***Official*** England in India

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I know that Liam. So why judge Tendulkar even when his career isn't over.

Why are addressing me with that question?

If you read over my posts you'll see that I never confronted you on the basis of that.

 

[Tom Halsey]

EDIT: I know you aren't from the subcontinent, but I am interested to know how people outside rate them.

Tests are far more important than ODIs outside the sub-continent.

 

[silentstriker]

I think you're the one being pedantic. Of course he's not going to meet every Indian in existence.

Right, I am not arguing that every Indian somehow has the same opinions on things. But simply commenting on the general pulse of the population as I read it from my personal experience.

I bet more Indians prefer Test cricket than the population of Australia. But thats still a very small minority.

Tests are far more important than ODIs outside the sub-continent.

Yes, but what about a test series win against Zimbabwe vs. World Cup? Thats why I asked for your personal rankings.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I think you're the one being pedantic.

Great. Now show me where I said otherwise.

 

[Pratters]

Why are addressing me with that question?

If you read over my posts you'll see that I never confronted you on the basis of that.

Because you brought it up I assumed you meant regarding the same. Okay point over.

 

[Tom Halsey]

Yes, but what about a test series win against Zimbabwe vs. World Cup? Thats why I asked for your personal rankings.

In all fairness, I'd rather the WC than a Test series over a minnow.

But I'd rather a Test series against an average side than the WC, personally.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Because you brought it up I assumed you meant regarding the same. Okay point over.

Misunderstanding, then. My point extended as far as two facts of cricket:

1. Bad decisions happen.
2. Tendulkar is old in terms of cricket.

I draw no conclusions from those facts as I'm scared of any argument regarding the greatness of Tendulkar (or Lara for that matter) as those generally spiral out of control.

Moving on...

 

[Tom Halsey]

Great. Now show me where I said otherwise.

Now show me where I said you did... I was merely making a point, not saying you said otherwise.

 

[Pratters]

Misunderstanding, then. My point extended as far as two facts of cricket:

1. Bad decisions happen.
2. Tendulkar is old in terms of cricket.

I draw no conclusions from those facts as I'm scared of any argument regarding the greatness of Tendulkar (or Lara for that matter) as those generally spiral out of control.

Moving on...

Yep. Agree to both. Actually every thing in that post.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Now show me where I said you did... I was merely making a point, not saying you said otherwise.

Ok. It sounded like an accusation. I was just clearing up that I had already conceded the point.

Moving on...

 

[Tom Halsey]

Ok. It sounded like an accusation. I was just clearing up that I had already conceded the point.

Moving on...

In which case I apologise, it wasn't meant to.

 

[kvemuri]

An average of 38 isn't horrible for a batsman thats out of form. Averaging 40 shouldn't be a cause for any serious concern (a lot of good batsman scored 40 over their career).

An average of about 30, however, is definatly a cause for concern.

I think the Indian media is totally nuts rather than going on a positive note of how wonderfullly Kaif and Kumble played to take India from a hopeless situation (I am not saying there is hope yet) at 190/7 to 322/9, they are slowly starting to focus on ST's batting failure and shortly we will see the Endulkar crap coming back.

 

[Xuhaib]

Generally speaking, popularity does influence importance and vice-versa - the more important it is, the more people will watch it. Trying to argue otherwise is nonsense.

I don't agree with it, but it is obvious that ODIs are considered to be more important in the sub-continent.

In Pakistan people prefer to watch their team win at the end of the day instead of watching a good day's cricket and thats the reason we get to see more crowd in Odi's then test matches.

On the other hand if there is a result possible for the home team then there will be large crowd on the result-day of the test match, the recently concluded test with India is a good example.

As for the subject of popularity i would say the T.V viewership for both test and Odi would be quite similar with Odi's just shaving it due to Day-night encounters and more 4 and 6's which appeals to the female fans, but one thing is certain majority of the fans understand that winning a test match is more difficult then an Odi so it would be deemed as more important.

 

[kvemuri]

Not Raina. Laxman can say goodbye to his spot in the next test if Yuvraj is fit.

Laxman should say goodbye to his spot, if Yuvi is fit.

 

[steds]

In which case I apologise, it wasn't meant to.

Awww. Bless your little () cotton socks. You'll be asking for a group hug next.







...

 

[wpdavid]

As mentioned by Scaly elsewhere, the whole of this England side is under 30. has anyone any thoughts on when else that has happened?

 

[steds]

No, but I think they'd better not stay up past their bedtime.

 

[kvemuri]

I don't think England are in the driver's seat at all.

The lead is only 71 runs (with 1 wicket left) and I can easily see England collapsing to spin for <200 in the second innings. Also, England only have one spinner for the fourth innings (sorry Anna, Blackwell doesn't count).

*waits to be proven wrong by the Somerset deity*

I would've agreed with that statement if out of the 19 wkts to fall more than 5 were taken by spinners from both sides. Also I am not so sure that England are as bad as made out to play against spin, Collingwood showed the temperament in the first innings of how to deal with spin and I fully expect other English batsmen to follow the cue.

For the state of the game, I consider Eng to be in drivers seat with a 71 run lead, I will take that 71 at any time compared to one point where they seemed to be heading towards have a leading of close to 170 and with at least 30 overs in the day to spare.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I would've agreed with that statement if out of the 19 wkts to fall more than 5 were taken by spinners from both sides. Also I am not so sure that England are as bad as made out to play against spin, Collingwood showed the temperament in the first innings of how to deal with spin and I fully expect other English batsmen to follow the cue.

For the state of the game, I consider Eng to be in drivers seat with a 71 run lead, I will take that 71 at any time compared to one point where they seemed to be heading towards have a leading of close to 170 and with at least 30 overs in the day to spare.

England have shown against Warne and to a lesser extent against Kaneria that they can handle quality spin, but there's a good reason why it's so hard to win in India, and it's not because of the pace bowlers.

 

[silentstriker]

As mentioned by Scaly elsewhere, the whole of this England side is under 30. has anyone any thoughts on when else that has happened?

Thats a little misleading, as a lot of them are in the late twenties (and thus their primes). They probably have two more ashes in them...but how many really young players are in their test team (I mean under the age of 24, where you can expect them to stick around for a decade)?

Not that I think England is unique in that, and in fact they are probably in very good shape with the impressive showings by Cook and Panesar. But I'm just saying.