[vindrider2626]

This outcome was always going to be like this.Cricket fast losing appeal and with it the sponsors also,If things go like this icc will go bankrupt so too bcci.After seeing all those drama in ipl cant be a cricket fan again.We indians have too short a memory, fortunate for our politicians,players and all the bad guys out there.India had to win ,for the sake of the game.

[Gandhi]

Originally Posted by mercedised

2) The ball Ravi Bopara was given out was in the line of the top of his helmet, clearly a No-ball that he did hit, but it has tobe declared a No-ball anyway, which the umpires did'nt.

You need to understand the bouncers rule better. Let's first define the bouncer. It's a delivery which is above the line of shoulder of the batsman when it passes the batsman.

Now there are 2 kinds of ruling that can be given for bouncers -

1. Bouncer not going above the head of the batsman - is considered a no-ball. However 2 of such deliveries are considered legal (not declared no-ball) per over.
   
2. Bouncer going above the head of the batsman - is considered out of reach for the batsman and hence declared a wide-ball. Even such deliveries are counted in the 2 bouncers per over rule.

The delivery that got Bopara out was of second kind. However he did connect to the ball perfectly fine, so it can not be declared a wide-ball.

Hope this helps .

[NinadJoshi]

Originally Posted by mercedised

Now, in the finals there were specific reasons that this final was probably fixed:

1) The stumping by Dhoni in the finals was clearly not-out.

2) The ball Ravi Bopara was given out was in the line of the top of his helmet, clearly a No-ball that he did hit, but it has tobe declared a No-ball anyway, which the umpires did'nt.

3) never saw MSD celebrating like that even after winning the WC. I know this is crazy!
I am not bashing Indian team, they did play really well throughout the tournament, but fair play is what should be appreciated.

India was easily ahead a mile from the others in all departments on route the final. Nothing to suspect there, unless the conspiracy theory is that the bookie mafia aligned and set up all the 5 prominent test playing nations that India faced, to under-perform. That may be a tall ask. Occasionally we could give India/Indians the benefit of doubt for playing better then expected by virtue of playing better than expected

Bell's stumping could have gone England's way (benefit of doubt to the batsman as the unwritten norm goes), but that is no guarantee that it'd have changed the outcome of the match. England, to their discredit pulled defeat on to themselves Bell or no Bell. Morgan and Bopara should have sleepwalked through the remaining total but as accomplished as they are, they too played like school boys at the crunch time. Jos Buttler, the man who can make 14 runs in 3 balls look easy, walked in to embarass himself right away with 14 required of 15 balls. Point being, Bell wasn't a guarantor of success for England.

As for Bopara's wicket, recall that in the same match earlier Shikhar Dhawan smacked an audacious sixer over 3rd man on a ball that was probably a foot higher than Bopara's.

I can't say why Dhoni was so happy, but if he behaving out of his usual nature is something to be suspicious, then so be it. The next time Tendulkar isn't seen biting his nails in the balcony I'll suspect he too is up to something

[amitoj]

Originally Posted by mercedised

3) never saw MSD celebrating like that even after winning the WC. I know this is crazy!

Others have already explained your first two points.

Only Dhoni knows why he celebrated like he did. Maybe it was because when Bopara and Morgan were batting, it seemed England would go on to win comfortably since the target was not much to defend. Maybe it was because in this case, he needed his bowlers to bowl to his plan whereas in WC, he himself was in a much better control of the outcome.

Who knows!

In this tournament, Indian team has been called the best fielding side in the tournament. THAT is a first indeed and I doubt that that can be pre-arranged!

[PPS]

Originally Posted by mercedised

never saw MSD celebrating like that even after winning the WC. I know this is crazy!

I too was observing this, the reason could be we were precariously placed when Morgan & Bopara were going great guns. Also an Eng win was possible even of the last ball, hence probably this sort of celebration!
Btw, England are the new chokers. We were favourites even before the tournament began, the state of pitches helped our cause to some extent.

Originally Posted by amitoj

In this tournament, Indian team has been called the best fielding side in the tournament.

Remember in the first game we outfielded the mighty South Africans, now how often does that happen!

[mercedised]

You guys just kicked out those ugly thoughts I had about India's WIN. Thanks to you guys, India deserved!

[pratyush6]

Come on Guys .. Give the guy some breathing space. He wins - people say his luck is good. He loses - people say - he is a stupid skipper and his luck ran out.

India was a way better team in the tournament than most and I expected England to be the one team which would trouble India. MSD celebrating like that - Only he knows but odds were staked against us from the moment we loss the toss. Then the batsmen had to keep going on and off the field and could never really set in. England had all the luck going their way and when India pulled of the victory it was sweet.

It was a reaction not to winning the trophy but the way India won.
Well played guys!

[joslicx]

Its like the team gets criticized if they lose, and they get criticized even if they win!!!

Its a no win (or can not win) situation for team India.

[Daewood]

Originally Posted by mercedised

3) never saw MSD celebrating like that even after winning the WC.

You think he's such a fool to celebrate 'un-naturally' and expose the whole plot?

[NinadJoshi]

Tharanga joins the elite group of cricketers involved in most 200+ partnerships in ODI cricket...6 now.

Ponting has 7, Tendulkar and Ganguly have 6 each, and now Tharanga joins in.

[msdivy]

The Ashes is underway. After an exciting day 1, where 14 wickets fell, day 2 1st session has been remarkable. Australia starting 75/4 were quickly at 117/9. Now the No 11 batman makes highest score on debut and the score stands 229/9 at lunch. An amazing turnaround for Australia in an hour play.

[NinadJoshi]

In 2013 so far the Australians have had a 98 from a #11 (today), a 99 from a #9 (earlier), but not a single 90+ from the top 3.

This first Test in the Ashes series is one that makes a definitive case for Test cricket vis-a-vis the other formats. Absolutely gripping stuff. "Marvelous" as Mr. Benaud may say.

While we are on marvelous, Captain Marvelous is back in the Indian side that is playing for the triangular cup today. Let's see how that one goes.

[Satshan]

India playing its final in the Celkon cup today with Srilanka. It was a good toss to win for india, since its played at Port of Spain where chances of rain are more. Hope they win today with MSD back in the side after injury.

[PPS]

Don't know why Dhoni opted to field first on a reasonable wicket. Its now that time of the game when our bowlers start getting hammered- death bowling!

The Ashes certainly is more exciting. I guess i will watch the highlights of our batting tomorrow morning. West Indies should have been in the finals. Its no fun playing in an empty stadium!

[NinadJoshi]

Dhoni is incorrigible....the man who can do no wrong on the cricket field!