***Official*** India in England 2014

[91Jmay]

ECB haven't made a complaint, so no double standard.

 

[Prince EWS]

It was the ICC that sanctioned them as far as I recall, ZC made the complaint but ICC were the ones to inflict any punishment.

Fair enough point then, really. The fact that you oppose what he stands for is neither here nor there though.

 

[Pothas]

Well today was a lot of fun.

Yeah I know he had some luck but Jos ****ing Buttler, first time I have seen him live and I don't think I have ever seen someone hit the ball that hard.

It has been such an awful year and I am lucky enough to go to probably our best day in that time, Ballance is just a test batsman, Bell was at his best and it did not rain, great day.

 

[Blocky]

Fair enough point then, really. The fact that you oppose what he stands for is neither here nor there though.

No, it's just more about the annoyance I have when celebrities attempt to take up a cause or even worse, when sportsmen or celebrities are actively protested against solely due to their race, religion or skin colour. I don't have a "side" in the whole Israel vs Palestine conflict except to say that neither side can claim innocence and in most cases, the whole "Free Gaza" movement pays no mind to the actual history of the two nations and things like the six day war. I don't think any sportsman should use their position on international television to grandstand. If he feels that passionately about his causes, good on him - but let him do it outside of cricket, similar to Beefy or pre-matchfix Cairns.

 

[social]

I blame Jono for India's position

 

[Cabinet96]

I know Ballance was the main architect of England's innings but **** me they look so much better when Cook and Bell get runs. Anderson bowled well this evening as well, time for Broad to follow suit tomorrow.

 

[BoyBrumby]

The obvious elephant in the room with the wristbands is that Moeen is a Muslim. It's a sad but inescapable fact that there are some people (using the term in its broadest imaginable application) who still believe this alone should disbar him from representing England (happily very few of which would be cricket fans, but it's still less than 30 years since Tebbitt's infamous "cricket test" speech) and his gesture could be seized on as "proof" of this.

Can of worms, tbh. Although if it's upset Piers Morgan it must be a good thing, no?

Anyway, kudos to the chaps on the batting performance, but let's wait until we've bowled more than 14 overs before we all start sucking each others' dicks. It's a fact I haven't seen commented on too much that we've actually had first innings leads in every test of the summer so far.

 

[cricmahanty]

I don't see why the 'Save Gaza' wristband should create any problems. Viv sported a Rastafarian wristband for quite sometime during his playing days and no one really made much fuss about it.

Sportpersons are people too and are free to express themselves at a platform where everyone can see them, provided that expression is within the lines of decency. Hell, Moeen Ali didn't go about running along the Ageas Bowl outfield crying 'Save Gaza'. He merely sported a wristband. The game of cricket needs a little chill pill in cases like these.

 

[the big bambino]

Don't really think the 2 are comparable.

 

[auditor]

a little chill pill

wtf ?

 

[GIMH]

Piers Morgan will bring KP into this somehow.

 

[cricmahanty]

Don't really think the 2 are comparable.

Different contexts, yes. But Viv wore it as a sort of a message too, though it was more of a 'culture' thing in his case.

 

[cricmahanty]

wtf ?

Did I just unknowingly create a tongue twister where one has to blabber his way through a lot of 'L's ?

 

[G.I.Joe]

Did I just unknowingly create a tongue twister where one has to blabber his way through a lot of 'L's ?

Is okay. In Soviet Russia, wtf is really mean ftw.

 

[Spark]

So yeah, we have a thread about Gaza in OT. If you want to discuss the conflict in a way not directly relevant to Ali wearing a wrist band, do it there.

 

[cricmahanty]

Enough of Gaza. If England win Day-3, they'll win the Test...if India win Day-3, they'll still need a good 4th day to get out of jail.

 

[Stapel]

Enough of Gaza. If England win Day-3, they'll win the Test...if India win Day-3, they'll still need a good 4th day to get out of jail.

Indeed. An Indian win seems extremely unlikely. So, from a series point of view, that is good. India being 2-0 ahead after 3 of tests is probably not going to make this series any better. The question is, wat is the best to hope for? If England win this easily from here, which I think might happen considering yesterdays bowling by Anderson & co, the momentum might swing too much England's way. So either a draw or a tight post tea day 5 England win!

I might have asked this before, but: Is there any form of sporting rivalry in retaining the Pataudi Cup? What I mean: will England happily sit out a draw during the 5th Test if the series are levelled after the 4th Test? I guess such a thing would happen during the Ashes, right?

 

[Hurricane]

I am against his wrist bands. And I think he probably hurt his political cause through his actions rather than helping. I won't elaborate on that. I hope he gets fined.
The worst part is that if Stuart Broad had a pro-Israel wrist band then a ton of bricks would have been heaped on him. So I think it is double standards.

That is all.

Edit started this post before the topic changed.

 

[Furball]

If Moeen feels strongly enough about it to wear a wristband then fine.

I don't agree with his stance but it's one he's entitled to make without censure.

 

[Adders]

The question is, wat is the best to hope for?

Clearly the best outcome for everyone (important) is for England to bowl India out twice before tea today..........so hope for that.