It was the taking part that counted

Wilhelm

''It was the taking part that counted''

No, its the winning that counts. What would happen if Churchill had the same attitude ? Well Britain took part in the war, but the Fuhrer won. Its erroneous thinking.

Game, Set and Match to Wilhelm

Paul B

I would concur with James comments- especially about the superior form of the game. Test cricket is by and away the superior game, every other version, although entertaining (20/20-on fine summer evening with friends, is the sporting equivalent of a knee trembler behind the bike shed with Mavis Follows, fun but unfulfilling ) are pale comparisons.

On the cricketing front- Petersen is performing well as captain imo. Although sad at losing to India, there is no reason to be downcast, they (India) are a fine side, with a powerful batting line up, that stands comparison with any imo. Agree with James over Ossie, and we need someone to try to persuade Trescothick back into the fold, if he feels able. He would bring an explosive start to an innings. Strauss & Cook are fine players, but for the modern day game both are ponderous.The young lad at Kent whose name escapes, maybe worth a look to add the explosive start, if as I fear Marcus will not play Test cricket again.

Monty needs to rethink his game - hes a strike bowler, not a end holder upper. I don`t mind if he concedes a few, but he needs to get back to taking wickets. The greatest ever-Shane Warne (can there really be any serious argument about that assertion, its a fact as plain as day follows night)would sometime be expensive, but he would always be attacking-best form of etc etc.

Lastly, well done to the lads for going over there.Its easy for armchair critics to say it was no brainer, but these are young men with young families, sportsmen not soldiers, so plaudits to them all.

Well done all round.

Verity

I am proud of them for showing defiance to totalitarian religious nutters and solidarity with the people of India, a major player in the Anglosphere.

(I just wish they hadn't turned themselves into ambulatory billboards. They've taken a great slice of the glamour off cricket by so doing.)

cuffleyburgers

In this case Wilhelm, you're worng.

In the immediate aftermath the team seemed to wobble, luckily wiser counsels prevailed and he tour rightly went ahead.

Well played India.

England as so often lately came up short, but at least we still occupy the moral high ground!

Wilhelm

Hamburgers

Listen kid, Im never wrong cos Im a genius, i didnt want to boast but you forced me into saying it.

Athesius the Facilitator

As someone who plays a lot of golf (the missus says not enough Hmmm)I must admit that test cricket is my passion even though I don't play cricket anymore myself I just love the game. And test cricket is still the best form of cricket even though we need the other two main forms of the game.
As for the Indian tour: it should be five tests, the bowling is awful apart from Flintoff, the batting is inconsistent, the coaching staff are average to say the least (otherwise Panesar would be improving not getting worse and Harmison and Anderson would be bowling straight). Having said that I can honestly say that I am not to dissapointed this time. Maybe the bad administration of cricket and the pettiness is sucking all the enthusiasm out of me.

Mavis Follows

Charming.

JONNY

And the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks:
Play up
Play up and play the game.
Oh Cricketers of England didn't you do well.
You played and what's more you lost. Sir Henry Newbolt would have been proud of you.

Fergus Pickering

Oh come along now. W8nningis nice but losing to a better side on the day is part of the game, of any game. England could have won that first test ifit had not been for the brilliance of Sehwag (particularly - and WHAT a man!) and the steadiness of Tendulkar, the best batsman in the world. Flintoffis a great bowler and KP is a great batsman. The rest do their best. The Kent man is Joe Denly by the way. I would have Denly and his Captain (What is his name?) open for England. They'd certainly get a move on. We will beat the Australians next year and KP will score 700 runs.

Paul B

Robert Key is the Kent captain Fergus, and yes, I certainly would think about including him in the side.

Lastly, Mavis, indeed you were charming sat there on your Rayleigh Chopper with ten No6, and your Ziggy Stardust haircut. budgie jacket, levi stay press and bulls blood tasseled loafers,41 yes, beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder

TGF UKIP

Bang on James and this was surely the last time we will have seen in England colours Steve one-way-ticket-to-Ashington-please Harmison (as Bob Willis so accurately described him.)

Having watched all the highlights coverage on Sky, I was left with the feeling that England are a nearly team. They are certainly not the no-hopers they recently were and on many occasions were short of just a little bit of good fortune - in the early overs of each Indian innings in this last test how many times did Anderson beat the bat only to just miss either outside edge or wicket?

Swann also played with character, got real turn and looked the part as a spin bowler. Panesar does not look to me like the brightest shilling in the pound and gives the impression that he needs someone else to do his thinking for him and more specialized and personalized spin bowling coaching.

As you say, though, James the important thing is they went and they all went as a team. No bleating Crofts or Caddicks to blight the name this time around thank God.