England vs India 2nd Test debate

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Sides

England:

1) Andrew Strauss (C)
2) Alistair Cook
3) Jonathan Trott
4) Kevin Pietersen
5) Ian Bell
6) Eoin Morgan
7) Matt Prior (WK)
8) Tim Bresnan
9) Stuart Broad
10) Graeme Swann
11) James Anderson

India:

1) Abhinav Makund
2) Rahul Dravid
3) Sachin Tendulkar
4) VVS Laxman
5) Yuvraj Singh
6) Suresh Raina
7) MS Dhoni (WK)
8) Harbhajan Singh
9) Praveen Kumar
10) Sreesanth
11) Ishant Sharma

From BBC:

Almost no energy in the field at all from India; Morgan pushes to leg and Kumar makes a right old mess of the fielding on the rope. He half-stops it and then gives it up as if it went for four - but it didn't. Bell and Morgan were walking back to the pavilion - the ball finally comes back in, the bails are taken off almost by stealth, and with the England pair almost at the pavilion steps the Indian team are appealing for the most remarkable run-out you will ever see...

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The third umpire said it was out. The umpire asked Dhoni if he wants to uphold the appeal, Dhoni says yes and Bell is given out.

Another great session for England.

Ends with ...what? A run out? Did the umpire not call tea or what ? Surely the most bizarre dismissal ever ...

Lucky India ... morally a bit off I think and tragic for Bell. I guess it was careless to assume play had ceased but I don't think I'd have claimed that wicket...

Sour end to the session

Will overshadow much of the match now and that's a pity.

England had better win this match now...

I think it is harsh to accuse the Indians of bad sportsmanship. Why didn't Bell check with umpire that it was 4 or why didn't Morgan say it didn't go for 4 and told Bell to stay up the strikers end?

Zero Class unfortunately.

I have just seen the replay. Correct decision sadly enough. Bell should have waited for the call but you could question the Indians sportsmanship there somewhat. That said, maybe England would have done the same in the same circumstances.

Very unsatifactory dismissal, getting a very anti england, or maybe just anti Bell vibe from Warne though.

As Bell was walking off he said the Umpire had called "Over". Just when I thought this day was entertaining but uneventful...

Fists of Fury wrote:Very unsportsmanlike from the Indians. Doesn't surprise me, though.

I don't know how you can say that, the ball was still alive and dhoni has every right to appeal.

Even as bells biggest fan that was careless. Could spur on India here.

Infact saying that it doesn't surprise you could be a bit racist....

It's not as unsportsmanlike as collingwood a few years ago.

Looking at the stump mic replays I thought I heard 'over' after the bails were taken off.

I just flicked over after the GAA.

a bit of a lapse in concentration, yes
unsportsmanlike......certainly.

the umpires gave India a way out by asking if they really appealing that. The indians didn't take it.

Spirit of the game says the wicket shouldn't have been claimed but I'm afraid most modern teams would take it - probably including England.

If over wasn't called he had to be out but while I won't call it bad sportsmanship I wish Dhoni hadn't gone on with the appeal as it will leave a sour taste. And I would say the same if the teams were reversed.

I don't know, Bell is adamant that the umpire called over. It looks like he says it when handing the jumper back.

i say that not supporting either side.

It is just a lapse in concentration by Bell. It is all I can say. Umpire didn't indicate 4 runs, so Bell was careless.

England should not let this situation distract them from the task at hand. Still have Prior to come out and bat. Still time for England to post a score.

Its a bizar way to get out but was careless from Bell and Morgan.
It wont make Dhoni any more popular though

Would England have taken back the appeal, probably not.

Calling Indians cheaters is incredibly racist and short sighted. At the end of the day both Morgan and bell made a mistake. The fielded saved 1 and threw it in, bell was out of his crease and is out.

Dhoni is fully within his rights to appeal and not change his mind.

If it was the other way round you would not be complaining.

Sloppy to say the least, the correct decision if the umpire never called over though. Leaves a sour taste though, someone playing so well being got out so cheaply. Maybe it is just because I am in England's camp but I think Dhoni should have called him back (Collingwood should have called the NZ batsman back as well, but that's irrelevant).

Prior to punish them with another ton.

To be honest, when I saw Bell walking over to Morgan, I did worry. It's as much a schoolboy mistake by Bell as it is "cheating" by India. The biggest shame, is that Bell didn't get an ovation after what was an excellent century.

Some rather gutless commentry from Sky here.

Has there been a final word on Trott?

There shouldn't be accusations of cheating or anything like that against the Indians or Dhoni. The ball was alive and they had the right to appeal. Bell clearly went by the response from the crowd. Morgan should've been more enforcing Bell to his crease.

Big runs from prior would be nice to stick it right back up these Indians. Won't be happy if we end up losing this test after that, careless by Bell but incredibly unsporting from Dhoni - feeling the pressure after his awful keeping an batting maybe?

The fielder didnt save 1 though. He assumed he had let it go for 4, which was why Bell was walking off for tea. His body language suggested such. To appeal on the back of that just seems out of order to me.

But we'll have to move on.

I think if England can post 300 or more, certainly be in the driving seat for the win. Hat-Trick again anyone?

They may all cool down over tea , but apparently the England team are pretty incensed over that incident.
Were they all out and bowling I reckon we'd really see some fireworks

As it is they'll need to be calm and keep batting...

Bad blood between the teams now and it won't go away ... which is sad.

Was it Dhonis fault that Bell walked off? No
Was it Dhonis fault that Morgan didn't send Bell back? No
Was it Dhonis fault that the ball was brilliantly fielded? No

Unsportsmanlike? Possibly. But you cannot deny that in opposite circumstances you would be cheering Englands awareness.

Game on now. 7 sessions left, match in the balance. New batsman at the crease.

Wow, the fans are going mental. Trent Bridge now a lions den.

Dhoni deserves a huge amount of credit here

Common sense has been restored finally.

Classy move I'll applaud Dhoni for, but still 20 minutes too late.

Dhoni has withdrawn the appeal!

Now what do you haters say?

Oh fair play, I take it all back, massive respect to Dhoni. Very classy in the end.

Bell is back in. Assume Dhoni withdrew his appeal, the right thing in my opinion. What price Bell getting cleaned up first ball he faces?

Swanny' cat your a harsh man, haha

out of the heat of the moment Dhoni had the bottle to change his decision, no doubt feeling he will be under huge pressure from the indian press and public

It's all a bit embarrassing now. Why did they withdraw it? Would Strauss have done the same?

Fair play to India.
Wonder if Bell'll be in a batting mood now though.

My sincerest apologies for my comment earlier. It was made in the heat of the moment and by retracting the appeal Dhoni has shown he is a better man than I. What bottle by the man - Dhoni I am sorry.

Would have been dispicable behaviour from the Indians if they upheld the appeal but thankfully the fight decision has been made, fair play to Dhoni.

At the end of the day he made it harder for himself.

Unless India win, or Bell gets out cheaply now he'll be hammered back home.

If he didnt call him back, he'd be hammered from all parts not India.

Glad to see the spirit of the game is maintained, full credit to him.

And thank heavens sanity has prevailed ...India have apparently withdrawn the appeal !!!!!

Good for Dhoni

There are times when applying strict letter of the law is not smart and I'm really glad they've seen this is one of them.

Back to cricket and a fascinating series now made better by a show of class from India , even if briefly delayed

Massive respect to Dhoni, Gregers stop making this a racist issue even if it was the aussies it would have been the same.

PS bring back Trebbs.

Trebbs will be wayching, blaming KP for the whole thing!!

Duty281 wrote:My sincerest apologies for my comment earlier. It was made in the heat of the moment and by retracting the appeal Dhoni has shown he is a better man than I. What bottle by the man - Dhoni I am sorry.

Dhoni has shown that he is the bigger man. Well played to him.

Bells head must be scrambled now...

Right, let's have a great last session. I reckon India will take a few wicket this session, in fairness they deserve to.

Hopefully Dhoni won't get attacked by the Indian press too much...

All calm now? Good. I wasnt the one making the Indians are always cheeters comments...

Would love to hear Boycotts view on this.

Well, that spiced this thread up, did it not? Harsh words from
Many of us, myself included, in the heat of the moment, but a great display of sportsmanship retrospectively from Dhoni, and it's good to see us lot take back our initial actions, also!

Ultimately it's the umpires fault whose name alludes me who according to Bell himself had called over.

My respect for Dhoni has quadrupled. The ribbing he will get back home will be quite enormous if India go on to lose.

Absolutely Fists, this incident, and in particular Dhoni's actions should be held up as a great example of respect for ones sports

Imperial Ghosty wrote:Would love to hear Boycotts view on this.

Well its just not cricket...