# Cricket - Eng vs India test series **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 25, 2011, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255 "2011-07-25T11:46:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/1 "2011-07-25T11:46:30Z")
I’ve been away for a few days and realised that we don’t have a cricket thread on the go…most remiss. The current series has just got underway and the first test is coming to a fruity conclusion at Lord’s. A bit of perspective, India are the current no 1. test team but England can knock them off that spot with a good series win. England are putting the pressure on India, this is the last day and if India survive the day they draw the match (if they score 458 they win it but that isn’t likely). England are favourites. Huge anticipation for this last day, huge queues for tickets this morning so the place seems to be rocking. India are currently 135 for 3 with the great Sachin Tendulkar at the crease. Hero to a billion or more, one of the greatest ever sporting figures and poised on 99 test centuries and the edge of immortality. Could be fun. Lets have your thoughts…gloatings, despair and general musings Updated…Gambhir out!..135 for 4! ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/2 "2011-07-25T11:52:27Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Hero to a billion or more, one of the greatest ever sporting figures and poised on 99 test centuries and the edge of immortality. 99 Test and ODI centuries split 51 - 48. But other than that spot on. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/3 "2011-07-25T11:53:44Z")
From 131/2 to 135/4. I really, really hope that Raina and Tendulkar kan keep their calm and survive at least well into the second session. A win for India seems very, very unlikely now. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/4 "2011-07-25T12:03:35Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > 99 Test and ODI centuries split 51 - 48. But other than that spot on. d’oh! that is sods law at work. I corrected my father in law on that very point only yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/5 "2011-07-25T13:44:06Z")
Tendulkar gone! plumb LBW. 164-5 that is a huge hammer blow for India. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/6 "2011-07-25T15:06:58Z")
I have a feeling he shouldn’t have stayed at home during the Windies series. Sigh. Dhoni and Raina are holding it well at the moment - partnership at 56. I hope Dhoni can keep his calm. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/7 "2011-07-25T15:39:25Z")
240-6 37 overs remaining in the day, this could be tight. at least the weather looks set fair. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/8 "2011-07-25T16:29:18Z")
And it’s all over for 261. Some wonderful bowling from the Brits and a rather below par effort from the Indians. Too bad VVS and Dravid couldn’t keep up from yesterday. Room for improvement. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/9 "2011-07-25T18:09:52Z")
It was a thoroughly professional performance from England. If they win the series by two clear games, they’re #1 :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/10 "2011-07-30T18:14:27Z")
Wonderful cricket today. Laxman and Dravid were great; impeccable performance by the Wall. Broad was amazing in the final session, though. Fantastic spell in the final session - 1st test hattrick ever against India, from what Statsguru tells me. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/11 "2011-07-30T18:31:31Z")
It was a great day. Broad ended with figures of 6-46 I think, which is a test best for him. But incredibly those figures include a spell of 5 for 0 off 16 balls, very special indeed. I don’t know where this one is heading. Any sort of a lead by England (150+) could be really difficult to chase. I don’t think Jimmy and Swanny are likely to bowl as badly again. However, that is a monumentally strong Indian batting line up and Sachin has hardly broken sweat yet. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/12 "2011-07-31T14:56:51Z")
I can’t believe Bell’s dismissal. That’s just not cricket. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/13 "2011-07-31T15:09:59Z")
Decision overturned?! What’s going on here? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/14 "2011-07-31T16:47:21Z")
In the letter of the law he was out, however…it was fairly obvious that most everyone considered the ball dead (and the body language of the fielders suggested it as well). So Bell walked off for tea as he thought the ball was being gently and unhurriedly returned to the centre. the bails were whipped off and an appeal was made almost as an afterthought. So not really cricket, whatever the rulebook says. I’m sure most international captains would have been tempted to appeal for that one but it takes a heck of a character to realise that the game might be better off if the appeal was rescinded. Full marks to Dhoni, potential man of the match material for that. And to be honest, I think had they stuck to their guns it may well have harmed their chances in the rest of the series. The crowd would be on their back and the atmosphere may well be fairly fruity. This way they have regained the the moral high-ground. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/15 "2011-07-31T16:58:15Z")
I totally agree. Dhoni made the right decision - I just didn’t know that you could reverse an appeal like that; after Bell was given out. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/16 "2011-07-31T17:08:49Z")
> [@Panurge](#): > > I totally agree. Dhoni made the right decision - I just didn’t know that you could reverse an appeal like that; after Bell was given out. No I was surprised as well, I suspect that it was only possible because they broke for tea immediately after and there was no play in the meantime. Had the next batsman faced a ball then I think the decision would have stood. I’m struggling to think of too many other sports where the captain would have made such a decision, with 1.2 BILLION people behind him it certainly took some stones to reverse it. A good day for cricket and sport in general and another reason why I point my kids towards such people for their sporting role-models. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/17 "2011-07-31T17:48:39Z")
Dhoni was right. It wouldn’t have been cricket to take the wicket that way. I am wondering if Sachin or Dravid took him to one side in the dressing room. From what I hear he had a chance before the interval to withdraw the appeal and didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/18 "2011-07-31T17:50:38Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I don’t know where this one is heading. Any sort of a lead by England (150+) could be really difficult to chase. I don’t think Jimmy and Swanny are likely to bowl as badly again. What worries me is that Swann supposedly has a pretty bruised hand/wrist. Which isn’t the best thing in the world for a spinner. We’re overdue something spectacular from Tendulkar. I wouldn’t mind seeing a stunning hundred from him, in a losing cause, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/19 "2011-08-01T00:42:25Z")
…I disagree with you guys, and think Bell was out fair and square. I agree with Botham: > [@](#): > > It’s an arena for big boys. The game should be played fair but it should be played hard and if you don’t know the laws then find them out quickly because it is no place to wander about with your head in the clouds. > > [snip] > > It was extremely soft cricket from Bell and could have put an end to what was a magnificent innings, and one that had all the responsibility of a man with his head switched on. > > [snip] > > The reaction of the crowd too was out of order before and after tea. They might have been loosened up by one or two sharpeners during the day, but their booing of the Indian team and the umpires for doing their jobs properly was not on. > > Just because 25,000 believe something it doesn’t make it right. > **[Ian Botham: Lucky Ian Bell should not have got a second life](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/cricket/ian-botham-lucky-ian-bell-145138)** > > IAN BELL is a very lucky boy. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255/20 "2011-08-01T06:24:46Z")
Just because Botham believes something doesn’t make it right either. The game should be played hard but it should be played fair, and dawdling over returning the ball to the middle in an apparent attempt to kid the batsman that the ball has gone out of play and the session is over would be extremely dubious sportsmanship. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cricket-eng-vs-india-test-series/590255.md?page=2)