It was fabulous to see Swann come to the fore today. He has played second fiddle as a bowler all series because the quicks have been so awesome, but he showed today why he is the number one spin bowler in the world. These Indians see off spin as meat and drink, but Swann was too good for them. And Broad backed him up superbly when that second new ball was taken. And what a ball from Bresnan to dismiss Tendulkar; oh the irony of the Indian master being out lbw 9 runs short of that hundredth international hundred with no review available! But it was out anyway and would have been out earlier with the review system in place for lbw! Would he have been given out to that ball in India 9 runs shy of that landmark? Not in a million years! That would be like Clattenbung giving a penalty against Man Utd at Old Trafford!
262 for 3 to 283 all out! Incredible! The Windies attack did that sort of thing. McGrath and Warne did it too. And remember, these Indians have pretty decent test match records with the bat! And it's not just the bowlers! Cook, Bell, Pietersen, Trott, Prior, they would walk into any test side in the world and will all be ranked with the greats of English cricket!
I was too young to understand in 66 when we won the World Cup and rugby leaves me cold. This is the first GREAT English sporting team I have known and I am loving it!
OK OK OK Credit where's due! England played well for the most part and Cook was outstanding (in the first 3 tests) but you have to admit India were woeful! Pakistan would have beaten them easily and that's saying something!
ReplyDeleteMaybe the best in the world but SA are not That far behind and playing well!
Great teams make good teams look ordinary. Witness Barcelona last season!
ReplyDeleteI would agree with that but India are no longer a good team!
ReplyDeleteNor are Australia - good teams are destroyed by great teams. They lose their confidence and bearings. Tendulkar did not become a bad batsman overnight. Anderson got into his head, made him doubt himself, destroyed his confidence. Only Dravid has had the mental strength to stand up to England's bullying.
ReplyDeleteQuite so Hf quite so.
ReplyDeleteI was at day 2 Fanno and Sreesanth was fielding at Fine leg just where we were sitting. And he came up to us and shouted "England are just getting f***ing lucky!" Then when the announcers was saying England no 1 test team in the world he shouting "I don't give a s**t!" And then after we were giving him some stick after KP and Bell were wacking him about he started putting his fingers up at us and shaking his fist at us! The guy's like a 7 year old! So glad we beat them, 4-0! 4-0 against a team with a top 5 of Sehwag, Gambir, Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman. We shall not be moved for a good 5 years.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great day to be there mate!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant series. We just need to keep our feat on the ground. The english have a terrible habit of getting too cocky whenever we actually win anything (just not used to it). So we gotta just calm down now and move on after this series. England v South Africa in SA would be a great series. It would really prove how good England are if they could go and win against the second best team in the world in their conditions.
ReplyDeleteLong break from test cricket now. How long will Strauss stay as captain?
ReplyDeleteDont you play SA in the spring?
ReplyDeletethat awkward moment when......
ReplyDeletethe England cricket team realise they're singing nKhosi sikhele iAfrika and not God save the Queen
Now now Deane!
ReplyDeleteWho cares, cricket is sh-te.
ReplyDeleteOh come on HF! If the Pakistanis were actually playing properly, they would have beaten England! Plus how can you show off knowing that the team's hardly made up of 11 Englishmen?
ReplyDeleteBut India thrashed, so I'm not complaining :)
No 'review' available, you mean HF?
Who cares, I mean really? Its cricket! You can hardly call it World Cup when more than 90% of the World don't give a sh**t. Anyway, I hope you and Stani are happy!
ReplyDeleteYes, no review Stani.
ReplyDeleteInteresting point about Pakistan. The trouble is, will they ever play properly or will they always cheat? I think this England side grew stronger in Australia personally, particularly as a bowling unit. They would now crush the strongest Pakistan side, even if your mob had bets on themselves to win and to bowl no no balls throughout the series.
I know HF, but you gotta admire the pure talent...as a cricket lover? God if they took it seriously they'd be the best in the world the cnuts.
ReplyDeleteIt was heartbreaking seeing this prick involved. Just look at the lost talent:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0jlxVYN-Hg&feature=related
I disagree HF. Pakistan's strongest bowling attack wouldn't give England a hope, especially in these conditions. The English batting is better but not so much as too make up for the bowling, in my opinion.
HF, Nasser Hussain the other day on Sky:
ReplyDelete"The thing is with India they can't rely on anyone except Zaheer Khan or maybe Sreesanth or even Ishant Sharma. I remember last year when Pakistan we're touring, Mohammed Asif & Mohammed Amir had the English batsmen dancing all over the place. From one end came Asif, the other came Amir, I'll tell you what, it was an absolutely beautiful sight watching the two of these bowl. It's too bad they were involved with the spot fixing allegations. But I'll tell you one thing, Pakistan is a country that never dies out of talent, especially with their bowlers. I see them and South Africa the only two competing against England really"