England really gave India a hammering in the final session and now are strong favourites to win. We now have a side who are capable of rescuing bad situations, as they have done twice in this match, and also putting teams to the sword when they are on top, bit like Australia used to do. World number one contenders and could well be just that by the end of this series.
As a Yorkshireman i'd just like to say it was nice to hear Bumble refer to Bresnan as a proper cricketer. Praise indeed
It was foolish by Bell to walk off on an assumption and he was out, however I think India should be commended for reversing their decision, it shows they want to play the game in a good spirit. I would be very annoyed if England had done that to an Indian player, regardless of the match situation.
Can't remember exact details but there was an incident in a ODI where we ran out a player who had collided with our bowler. The umpire asked captain Collingwood if he wanted the run out to stand and Collingwood said yes. Ruined the game for me.
Yeah its here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87m2d6cV4F0 very poor show from Collingwood such a senior player should have known better.
A similar incident happened on England's tour to the West Indies in 1974. Tony Greig ran out a West Indian batsman (Julien I think but I might be wrong). After some discussion during the interval the batsman was reinstated. In this situation India did nothing wrong by the laws of the game, but it could be argued that they infringed the spirit of the game. I'm only watching the highlights as I've been to watch the Gloucestershire vs Lancashire game. To me it looks like without the cloud cover and with the sun baking the pitch it has become considerably easier to bat on. I don't think the bowlers have bowled particularly well but Dhoni not putting a man at third man was just giving runs to Bell and the rest and they continually proved they needed no second invitation. It should be a great day's cricket tomorrow. If England can push on to build a lead around 425 - 450 by lunch it should make it an intriguing final innings.
This test should be delcared void. What with the Bell situation and the Harbajan dismissal (which shouldnt have been). where was the sporting conduct when all the England players knew that Harbajan got a thick inside edge , also what was the umpire doing . I clearly saw it live on TV.
Good idea but why stop there, shouldn't all tests in which someone has been given out when they weren't or not given when they were be declared void?
no. i get your point , but these were two blantant incidents both in our favour. Rules are rules, Bell was out and he knew it, should have walked , Harbajhan was not out and the whole england team knew it. Pity Dhoni didnt go to see our captain/manager. i think its called cheating. Sporting gesture my ar se. Hat trick should be wiped off ,for what its worth. Those two incidents cost India the game, IMO , and what should have been a very interesting last day.
I don't understand that at all. the bell incident was a complete anomaly. sense prevailed. Poor decisions like the harrbajan one happen all the time. India didn't want the DRS, so the review system for LBW's hasn't been used. It is at their behest. They contributed to that decision and as such are complicit in their own downfall. if every failed appeal was deemed unsportsmanlike, then no match anywhere would get finished. an appeal is only asking a question. It isn't englands fault that the answer to the question was incorrect. england were like sharks. They smelled blood and they went for it in very impressive fashion. I don't think they have anything to apologise for at all.
I don't think "those two incidents cost India the game" at all, Bell added 22 runs, do you think Harbhajan would have hit a triple century? What cost India the game was that England bowled, batted and fielded better than them.
What about when sidebottom ran into grant elliot, ran him and out and them appealed? That was unsportsmanlike. India just followed the rules, pitied bell and then allowed him to return.
It was very unsportsmanlike from one of my favourite cricketers. It wasn't the appeal that bothered me on either occasion, that is natural. Sticking with the decision was what bothered me. Dhoni ultimately did the right thing in the spirit of the game. collingwood did not.
Here is another example : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoB-mX0IViQ Matt Prior appealing for bowled after knocking the bales off himself!
Things have gone from bad to worse for you guys: India's Harbhajan and Yuvraj out of England Test series. Could be a whitewash.
