever seen from a cricketer.
Possibly the most revealing suggestion yet that Harmison simply isn't cut-out for international cricket.What was said?
Not sure about that TBH, as I said, sounded almost close to tears, but doesn't strike me as mentally "crushed" or anything. Confused, worried, yes. Unstable, no.The guy sounds like he's right on the edge of having a breakdown. Very sad, I think he needs to give up sooner rather than later or grow a backbone
If he's not cut out for it he needs to realise this and give up the game, not keep dragging down englands performances. Thats what I mean when I say grow a backbone, if he thinks he needs to be with his family all year then fair enough, just admit it and go away. Make a decision. In the interview as the commentators pointed out, he says he thinks playing for england is the most important thing after saying that his family is the most important. He needs to pull himself together and make a decision because it is pulling England down with him at the moment. Not being able to make that decision after years on the team does make him less of a human being imo btw. Wanting to be with ones family does not. Life is all about making decisions after all and he has a pretty good one if truth be told...Not everyone prioritises in the same way. Nor does everyone have the same family. There's a big difference between having a wife\girlfriend\fiancee and one kid and having a family of four or five.
As I say - Harmison may well not be cut-out, at all, for the thing that is international cricket - even just the one form. But the way some people talk, you'd think this makes him some awful excuse for a human-being: terms like "whinging"; "grow a backbone" and the like. If Harmison doesn't have what it takes to be an international cricketer, say that and leave it at that. And leave him to do what he wants to do without lambasting him for his choices.
I'm on the edge of my seat. Got to do something to rotate the strike, it's as if they have forgotten that you can score runs that aren't boundaries.