68 replies to this topic

[Wolford6]

Never mind the cricket. David Lloyd has just admitted that he's moved to a new home in Yorkshire.

[Wolford6]

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=vIHdMOPwKzQ

[gingerjon]

[Futtocks]

End of Day 1 - England 199 for 5. A wobbly start, and Bell underwhelms yet again. We need a stubborn innings from Root and Prior tomorrow.

[marklaspalmas]

This might turn out to be a good score on a strange wicket. Plaudits to KP for his knock. Picking Ian Bell has gone from being just wrong to outrageous to disgraceful and now finally to cruel. Just stop. AT least Patel got the flick. Nowhere near the standard.

[nadera78]

This might turn out to be a good score on a strange wicket. Plaudits to KP for his knock. Picking Ian Bell has gone from being just wrong to outrageous to disgraceful and now finally to cruel. Just stop. AT least Patel got the flick. Nowhere near the standard.

Don't worry, he'll score a beautiful century on a flat track in May and everything will be forgotten.

[Futtocks]

Picking Ian Bell has gone from being just wrong to outrageous to disgraceful and now finally to cruel.

14 runs in 5 innings. If they drop him, he can go home and spend time with his newborn, which would be a good thing for all concerned.

Good knock from Root, too, matching KP's score. And 56 for Swann.

India 60 for 2 now.

[Leeds Wire]

Come on Jimmy! India 4 down and still over 250 behind. This session could seal it if we can get one or two more...

[Futtocks]

The promoters must have been hoping Sachin would still be at the crease for tomorrow, to get the crowd numbers up.

[West Country Eagle]

The promoters must have been hoping Sachin would still be at the crease for tomorrow, to get the crowd numbers up.

Lots of glum faces in the crowd when he got out. I actually feel a bit sorry for him now. He's a legend, but his powers are on the wane. All the papers out there are gunning for him, which is a massive turnaround, and he looks like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Surely he can't have much time left now, especially if India don't win this game.

As for England, looking good again. Not a huge score, but batting seems difficult so it could be handy. If we can skittle them for 250 or under, we'll have a decent chance of wrapping up a win… assuming we don't get out for next to nothing second time round.

[marklaspalmas]

Lots of glum faces in the crowd when he got out. I actually feel a bit sorry for him now. He's a legend, but his powers are on the wane. All the papers out there are gunning for him, which is a massive turnaround, and he looks like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Surely he can't have much time left now, especially if India don't win this game.

Yes. It's very very unfortunate but he's been taking the shine off a brilliant career for over a year now. It seems he can't or won't see it and no-one dare tell him. A real shame for an outstanding cricketer.

[marklaspalmas]

Don't worry, he'll score a beautiful century on a flat track in May and everything will be forgotten.

Quite.

[bobrock]

It seems to me english cricket fans can too easily switch from "we're rubbish" to "we're great", but I always wonder if that is because of their attitude or because english cricketers are actually unable to play consistently. This Test series in India doesn't help me to sort this out.

[West Country Eagle]

Yes. It's very very unfortunate but he's been taking the shine off a brilliant career for over a year now. It seems he can't or won't see it and no-one dare tell him. A real shame for an outstanding cricketer.

I know. At least Ponting had the decency to realise his time was up. I remember seeing Sachin playing for India at Leeds in 1990, in his first ODI v India. He didn't make that many runs, but you could see his talent - he was only 17 (I think) at the time. He also played some wonderful innings for Yorkshire during the 1992 season, too.

There's no doubt that he's the greatest batsman I've seen play 'in the flesh', and certainly of my lifetime. It would have been nice for him to have ended it at his peak, rather than see his powers dwindle away as they have done over the last few years.

[Wolford6]

It seems to me english cricket fans can too easily switch from "we're rubbish" to "we're great",

That's been the mindset of Welsh RU fans and journalists for the past fifty years ... it can often switch three times in a single game.

[Northern Sol]

The thing about Boycs is that no matter how many stories you hear about him, he still has the power to amaze.

Unfortunately generally for the wrong reasons.

[Northern Sol]

It seems to me english cricket fans can too easily switch from "we're rubbish" to "we're great", but I always wonder if that is because of their attitude or because english cricketers are actually unable to play consistently. This Test series in India doesn't help me to sort this out.

Cricket is a funny game. It is not like rugby where the best side wins 95% of the time.

Team A can absolutely slaughter Team B to the point where it is just embarrassing even for fans of Team A.

In the very next match, Team B might do exactly the same to Team A.

This is why teams play a series of games rather just the one match. It is the only way to say which side is the best.

Plus England in living memory were absolutely abysmal, the equivalent of Scotland at rugby union, and yet only last year we were the top side in the world.

[marklaspalmas]

Another gripping day's test cricket. Those late wickets handed the momentum back to us after Dhoni and Kolhi had taken it slowly away. Great stuff.

[Futtocks]

A long old slog, this last test. India's tactical choice of pitches has not paid off. Good to see Ian Bell getting some runs at last.

I reckon Sachin will stick at it 'til the forthcoming series with Australia, then knock Test-level Cricket on the head.

[gingerjon]

One of the most bizarre test matches I think I can remember but that's a tremendous series win for England. I think it ranks up there with any wins in Australia - especially coming back after *that* first test.