***Official*** England in India

[adharcric]

Spot on Sanz. The BCCI is absolutely disgraceful in the way it treats the most passionate, cricket-loving fans in the world.

 

[kvemuri]

Spot on Sanz. The BCCI is absolutely disgraceful in the way it treats the most passionate, cricket-loving fans in the world.

You guys gotta be kidding me, well I will agree to the fact that BCCI is the richest and at the same time most dis-organized cricketing boards which probably doesn't give two hoots about its fans, but come on the fans need to take some responsibility too. Its like we are completely absolving moronic and absolute hooliganism and putting the blame on something else. Its like a 25 year old shooting a random guy on the street and the mom and dad getting blamed for it, granted at some level the mom and dad are responsible for the 25 year old's actions but the final verdict lies at the feet of the 25 year old. The fans in this case have more to be blamed than BCCI. As much as I personally dislike BCCI and there un-professional bs, in this case the fans were absolute idiots, you cannot absolve them of that, period.

 

[Sanz]

Fans may not realize it, but playing him continuously and not giving him rest might have worse effects and lead to his performance dipping or an injury development. That would be cheating the fans far more. Besides, it's not like the replacements are trash ... Uthappa can put on a show for the crowd I suppose.

Well in that case why play 7 ODIs at all ? Or why not announce in the beginning of the series itself that Rahul wont be playing in last 3 ODIs for so and so reasons. If the series was not decided, do you think Rahul was going to be rested ?

Btw - How would you feel when you spend 100 bucks for watching Tendulkar, Dravid etc and all you are going to get is Uthapa, Dhawan etc ? Seriously dude, people come to watch Dravids and Tendulkars not Uthapa. No matter how well he plays.

I am told that 800 Rs. tickets weren't even sold until yesterday although student tickets ( Rs. 250 ) were sold out. People are just not interested because of heat and no Rahul Dravid.

 

[Sanz]

You guys gotta be kidding me, well I will agree to the fact that BCCI is the richest and at the same time most dis-organized cricketing boards which probably doesn't give two hoots about its fans, but come on the fans need to take some responsibility too. Its like we are completely absolving moronic and absolute hooliganism and putting the blame on something else. Its like a 25 year old shooting a random guy on the street and the mom and dad getting blamed for it, granted at some level the mom and dad are responsible for the 25 year old's actions but the final verdict lies at the feet of the 25 year old. The fans in this case have more to be blamed than BCCI. As much as I personally dislike BCCI and there un-professional bs, in this case the fans were absolute idiots, you cannot absolve them of that, period.

Not really. I am not going to blame the fans after what they go through on the day of the match. They are treated like prisoners, go through the security which may rival the airport security in western countries, no water, no food, waiting in 45 Degrees with the hope that there will be a match and after they have waited patiently for several hours, all at a sudden the game is called off ?

 

[kvemuri]

Not really. I am not going to blame the fans after what they go through on the day of the match. They are treated like prisoners, go through the security which may rival the airport security in western countries, no water, no food, waiting in 45 Degrees with the hope that there will be a match and after they have waited patiently for several hours, all at a sudden the game is called off ?

I understand that and I empathize with them, also knowing BCCI, they are highly disorganized and utterly inept. But at the same time, its not like the game was called off all of a sudden with no rhyme and reason, there were clear indications driving upto that day with the weather at Guwahati that the game may or mayn't happen. If you are going to say that the board needs to know the weather 2/3 months before, what do you say about the fan who has been closely watching the weather for the day or the day before.

As a fan you do hope for the best but with the practical situation at hand, weather that is and its not in anyone's control, the fans should have realized that the game mayn't happen. I am reminded of a Rolling Stones song here "You Can't Always Get What You Want", so just because you don't get it its ok to behave as a moron, no way, also they should have realized that its in their best interest to put up a decent behavior, as much as the players are representing their nation, so are the fans.

Their behavior was definitely reprehensible, although from BCCI prespective they should have refunded the tickets. But absolving the fans of all responsibility cause they were waiting for hours is setting a precedent to the next thing to happen, what next and where does this stop? I am sorry Sanz, I know you mean well, but I can't agree with you on this especially for their rowdy behavior.

 

[adharcric]

You guys gotta be kidding me, well I will agree to the fact that BCCI is the richest and at the same time most dis-organized cricketing boards which probably doesn't give two hoots about its fans, but come on the fans need to take some responsibility too. Its like we are completely absolving moronic and absolute hooliganism and putting the blame on something else. Its like a 25 year old shooting a random guy on the street and the mom and dad getting blamed for it, granted at some level the mom and dad are responsible for the 25 year old's actions but the final verdict lies at the feet of the 25 year old. The fans in this case have more to be blamed than BCCI. As much as I personally dislike BCCI and there un-professional bs, in this case the fans were absolute idiots, you cannot absolve them of that, period.

Well the fans should definitely take some blame for incidents like these, but we're talking about the deeper problem here. When you treat the fans like trash, they're more likely to erupt when things don't go right, especially when they put so much hope and money in the prospect of watching a cricket match. Fans from England, Australia etc won't understand because the situation there is nothing like what goes on in India.

That said, if fans are so immature that upon waiting for 4 hours in heat (or whatever) and not getting cricket, they'll start burning the stands, injuring the policemen and destroying expensive cameras which are crucial to their beloved sport of cricket, they should stay at home and watch.

 

[adharcric]

Well in that case why play 7 ODIs at all ? Or why not announce in the beginning of the series itself that Rahul wont be playing in last 3 ODIs for so and so reasons. If the series was not decided, do you think Rahul was going to be rested ?

Btw - How would you feel when you spend 100 bucks for watching Tendulkar, Dravid etc and all you are going to get is Uthapa, Dhawan etc ? Seriously dude, people come to watch Dravids and Tendulkars not Uthapa. No matter how well he plays.

I am told that 800 Rs. tickets weren't even sold until yesterday although student tickets ( Rs. 250 ) were sold out. People are just not interested because of heat and no Rahul Dravid.

I know people would be disappointed not to watch their adored superstars play and so would I. But you have to look at it from a practical standpoint and not an emotional standpoint, no player in their right mind should risk their performance/fitness just because fans in one city really want to see him in action ... especially someone as crucial as Dravid. How would the BCCI announce beforehand that he'll be rested at the end if they don't know that India would clean sweep the first 4 matches? It's only because we've clinched it that we can afford to do the smart thing and give the big boys some rest. The fans are important but the well-being and good performance of the team is what makes the fans happy in the long run.

Btw, people don't come to watch Dravid or Tendulkar anymore, they come to watch Dhoni. Especially in Jamshedpur. So don't worry about the fans, they'll have their share of fun from "Boom Boom Dhoni" ...

 

[marc71178]

Dont think that the match was hindered by Guwahati fans- they only started going nuts when play was called off and the rumour of 'no refund' started circulating.

But they were the ones who destroyed the cameras were they not?

The same cameras who's potential absense could have lead to the 6th game being called off?

 

[adharcric]

Preferred XI: 6th ODI at Jamshedpur

England
A Strauss*
I Bell
O Shah
K Pietersen
V Solanki
P Collingwood
M Prior+
I Blackwell
G Batty
J Anderson
M Hoggard

India
V Sehwag*
R Uthappa
M Kaif
Y Singh
S Raina
V Rao
MS Dhoni+
R Powar
M Patel
VR Singh
RP Singh

 

[open365]

England
A Strauss*
I Bell
O Shah
K Pietersen
V Solanki
P Collingwood
M Prior+
I Blackwell
G Batty
J Anderson
M Hoggard

I defintely want Jones out, but i don't see the point in Hoggard being there, he's shown time and time again that he just isn't a one day player and no amount of test wickets will change that.

 

[Jono]

The fact comes down to, no matter how bad the conditions are, now matter how hot it is and how crap the facilities are and all that, you do not have the right to riot, destroy property and throw rocks and other missiles at other people, whether they be police officers, players or whatever.

What you do is you go home, and boycott the cricket and go on with your lives. You can swear all you like and be upset, but you do not go out of your way to 1) hurt people and 2) damage other people's property.

Point blank, the BCCI may be idiots, but they didn't throw rocks at police officers KOing them. That is all it comes down too.

 

[Sanz]

Btw, people don't come to watch Dravid or Tendulkar anymore, they come to watch Dhoni. Especially in Jamshedpur. So don't worry about the fans, they'll have their share of fun from "Boom Boom Dhoni" ...

*Ahem* - I am from the steel town of Jamshedpur and in my town people prefer to watch Dravids and Tendulkars over Dhoni.

 

[Sanz]

Point blank, the BCCI may be idiots, but they didn't throw rocks at police officers KOing them. That is all it comes down too.

FYI - Police treats fans like ****, one has to be there to experience it. Police did beat couple of spectators who reportedly had nothing to do with the crowd trouble.

Btw, stones were thrown at people only after police discharged tear gas at the crowd.

 

[Sanz]

You can swear all you like and be upset, but you do not go out of your way to 1) hurt people and 2) damage other people's property.

IMO they have every right to react the way they did after :-

a>Tear gases are thrown in the crowd
b> BCCI refused to refund their money.

 

[honestbharani]

*Ahem* - I am from the steel town of Jamshedpur and in my town people prefer to watch Dravids and Tendulkars over Dhoni.

I don't think you are the majority there, Sanz. It is natural for locals to get excited about hometown talent, esp. when it is as exciting as Dhoni.

 

[Goughy]

IMO they have every right to react the way they did

Wow, remind me never to get in your bad books. Thats kinda extreme

 

[adharcric]

IMO they have every right to react the way they did after :-

a>Tear gases are thrown in the crowd
b> BCCI refused to refund their money.

But the crowd threw sticks and bottles and started burning stands before the tear gas came along. So it was called for. The conclusion is ... blame the cops, blame the fans AND blame the BCCI. Oh, blame Dalmiya too ... just for fun.

 

[adharcric]

I defintely want Jones out, but i don't see the point in Hoggard being there, he's shown time and time again that he just isn't a one day player and no amount of test wickets will change that.

a) you don't have too much to lose
b) his competitors (ali, plunkett, mahmood) aren't going to light the world on fire
c) after what he's done in tests, he deserves one final chance to prove that he isn't utter garbage and history in ODIs

 

[open365]

a) you don't have too much to lose
b) his competitors (ali, plunkett, mahmood) aren't going to light the world on fire
c) after what he's done in tests, he deserves one final chance to prove that he isn't utter garbage and history in ODIs

We say this every time he does well, and he it never works.

 

[pskov]

Why do people want G. Jones out? He's been our most consistent batsman in this series after KP (not hard I know), especially when considering the situations he's been coming into, and his keeping all winter has been much improved over the Ashes.