For some reason I can put up with poor umpiring decisions in cricket, even with the added technology, much more than I can bad refereeing in football. And rugby is now entirely dependent on the quality of the ref and what country he's from, it puts me right off sometimes.
Certainly in rugby, they should sort out this difference in interpretation between referees from the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The referee in that final Lions match was French I think and that definitely helped the Lions in the scrum and break down imo. As for today............the Aussies used the referral system very poorly and used them up. Had they had one left, Broad would have been out!
No big deal, mate ............ He is a good cricketer but for me, the way he goes about things in general, he remind me a lot like a former Aussie captain by the name of Kim Hughes. Anyway, with the over night play, looks like Poms are moving ahead nicely, I thought the actions of Broad was poor form but that is just my opinion which means squat. For me, it is a gentleman's game and players like Gilchrist would of walked, then again, players like Ponting have not in the past. I work on the theory that if you know that you hit the ball, you should walk, likewise if you think you did not hit, don't move an inch.
I think the only mitigating point in support of the umpire is the movement of the keeper's leg behind the line of the ball, there was a small deflection off the edge of the bat and a bigger one off the keeper's pad. It's all in a split second and if the umpire is not certain he won't give it on a guess. The deciding factor was the Aussies wasted their reviews so left themselves high and dry. Good position for England now and with the weather set fair I think England will bat on till 400 in front or all out...
To be fair aussie even Gilchrist has come out and said he used to get a bollocking for walking. swings and round about trout was in and walked. Lets call it even
Fair enough, mate. I certainly don't want to come across as being self righteous or alike. I just work on the theory that if you are out, then so be it ........... play fair. What goes around comes around, is my thinking.
Geoff Boycott made the point last night that players don't walk these days especially when on low scores, it's easy when you've made a big score and can be so magnanimous to walk off to adulation, but if a low score could mean you being dropped for the next match you'll stay put. I'd say 90% of cricketers these days don't walk...
I saw Clarke bat at Lords the last time the Aussies were over. England had set them over 500 to win and Clarke played brilliantly. When he got out you could see how gutted he was - he thought they could win!
Good start from the Aussies. I hope they make a good go of this, and just fail. But yet to face Swann.
Classic test match still could go either way....get clarke early then england have the edge bit if he gets settled then aussies have a real chance. Either way this has set up the series brilliantly.
Can see this being a close finish on the last day. Reminds me of the test when the Aussies needed 120 runs on the last day with 2 wkts left and failed by 4 runs
Christ I don't need a repeat of that game, well the result would be nice, but not the tension. That was the day after our match in Hull when they came out with the "town full of bombers" chant, as I was still in the city that morning. The football was a bit dull and there were lots of people watching the ashes in the bar instead I recall.
It looks like a cloudy start which should suit Anderson's swing bowling, if the Aussies survive the first hour we'll all be biting our nails...
I'm as positive as they come but I'm also a realist ................ unless there is a blue moon outside, I think you guys are safe.
probably the first Test Match to be decided by the best use of the review system.. credit to the convicts but they are back in their cells.. until Thursday at HQ!..
