I have been a longtime reader of the forum, but I have not really felt like posting until now.
The atmosphere of this forum has really gone downhill recently, and it saddens me. When I first started reading, there were still disagreements, but I felt there remained underlying respect. Now I'm not so sure.
This India-Pakistan series has predictably inflamed passions on both sides. I am an Indian supporter, but I would like to speak impartially to both sides.
First, to my fellow Indian fans. I understand why you are excited about the ODI series victory and the first Test match victory. But please, let us not get carried away. There remain two test matches, and the Pakistani team is very talented. They are also at home, and our away record, while getting better, remains disappointing. So let's save some of these needless comments for after the test series is over. Also, let us not descend into referring to people as cowards or even baser insults. Obviously as it is India-Pakistan, we may tend to get more riled up as there is history there (which I will not detail, but which I am sure is well-known to all), but still, let us remember cricket is just a game, and nothing more. All this talk of "cricket diplomacy" has fooled some. It is just a game, and remains just that.
To the Pakistani cricket fans. Please do not think that the words of an inflammatory few speak for the silent majority. I believe 99 out of a 100 Indians respect the Pakistani cricket team, and I believe 99 out of 100 Pakistanis respect the Indian cricket team. So do not let derogatory remarks draw you into a war of words, which only serves to draw everyone else into a mire of insults and harsh words. Also, please let us not mix politics and other things with cricket, as again cricket is only a sport. We love it, but it remains a game.
Regarding the second test match, I was surprised by Umar Gul's bowling. He bowled very well, and made the Indian batsmen look bad. I thought Dravid's decision was poor (and no, even if India had been 350/2 at stumps, I would still think his decision to be poor, but I would have been very pleased at the application of the batsmen in spite of their captain's bad decision). We would have been playing to our strength by bowling first, as the pitch is expected to be at its best for batting during Days 2 and 3, and by bowling first, when the first two sessions were expected to give the bowlers help, we would have helped cover up our shortcomings in the bowling department, and accentuated our strength in batting. Dravid's decision was nothing but a mistake which has clearly backfired. The superb batting of Farhat has shown that there really were no demons in the pitch after the Lahore sun baked that grass. Also, Yuvraj's innings was tremendous, and creates a problem upon Ganguly's return.
Also, was it just me, or did Pathan and Balaji register over 90 mph on a couple of deliveries? Normally, I would suspect the speed gun, but it seemed spot-on for everyone else and didn't appear to have any anomalies, but who reallys know anyway.
So in conclusion, please let us return to the atmosphere of fun, as after all, cricket is supposed to be just that! Thank you for allowing me to say what's on my mind, and I will go back to being an anonymous reader! Thanks!