England snatch victory from jaws of defeat?

[Quincy]

So what the sod is going on?

Apparently Pakistan have forfitted the game, because they refused to come out after being accused of ball tampering, so now the umps refuse to come out for the rest of the match. Oh well a 3-0 series win for England.

http://home.skysports.com/matchreport.aspx?fxid=296245&CPID=469&channel=Cricket


Chaos reigns at Oval after ball row
By Mark Kendall - Created on 20 Aug 06

Fourth Test - Day Four
The Brit Oval
England 173 (Umar Gul 4-46, Mohammad Asif 4-56) & 298-4 (K P Pietersen 96, A N Cook 83, A J Strauss 54) v Pakistan 504 (Mohammad Yousuf 128, Mohammad Hafeez 95, Imran Farhat 91, Faisal Iqbal 58 no, S J Harmison 4-125)

Controversy struck on the fourth day of the fourth npower Test between England and Pakistan as the tourists were sensationally accused of ball-tampering by the match umpires.

The incident occurred during the afternoon session at The Oval when umpires Daryll Hair and Billy Doctrove opted to change the ball having decided it had been interfered with.

The fact England's batsmen were allowed to select a replacement ball, and Pakistan penalised five runs, confirmed the allegation of ball-tampering as set out in the laws of the game.

Although the tourists initially played on, they refused to retake the field after the tea interval leading to the most extraordinary of scenes.

With England's unbeaten batsmen, Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell, having made their way back out to the middle to continue the game, Pakistan remained in their dressing room.

Umpire Daryll Hair then took the step of removing the bails from both sets of stumps in a gesture that clearly seemed designed to represent a forfeiture of the match by Pakistan.

Incredibly, the Pakistan team then reappeared and took the field in readiness to resume proceedings, but the umpires at that stage decided that the game could no longer continue leading to an incredible stand-off and a sense of sheer incredulity and disbelief around the ground.

Finally, at 6.30pm (BST) the ICC released a statement saying that play had been abandoned "for the day", but that negotiations would go on after the end of play to determine whether any further play would take place in the match.

Before proceedings took such an ugly turn for the worse, England had made a fine fist of batting themselves back into a Test match they had appeared completely out off.

Alistair Cook rode his luck early on and was particularly fortunate to survive bat-pad appeal from the bowling of Danesh Kaneria.

Indeed, Pakistan's leg-spinner had the Essex man in all sorts of trouble on more than one occasion as he pitched into the rough outside the left-hander's off-stump.

Having survived a couple of close leg before appeals, cook was comprehensively bowled by a big turner only to be saved by the sight of Doctrove signalling a no-ball.

Another huge slice of fortune followed when he had reached 40 as Faisal Iqbal put down a relatively simple catch after an attempted pull off Mohammed Asif had spooned to square leg.

However, despite his travails, the youngster battled on gamely and rode his luck to reach a dogged half century.

At the other end his skipper Andrew Strauss had cut a much more serene figure as he to made his way to 50, but fell victim to another poor decision from Doctrove - this time in Pakistan's favour - off the bowling of Kaneria.

There was no doubting the quality of the big leg spinner that trapped Strauss on his crease, but he was quite clearly struck outside the line of off-stump.

Kevin Pietersen arrived at the crease in typically forthright mood and he and Cook soon had the scoreboard ticking over at quite a rate.

Pietersen too enjoyed a life as Pakistan's sloppiness in the field continued when he was put down behind off the bowling of Kaneria by Kamran Akmal having made just 15.

It was to prove costly as England reached lunch on 183-2, some 148 runs in arrears with Pietersen unbeaten on 44 and Cook 67.

The runs continued to flow apace after the interval and England minds, that had at the start of the day most likely been focused on saving the game, were probably beginning to allow themselves the luxury of contemplating the hitherto unlikely prospect of challenging for the win.

That was tempered by the dismissal of Cook on 83 who was trapped in front by a full one from the returning Omar Gul.

The wicket did nothing to impose on the scoring rate of Pietersen who merrily clubbed his way towards what looked like being a trademark century.

His progress was, though, interrupted at 2.30pm by the incident that was later to cast such a shadow over the rest of the day, and indeed series, as the two umpires convened with the score at 230-3 to decide that the ball had been interfered with and needed changing.

Having reached 88 Pietersen seemed determined to bring up three figures with just two lusty blows and, after smearing one mighty six back over the head of Kaneria, attempted to repeat the feat. The second effort yielded only two but his intention was clear.

That aggression was to prove his downfall, and in the very next over he slashed at a wide one from the returning Shahid Nazir and was well caught low down to his right by Akmal behind the stumps.

Collingwood and Bell guided England through to tea without any further scares, but little did they know the rumpus that was to follow.

[Sydneyfan]

wtf

I'm telling you, Hair does not like the Pakistanis. He's given them grief before.

[Quincy]

I had no idea what was going on, I gave up on the cricket because it looked like an inevitable defeat. I hear Hair is the senior ump, so it does look like all his doing.

[Sydneyfan]

I had no idea what was going on, I gave up on the cricket because it looked like an inevitable defeat. I hear Hair is the senior ump, so it does look like all his doing.

If memory serves me, he was the ump who called Muri for chucking on several occasions. They were even threatening not to play here at one stage because they are convinced Aussie umpires (Hair is an Aussie) pick on them.

Don't whether whether its true or not, but Muri IS a chucker.

[Quincy]

You don't by the birth defect arguement then? You just don't like someone being as good or better than Shane.

[Sydneyfan]

You don't by the birth defect arguement then? You just don't like someone being as good or better than Shane.

Warne has slept with 1000 bleach blonde slags and can bowl a googly whilst text messaging for a takeaway vindaloo. Muri has a wonky wrist AND he chucks.
There is no comparison between the two.

[Quincy]

Well England have been awarded the match...what a cheap victory.

http://home.skysports.com/matchreport.aspx?fxid=296245&CPID=469&channel=Cricket

[Sydneyfan]

:downyours This is going to open a major can of worms....

[Quincy]

:downyours This is going to open a major can of worms....


More importantly...what the sod am I going to watch when I wake up later today?

[Sydneyfan]

:lol Read a book.

[Quincy]

I'm a student I don't read books, I pretend to read books.

[Sydneyfan]

I'm a student I don't read books, I pretend to read books.

What was I thinking? Go for a walk or a drive then.

[Quincy]

A drive might be fun...seeing as I don't know how to.

[Sydneyfan]

A drive might be fun...seeing as I don't know how to.

Christ man - how can you not drive a car?

[Quincy]

Christ man - how can you not drive a car?

Pedals confuse me. Also I don't get how you can judge that if you start breaking here...you'll stop there. And don't get me started on cornering.

I am thinking it's probably about time I learn, that would make touring around the country cheaper and easier.

[Sydneyfan]

Pedals confuse me. Also I don't get how you can judge that if you start breaking here...you'll stop there. And don't get me started on cornering.

I am thinking it's probably about time I learn, that would make touring around the country cheaper and easier.


Get professional lessions (NOT from your parents etc) in an automatic. Fewer pedals and idiot proof.

I couldn't live without my car. I don't do public transport.

[Quincy]

Get professional lessions (NOT from your parents etc) in an automatic. Fewer pedals and idiot proof.

I couldn't live without my car. I don't do public transport.

I don't really either, I hate buses with a passion, all those people, argh and then you have to know what you want when you ask the driver who's a surly bastard.

Trains are ok though, because not a word need be said. Got all my tickets booked on the internet, just need to go put my card in the machine and get all the goodies.

[Sydneyfan]

Last time I took a bus someone sneezed on me. That was enough.

This seems about right to me:


Pakistan's petulance and Darrell Hair's stubborness have led cricket down a dark, treacherous path. In refusing to take the field after tea on the fourth day, in protest at Hair's decision to penalise them five runs for ball tampering, Pakistan displayed a dangerous disregard for authority. But Hair's subsequent "crime" was potentially more damaging to the game - refusing to allow play to recommence after Pakistan declared their intention to take the field. The first forfeiture in Test cricket's 129-year history looks bad enough. But the knock-on effects could be far worse for the game.

Whether or not the Pakistanis were guilty of ball tampering, their decison not to take the field for the final session of the fourth day lacked class.

The same, of course, can be said of Hair. Though Pakistan were wrong to challenge his authority in the manner they did, Hair's pride, stubborness and, if his critics are right, discriminatroy behaviour have wounded the game even more deeply.

[Nix]

Get professional lessions (NOT from your parents etc) in an automatic. Fewer pedals and idiot proof.
I though automatics were for idiots.

[Quincy]

I though automatics were for idiots.

...and?

[Sydneyfan]

I though automatics were for idiots.


Quincy is confused by the concept of pedals. Automatic is the only way to go.

[Nix]

Maybe we could get him a Flintstones car.

[Quincy]

Maybe we could get him a Flintstones car.

How about you just get me a chauffeur.

[Nix]

I hear Inzy is looking for a new job.

[Quincy]

I hear Inzy is looking for a new job.

More likely Hair.

[Nix]

More likely Hair.
But doesn't he have a nice bushy beard already?

[Factory Boy]

Hey Quince, Billy J says you can borrow his motor if you buy him a beer.

[Quincy]

Hey Quince, Billy J says you can borrow his motor if you buy him a beer.

I'm sure there is a joke in there, but I don't get it.

[Quincy]

An American take on it.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2006-08-21-pakistan-cricket-forfeit_x.htm?csp=34

My favourite part is "illegally scuffed the ball to make it float unpredictably in the air"

[Sydneyfan]

Big Daryl is the new Salman Rushdie.



And didn't take long before this became an issue of race.....notice the reference to this being an issue involving the "whole country".




Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has warned that his team could pull out of the one-day series against England if he is not cleared of ball tampering allegations.

"It would be difficult for the players to play on if we are labelled cheats," Inzamam was quoted as saying in Tuesday's Daily Express newspaper.

Inzamam could be banned for eight one-day internationals or four Tests if he is found guilty of ball tampering and bringing the game into disrepute at an International Cricket Council (ICC) hearing on Friday.

Inzamam was charged with both offences by the ICC on Monday after his team forfeited the fourth and final Test against England at The Oval on Sunday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) immediately lodged an appeal but said it would go ahead with the five one-day internationals against England and a Twenty/20 match starting next week even if Inzamam was suspended.

The skipper, however, said there were still no guarantees the series would go ahead.

"It doesn't matter whether I'm playing or not," he said.

"What matters is whether we are cheating or not.

"We will wait for the decision and then make up our minds.

"It doesn't just involve me and the team, it involves the whole country. That is the main issue."

Umpires Darrell Hair of Australia and Billy Doctrove from West Indies decided on Sunday that Pakistan had forfeited the match when they failed to take the field after the tea interval.

Pakistan were incensed that the umpires had decided they had been guilty of ball tampering, docking the team five runs, and staged a protest by staying in the dressing room for several minutes.

"This charge is very bad for us but we are on the right side because none of the boys have done anything wrong so I'm very confident we will win the case," Inzamam said.

Reuters

[Quincy]

Hair is such a pillock.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=412287&clid=&channel=skysports_home_page&title=Hair+offers+to+quit+for+$500,000


Hair offers to quit for $500,000

The cricket world has been thrown into turmoil following incredible revelations by the ICC that Darrell Hair offered to quit in exchange for $500,000.

Reporters had at a hotel near Lord's gathered expecting to hear news on the disciplinary hearing of Pakistan captain Inzamam ul Haq which had been been delayed.

Instead ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed handed out copies of correspondence to astonished reporters detailing the umpires demands.

Speed stressed that he believed there was no 'malicious, underhand or dishonest intent' in the offer


" no 'malicious, underhand or dishonest intent' in the offer" Yeah...right.

[Sydneyfan]

He make me so proud to be an Australian. Tosser.

He should have held out for at least 600K.

[Quincy]

I can't believe he thought he could get away with asking for money.

[Sydneyfan]

I know, he obviously exists in some parallel universe to reality.

A lot of cricketing people over here were actually supporting him too - that might change very quickly now.

[Quincy]

I don't know how he and the ICC expects him to officiate again. It'll just be a joke if he does. One thing for certain he won't take part in a Pakistan game again.

[Sydneyfan]

I hope we don't get a Pakistani umpire for the Ashes :boohoo

[Sydneyfan]

Malcolm Speed from Cricket Australia just said on TV Hair made the offer "under stress" and that it "was misguided".

The man is unravelling.

[trappss1]

I thought that cricket was supposed to be a civilized game. They take tea breaks for crying out loud. Yet, they have umpires that are on the take?

[Quincy]

Yet, they have umpires that are on the take?

Well he's an Aussie, you know you can't trust an Australian, all those convicts in one place it's a breeding centre for thugs.

[trappss1]

Well he's an Aussie, you know you can't trust an Australian, all those convicts in one place it's a breeding centre for thugs.

Australia will never live down it's beginnings as a penal colony in the eyes of Brits will it?

[Quincy]

Australia will never live down it's beginnings as a penal colony in the eyes of Brits will it?

I try my hardest to look past it, but that's something I just can't do.

[Sydneyfan]

The Brits have nothing else to cling to.

[Quincy]

The Brits have nothing else to cling to.

That is true I must say. I do get angry during the olympics when you guys are winning everything in sight and we seem to have this menatlity that getting a silver or bronze medals is a good acheivement, I don't want the athletes that represent Britain to settle for less than gold. It such a pansy attitude..."oh well you came last but you beat your personal best" Gah!


Rant over.

[trappss1]

That is true I must say. I do get angry during the olympics when you guys are winning everything in sight and we seem to have this menatlity that getting a silver or bronze medals is a good acheivement, I don't want the athletes that represent Britain to settle for less than gold. It such a pansy attitude..."oh well you came last but you beat your personal best" Gah!


Rant over.

Wow watching America must totally crush you then.

[Sydneyfan]

That is true I must say. I do get angry during the olympics when you guys are winning everything in sight and we seem to have this menatlity that getting a silver or bronze medals is a good acheivement, I don't want the athletes that represent Britain to settle for less than gold. It such a pansy attitude..."oh well you came last but you beat your personal best" Gah!


Rant over.


That's the big difference between the two countries. We have a much tougher attitude to success and life in general I think. We don't like losing at anything.

[Quincy]

That's the big difference between the two countries. We have a much tougher attitude to success and life in general I think. We don't like losing at anything.

That's why the Ashes was so good last year because both sides had that attitude, it was the first time in a long while I had confidence in an England middle order.

[Sydneyfan]

That's why the Ashes was so good last year because both sides had that attitude, it was the first time in a long while I had confidence in an England middle order.

YEs, England won because they didn't play like England. It'll be different this time though....:banana

[Quincy]

YEs, England won because they didn't play like England. It'll be different this time though....:banana

Well we might have the decent players back by then, Vaughan, Simon Jones, and let's hope Panesar goes instead of Giles.

[Sydneyfan]

Well we might have the decent players back by then, Vaughan, Simon Jones, and let's hope Panesar goes instead of Giles.

Yep, you could live without Giles for sure. McGrath still in doubt for us.

[Quincy]

Yep, you could live without Giles for sure. McGrath still in doubt for us.


I heard he wants to continue until at least the next Ashes back in England.

[Sydneyfan]

I heard he wants to continue until at least the next Ashes back in England.

That's what I heard too - but with his wife still being ill and his lack of preparation - I'm not so sure. We'll see what happens.

[Sydneyfan]

Thought this was interesting - the head of Cricket New Zealand has come out and basically said everyone knows Pakistan tamper with the ball all the time. He also claimed Imran Khan was "the architect of ball tampering" in Pakistani cricket.

Looks like its going to get ugly.....

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20270714-2722,00.html

[Quincy]

Thought this was interesting - the head of Cricket New Zealand has come out and basically said everyone knows Pakistan tamper with the ball all the time. He also claimed Imran Khan was "the architect of ball tampering" in Pakistani cricket.

Looks like its going to get ugly.....

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20270714-2722,00.html


Glad to see everyone is taking time to come out with sensible comments...:wtf



There's also now a dispute going on between Hair and the ICC as to who started the whole money for retirement thing.

[Sydneyfan]

OKay, I'll check that out in the papers this morning. As for the comments from the Kiwi guy - it doesn't really surprise me. In this part of the world there has been some underlying (though largely unspoken) criticism of teams from the subcontinent - particularly their tactics, for some time.

There's been a view here that a degree of political correctness has protected some of them in the past. I think this incident with Hair is just bringing that to the surface.

[Sydneyfan]

Why don't we just let the bowlers chuck the ball at the batsmen heads while we're at it? Good luck with this Bob.





PAKISTAN coach Bob Woolmer wants cricket's laws changed so players can use their fingernails to alter the state of the ball.

Pakistan were accused of ball-tampering in the fourth and final Test against England on August 20 that led to Test cricket's first forfeit.

Woolmer said reverse swing was critical in maintaining the balance in power between bat and ball.

"I think the ball should swing and it doesn't really matter how - as long as you are not using external implements like razor blades or bottle tops," he said.

"Fingers, sweat and everything else mean the ball should swing. Otherwise, it becomes totally a batsman's game. Nails are part of the body … If you can encourage the ball to swing that is good … for the art of the game of cricket."

[Quincy]

I think the bowlers should also have the opportunity to bowl with a "dummy" foam ball, without the knowledge of the batsmen, once an over...just to spice things up

[Sydneyfan]

I think the bowlers should also have the opportunity to bowl with a "dummy" foam ball, without the knowledge of the batsmen, once an over...just to spice things up

We already had the best idea of all - underarm bowling. And then they banned it. :(

[Quincy]

We already had the best idea of all - underarm bowling. And then they banned it. :(

Didn't cricket start with underarm bowling in the old oldy days.

[Sydneyfan]

Didn't cricket start with underarm bowling in the old oldy days.

I do not know. If you think about it it makes more sense to bowl the ball udnerarm than the way you are required to in cricket - so maybe they did.

So the Chappell brothers weren't cheating at all - they were merely reviving an ancient cricket tradition.

[Quincy]

I do not know. If you think about it it makes more sense to bowl the ball udnerarm than the way you are required to in cricket - so maybe they did.

So the Chappell brothers weren't cheating at all - they were merely reviving an ancient cricket tradition.


Perhaps it was just the women who bowled underarm. So maybe the Chappell brothers were just attuning to their femine side.

[Sydneyfan]

Perhaps it was just the women who bowled underarm. So maybe the Chappell brothers were just attuning to their femine side.

Yes, the feminine side of Australian sportsmen is legendary. :\