***Official England in India***

[Burgey]

From Cricinfo:

"The reason for the poor attendance is that people have work to do, for goodness sake, and don't have time anymore to goof off for five days. This isn't India of the 1990s where one can conveniently develop a stomach ache on match days. Jobs are hard to come by, layoffs are in the air, there is a recession on and watching Dravid make 10 runs off 10,000 balls isn't exactly on anyone's priority, except for retired fans and cricket hacks in denial who are paid to watch Test cricket. Test cricket is on the death bed. Wake up, get real, smell the south Indian Kappee - and concentrate on Twenty20, the real saviour of cricket."

That's probably right to an extent, but there are over a billion people. Surely it's not much to ask several 10s of thousands to front on any given day of international cricket?

Anyone know if this is on Fox in Australia?

 

[Precambrian]

That's probably right to an extent, but there are over a billion people. Surely it's not much to ask several 10s of thousands to front on any given day of international cricket?

Anyone know if this is on Fox in Australia?

These 10s of 1000s have their families and have to be fed, and so need to work.

 

[Martin1]

The boys have done well!

 

[Martin1]

Never really looked in any trouble. I reckon 450 is on the cards.

 

[Martin1]

I am very new to this. Could someone show me that they have are there,

 

[TT Boy]

I am very new to this. Could someone show me that they have are there,

You what?

 

[Richard]

Surely someone else is interested in Test cricket!

Some people have to sleep a bit.

Anyway, well played so far by the two openers.

 

[Richard]

Bloody hell, it has been quiet. Hopefully in a Test where there was some play anticipated (I didn't bother getting-up at 3:45 because I'd thrown the lot in with the assumption that there'd be no play) it might be a bit livelier.

Anyway, 50 for Strauss, well played.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

No coverage in NZ otherwise I'd be watchin!

England look as if they're going well though.

 

[Goughy]

Bloody hell, it has been quiet.

TBH, there has not been much happening. India creating little and England accumulating.

ATM, its a game for watching rather than commenting on.

 

[pup11]

Good stuff from England this, but i guess its a flat surface therefore i expect England to make close to 500 runs and then i expect India to do the same, pretty early to say this but imo this test could just prove to be a high scoring draw.

 

[Richard]

TBH, there has not been much happening. India creating little and England accumulating.

ATM, its a game for watching rather than commenting on.

True, I guess.

50 for Cook too.

 

[Stapel]

4000 test runs for Strauss!

 

[Richard]

Good stuff from England this, but i guess its a flat surface therefore i expect England to make close to 500 runs and then i expect India to do the same, pretty early to say this but imo this test could just prove to be a high scoring draw.

Yeah, that does look a perfectly decent possibility, but don't ever bank against England's ability to fall in a heap, quickly.

If these two can keep going it'll be huge. A 200-run stand would be a really good way to dispel the notion that they can't open together. Whether they're both good enough to do that now remains to be seen though. They won't, though, I don't think get that many better opportunties.

 

[Richard]

Haha, how predictable was that? If Cook's faulty technique isn't getting him out early, he gives it away for 60 or 70.

 

[tooextracool]

Consolidation has never been a buzz word for England, but heres a chance for them to build on a good start. However, past experience with England suggests that 1 wicket brings 3.

 

[pup11]

Consolidation has never been a buzz word for England, but heres a chance for them to build on a good start. However, past experience with England suggests that 1 wicket brings 3.

Haha.... that's true, but the wickets seems too lifeless for something like that to happen, English batting is also decent enough, and btw expecting Collingwood to make up for his poor form in the ODI series with a good showing in the test series.

 

[wpdavid]

I didn't expect this, so credit to the openers for proving me wrong in a good way for once. Apparently there was an issue with Straus being given not out whne Dravid may not have caught the ball cleanly?

Wuth a track this easy you feel we need 500+ to be safe. Or will the weather make sure there'sbo chance of a result anyway?

 

[tooextracool]

I didn't expect this, so credit to the openers for proving me wrong in a good way for once. Apparently there was an issue with Straus being given not out whne Dravid may not have caught the ball cleanly?

Was a question of whether ball hit the ground after hitting the bat. Replays were inconcolusive as the ball appeared to hit the bat and the ground in the same frame.

 

[Goughy]

I didn't expect this, so credit to the openers for proving me wrong in a good way for once. Apparently there was an issue with Straus being given not out whne Dravid may not have caught the ball cleanly?

There was a bump ball that was sent upstairs. Was never out and the correct decision was made.