*Official* England in South Africa

[Scaly piscine]

Should have referred it

Seriously though, if you're last guy out you've gotta refer it (assuming it's not a run out or whatever else to cover nitpicking) just in case it's a no-ball.

Which is something that will need looking at.

Personally think no-balls should be called by the third umpire anyway, could be going back to that shortly.

 

[King Pietersen]

Have to say, glad we went in with the 6 proper batsmen now. If we had Broad coming in next I'd have been seriously worried.

Quality leave Ian, that hit the top of middle =/

 

[Scaly piscine]

Have to say, glad we went in with the 6 proper batsmen now. If we had Broad coming in next I'd have been seriously worried.

Yea I'm ****ing jumping for joy at that useless little **** being picked.

 

[wpdavid]

Nicely done Bell - leaving a ball that went on to hit middle. Thick ****.

I mean - playing for spin at a guy who's barely turned a ball all day. Why the **** did you take your bat with you?

Yet another horrible, horrible dismissal. Can't think why some of tend not to be optimistic about this bunch of retards.

 

[LegionOfBrad]

Have to say, glad we went in with the 6 proper batsmen now. If we had Broad coming in next I'd have been seriously worried.

Ian Bell is not a proper batsman. With that leave hopefully its the end of his career.

 

[marc71178]

Personally think no-balls should be called by the third umpire anyway, could be going back to that shortly.

I've been advocating it for years.

3rd umpire does no balls, so field umpires don't have to look down then up again and readjust so quickly.

Link them up to the stump mic as well and I'd suspect there'd be far fewer errors made!

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

Do we really need all these expletives and personal attacks being thrown around? They're just honest cricketers trying to do their best. Criticise their techniques and decisions on the pitch by all means, but some people seem to have personal vendettas against Bell etc.

Shocking dismissal though, a bit like that famous Clarke v Franklin one. Has to be put down to a complete mental block.

 

[Howsie]

 

[Penguinissimo]

Ian Bell is not a proper batsman. With that leave hopefully its the end of his career.

I so hope that is true.

 

[GIMH]

 

[Pizzorno]

Do we really need all these expletives and personal attacks being thrown around? They're just honest cricketers trying to do their best. Criticise their techniques and decisions on the pitch by all means, but some people seem to have personal vendettas against Bell etc.

Fair point mate.

Now **** off out of the team Bell you usless nob. Still got Jim to come though so i'm not worried.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Personally think no-balls should be called by the third umpire anyway, could be going back to that shortly.

Serious question: Does that mean they'd have to indicate 'no balls' every time Bell walks out to bat?

I haven't seen the dismissal yet, I'm devastated. Will try to catch it now. I can almost imagine the simpering, apologetic look on his face though.

 

[Prince EWS]

Really need Collingwood to go on with this now. The scorecard actually looks really similar to South Africa's scorecard at the moment, but of course Kallis went on with his start to make a ton and their much less credentialled #7-11 all chipped in to form annoying partnerships. I don't think the pitch is as bad as people are making out so England could potentially do the same; not writing 350 off yet.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Serious question: Does that mean they'd have to indicate 'no balls' every time Bell walks out to bat?

I haven't seen the dismissal yet, I'm devastated. Will try to catch it now. I can almost imagine the simpering, apologetic look on his face though.

Heh yea. Hopefully the selectors will ensure an ICC ruling will be unnecessary.

On a general note what is the purpose of malfunctioning English batsmen, godawful selections and a cricket forum if not to allow the masses to vent frustration in the direction of mildly deserving well paid targets.

 

[Penguinissimo]

Really need Collingwood to go on with this now. The scorecard actually looks really similar to South Africa's scorecard at the moment, but of course Kallis went on with his start to make a ton and their much less credentialled #7-11 all chipped in to form annoying partnerships. I don't think the pitch is as bad as people are making out so England could potentially do the same; not writing 350 off yet.

Good optimism.

 

[wpdavid]

Fair point mate.

Now **** off out of the team Bell you usless nob.

JJ - reasonable point made, but the beauty of cyberspace + filter is we can sound off in ways that we wouldn't want to unleash in the real world. Plus, when you've just seen 3 of your middle order completely give it away, I reckon you're entitled to question their mental faculties. Of course it isn't deliberate on their part, but it's not unreasonable to expect competence at this level.

 

[Prince EWS]

Good optimism.

Well it's not what I'd call likely; I just don't think it's quite as unlikely as some people are making out. There are still two proper batsmen at the crease - one of whom is now set and has been in good touch - followed by two players on the cusp of allrounderdome and a potentially good partnership builder, up against a four-man attack missing its two best seamers over the last eighteen months or so.

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

Heh yea. Hopefully the selectors will ensure an ICC ruling will be unnecessary.

On a general note what is the purpose of malfunctioning English batsmen, godawful selections and a cricket forum if not to allow the masses to vent frustration in the direction of mildly deserving well paid targets.

Vent your frustration by all means. But calling Bell a "useless little ****" is just needless abuse. If he was an arrogant type or had a really distasteful personality,, or showed he didn't care, it might be a bit more justified.

And I don't see why him getting paid that much means he is deserving of abuse, it's not as if he's there just because of the money. Sure, he failed and you have every right to question why he has been selected or even his mental strength, doesn't justify a personal attack though.

In short, show some degree of humanity.

 

[wpdavid]

Serious question: Does that mean they'd have to indicate 'no balls' every time Bell walks out to bat?

took me a moment, but got there eventually

 

[GIMH]

Colly has a double ton to his name, hope he gets another today. Will end the debate as to who the best all-rounder of the 21st century is IMO.