The world championship of ping pong that was on sky sports 3 recently had nothing on the exploits taking place in my cousin’s back garden on Saturday last. The sun was splitting the rocks and it didn’t take much to break into a sweat in the breezeless back garden. Such was the desire to build up an appetite ahead of the massive BBQ, there was a line of relatives ready to do battle with the paddles so it was decided that doubles would be the best way to accommodate the masses. However, this led to inevitable debates about the actual rules of doubles (is it every 2nd shot? Must one serve corner to corner etc.?), which left people waiting even longer than under the old ‘winner stays on system’ and led to a few of the older members of the clan to reach for the cooler box more often than is sensible at family occasions. However, quite unexpectedly, it was the spectators who fared worst by the close of play with both Nana and Grandad being among the last to leave and both begrudgingly so. Perfect BBQ conditions are generally not great for the armchair fan and last weekend was no exception. Beer and burgers took precedence and it was ceefax and aertel keeping this blogger up to speed on the weekend’s sporting fare.
Despite Rahul Dravid’s stubborn century, India were bowled out for 286 with Broad picking up a 4 for, leaving England with a reasonable 188 1st innings lead. When I tuned in on Sunday however, England were in somewhat of a quandary at 62-5 after a fine spell of bowling from Ishant Sharma. They were down to their last 2 recognised batsmen in the shape of Matt Prior and Eoin Morgan. Both are naturally aggressive and with India on somewhat of a roll it looked as if an exciting afternoon’s test cricket would ensue. Prior took the initiative and it looked as though Morgan played within himself eventually getting dismissed off the bowling of the mercurial Sharma for just 19 runs off 56 balls with a solitary boundary the only highlight of an unusually lacklustre innings. The Indian bowler pitched 3 up before producing a bouncer that cramped the rush man up and he played a poor pull shot that was caught by Gautam Gambhir between extra cover and mid-off. Morgan stood his ground and was dismissed after consultation with the 3rd umpire. He was within his rights to wait for confirmation but the fact the decision review system (D.R.S) is not being used in this test meant that this was a chance for test cricket to be played in the old fashioned way and in keeping with the spirit of cricket. Aside from the fact that it was obviously caught fairly, the word of the player should be enough and the decision of the on-field umpires should be enough in all cases that the (D.R.S) isn’t being used.
With the dismissal of Morgan came the bowlers although Broad and Swann may argue that they are more all-rounders than merely bowlers. Broad’s argument was further cemented as he bludgeoned his way to 74, smashing 9 boundaries along the way as he ably supported Prior as he made his century. This ton under pressure followed a 1st innings half century and Prior has now got to be regarded as one of the best wicket-keeper batsmen around today, up there with Sangakarra and McCullum. It was another declaration for the three lions late yesterday leaving the men from the sub-continent with a near impossible 458 to chase down. With question marks over the fitness of both Tendulkar (virus) and Gambhir (elbow), England have got to be regarded as favourites. It is a very similar proposition to the one that faced them in Adelaide last winter and if Swann can find the turn and spin that he found down under again then England will surely take a 1-0 lead in this four match series.
Post by Kevin Walsh.
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