[padmrajravi]

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

One thing I'd like to see in the remaining tests, and in general, is umpires providing some protection to tail-enders.

This is not realistically possible. How can you classify somebody as a batsman with limited skills just because he comes in at 9? Sam curran has batted at 9 and 10 for england. Can he be deemed a tail ender by any stretch of imagination? Cricketers come into the game very well knowing that a ball at 140kmph is deadly. For someone to play at international level, he should be good enough to face a ball coming at 140 kmph. Umpires can't be expected to do anything unless it is a beamer.

[kavensri]

Originally Posted by padmrajravi

This is not realistically possible.

Even I thought so until i read this article from cricinfo.

[VWAllstar]

Originally Posted by padmrajravi

Sam curran has batted at 9 and 10 for england. Can he be deemed a tail ender by any stretch of imagination?

If only the previous test match is considered then definitely yes

Such changes will never come and should never come. Thats the fun of Test Cricket. These days, bowlers are working hard on their batting skills. All teams are aware that now even 50 runs added by the tail can make a big difference.

I dint feel the players crossed their lines. Just that our Kohli has started to look a bit obnoxious with his OTT celebrations.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by samaspire

But I would have enjoyed it so much more if Kholi stopped acting like an ass.

I don't know if you're referring to anything specific, but in this test I can only praise Kohli. Yes, he is chirpy, over enthusiastic and even dropped a catch in the process but his captaincy (attacking field positions, rotation of bowlers) was spot on. I also agree that sometimes he does tend to get carried away, but not in this game.

If you watch the post match presentation both Kohli and Rahul did not avoid talking about the 'tensions' on the field referring to the sledging that the English players unleashed. Kohli and co. (well Kohli almost single handedly actually) handled them well and even gave back the taste of their own medicine very well and used it to up the ante in the game. Very clearly the English sledging tactic backfired badly on them. If anything, the English should have hopefully learnt a lesson.

Also, the on field banter that took place during indian and English innings needs to be seen in context otherwise it can be misunderstood or misrepresented - what the English did (they started it), they got back in return , each and every one of them who sledged got it back when they batted.

[Emvi]

Originally Posted by NPV

I don't know if you're referring to anything specific, but in this test I can only praise Kohli. Yes, he is chirpy, over enthusiastic and even dropped a catch in the process but his captaincy (attacking field positions, rotation of bowlers) was spot on. I also agree that sometimes he does tend to get carried away, but not in this game.

+1.
Kohli's on-field antics do go overboard on occasions. However it's not such a bad thing as long as he and his team are playing the game hard and importantly FAIR. As cricket fans we all know how Aussies used to conduct themselves on the cricket field when they were at their rampaging best in the 2000s and early part of the 2010s. Not many complained about their over aggression on the field, instead more times than not, they were credited for their "aggressive" brand of cricket. No doubt they played hard, but FAIR? I have no comments. Under Kohli's captaincy, I have rarely seen a player falsely claiming a low catch or intentionally trying to alter the condition of a cricket ball or having a go at umpires hurling obscenities. Period.

[harry10]

Some sledge stuff which happened yesterday I picked from Reddit-

On Cricbuzz commentary it was written that bumrah said " I am not asking to bowl them slow, Anderson has been playing for 16 years and still asks to bowl slow when he comes on to bat" something along these lines.

Kohli to Butler “Don’t worry about him, this is not white ball cricket”
This was because when India were batting Buttler said - "only 2 to Shami" which meant just 2 wickets to Shami who will gift his wicket away.

Someone to Robinson to a silly shot he played “ What a shot, what a shot”

Kohli said to one of the umpires that "they (English players) got away with a lot of things, I am not going to hold back my boys". This was when Robinson and Butler were at the crease.

Kohli when Robinson came in:
“How boring was your innings. Playing for survival at home every test match. Come on big mouth”

Then in another instance Kohli to Robinson just before he got out :
“Pujji, he was laughing at me when I missed a cover drive. Can’t even look at me now. So weak willed.
Don’t even think of playing outside England with 122 klicks.”

I don't think Indian team could have won yesterday if Kohli wasn't super charged up. He made sure intensity wasn't dropped a single minute and every wicket was a festival. Even Rohit, Rahane and Pujara who are usually cool and calm were fully animated during Shami/Bumrah partnership when they were sledged and Bumrah was bombarded by bouncers and also during the whole England batting.

Even Rahul said in post match - If you come after one of us, whole 11 of us will come after you.

[redCherry]

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

Bowling bumpers repeatedly at specialist batsmen is one thing, doing it to #9, 10 & 11 who are ill-equipped to handle it, is just dangerous and irresponsible.

That's exactly my point. They should have spared Anderson the repeated bouncers. In fact I think that's what triggered all the sledging and banter between the two teams there after.

So many bouncers to no. 11 who is almost 40 and known to be a bunny with the bat , but they couldn't challenge Root with the same, that's the only thing I didn't like it in this test

Actually, Bumrah could have just yorked him first ball, instead of peppering him with bouncers. We all know how good Bumrah is with yorkers, he would have got that wicket at least instead of going wicketless in 1st innings that way.

[papr23]

Originally Posted by redCherry

Actually, Bumrah could have just yorked him first ball, instead of peppering him with bouncers. We all know how good Bumrah is with yorkers, he would have got that wicket at least instead of going wicketless in 1st innings that way.

Yorker is most effective when the batsman is least expecting it. What Bumrah did is softened Jimmy with few mean bouncers and then bowled a yorker. Jimmy digged it out.
If you look at Bumrah's over which got Robinson out in the final moments of the match, he did the same thing. Bowled few bouncers, they weren't so mean, maybe Bumrah was tired by then and then sneaked a slow straight one and got him LBW! Masterful bowling I say!

[Eddy]

For me, until you violate a rule, all is fair. If the umpires think that there was no violation of rule 41.6, then so be it.

And the likes of Anderson deserve it as well...

[suhaas307]

Starting day 5 at Lords, with a lead of 150 and just 4 wickets remaining - surely it seemed like Eng would wrap up the tail in 5-10 overs and then chase down the 170-180 target just in time for Tea.

The 9th wicket partnership was the turning point in my opinion. It destroyed the English team’s mental make up and morale.

What a great game of test cricket! Can’t wait for the rest of the matches!

[PPS]

It all started with the barrage of bouncers Bumrah bowled to Anderson, which he didn't quite appreciate & voiced the same while leaving the field. After that England lost the plot when Bumrah came in to bat. Proved to be the turning point of the match! Its a different thrill watching an exciting test match.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by Eddy

And the likes of Anderson deserve it as well...

Absolutely, it was fair in the end and even Stevens.

The English bowlers also bowled bumpers at the Indian tailenders and Bumrah got one on his helmet too.

[searacer932]

Originally Posted by redCherry

That's exactly my point. They should have spared Anderson the repeated bouncers. In fact I think that's what triggered all the sledging and banter between the two teams there after.

So many bouncers to no. 11 who is almost 40 and known to be a bunny with the bat , but they couldn't challenge Root with the same, that's the only thing I didn't like it in this test

Actually, Bumrah could have just yorked him first ball, instead of peppering him with bouncers. We all know how good Bumrah is with yorkers, he would have got that wicket at least instead of going wicketless in 1st innings that way.

Then why come to bat if you are no. 11 and going 40

[jkrishnakj]

You plan your bowling with a view of getting the batsmen out, not to knock him out.

But Root & co almost admit that they were planning to have a go when Bhumrah walks into bat. That’s when they lost it and it reached a point of no return for them.

As for bouncers to a number 11, I think it’s all ok. No sympathy for Anderson.

Imagine telling a Chris Gayle that one of our bowlers is new and making his debut and therefore, please go soft on that bowler!

[harry10]

Originally Posted by redCherry

That's exactly my point. They should have spared Anderson the repeated bouncers. In fact I think that's what triggered all the sledging and banter between the two teams there after.

So many bouncers to no. 11 who is almost 40 and known to be a bunny with the bat , but they couldn't challenge Root with the same, that's the only thing I didn't like it in this test

Have we forgotten on Australia tour Shami's arm was broken by a Starc bouncer and he had to miss rest of matches. This bouncer tactic to tail Enders is used by every cricket playing country and especially England who were crying so much do it all the time. Remember the 2005 Ashes when Flintoff and co. bombarded Brett Lee with bouncers to win the famous series.

Also, it depends on player to player. Anderson isn't liked by anyone in world cricket cos he sledges a lot himself but when it's his turn he starts crying foul. I am glad Indian team gave it back to him.

Fact is tail Enders get out mostly on 2 balls, bouncer and Yorker. Anything on length they will swing their bat and get some runs. Btw, Yorker is the toughest ball to bowl in cricket, an inch here and there and it becomes a full toss gift for four.

Also, people criticize Kohli for sledging and been animated. He does it mostly with England and Australia who are famous for doing it themselves. He seldom does it with teams like NZ as we saw in WTC final or someone like Windies.