[srishiva]

Someone could float a company, buy these and sell back after 2 years. This would be definitely in line with how things go on in this country. Also, is the suspension according to some rules or just something that is being proposed because they can.
Good thing would be to ban these holding companies/individuals to never operate any sporting team in future. Why cant they be given a life ban?

[Chetan_Rao]

They'll probably just float a shell organisation in some tax haven and buy the stakes. There's NOTHING (enough) money can't buy.

[Eddy]

The Ashes second test starts tomorrow.

Watson has been dropped and Haddin has stepped aside due to some personal reasons. So it'll be Neville and Mitch Marsh.

This is the best chance for England to take a 2-0 lead.

[msdivy]

AB Delirious as Mrs. AB Delivers Baby de Villiers

[Marauder]

So, the 3 cricketers who were arrested in the spot-fixing case have been acquitted, but their BCCI bans stay.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/co...ry/903075.html

It seems like the BCCI are a law unto themselves. I'm not saying whether the cricketers are innocent are not, but the law of the country or the verdict of courts should have a bearing on their matters.
When the courts pronounce their administrators and officials guilty, BCCI inquiries say they are innocent and when the court acquits players they are still banned by BCCI.

[AltoLXI]

Amazing bowling by Broad and Australia put into bat in the 4th Ashes test are 29/6.

[Eddy]

Brilliant start to the match. I wish I was at home, watching. Gotta be content only with commentary on cricinfo.

[Bubby]

Brilliant from Stu-Eight Broad. The way Australia is playing cricket, Pro-Kabbadi may be an alternative. Though, still a better performance than Congress in 2014 elections

[Eddy]

The Aussies NEVER give up, let's see how they deal with this one !

[RedDevil_KP]

With the emergence of T20 leagues across the globe, the current players show lack of technique in Test Cricket. Gone were the days where a batsman would have 20 runs on the board with 90 balls faced. Appalling batting by the Aussies today.

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by RedDevil_KP

With the emergence of T20 leagues across the globe, the current players show lack of technique in Test Cricket. Gone were the days where a batsman would have 20 runs on the board with 90 balls faced. Appalling batting by the Aussies today.

I agree. Ricky Ponting demonstrated their flaws in defense technique in the post innings show. It was a revelation.

The pure fun of watching something like Ashes is the complete absence of nonsense from:

Ravi Shastri
Gavaskar
Laxman Sivaramakrishnan
Manjrekar
Wasim Akram
Rameez Raja
V Prasad

and the likes.....

Commentary and coverage is pure bliss !

[Marauder]

Originally Posted by RedDevil_KP

With the emergence of T20 leagues across the globe, the current players show lack of technique in Test Cricket. Gone were the days where a batsman would have 20 runs on the board with 90 balls faced. Appalling batting by the Aussies today.

I don't know, when Brendon McCullum hits a first ball six in a test match everyone applauds and says how T20 has made Test Cricket exciting but when the same attacking approach doesn't come off people criticise T20 leagues.

[Eddy]

There's a difference. Attacking cricket is good for the game. But there are times when you need to buckle down and defend your way out from a tight spot.

That's whats not happening often enough these days, especially by visiting teams.

[Chetan_Rao]

^^^Not to misunderstand, T-20 cricket has had a good influence in that teams are willing to take risks for a result in a Test instead of letting it drift and see where it goes (as was the norm a generation ago), but that doesn't mean taking a cavalier approach every time you're out on the greens irrespective of the conditions (both literally and tactically).

Test cricket is first and foremost a test of one's perseverance and ability to adapt over a long period, and the current bunch of cricketers sorely lack that perspective. Edgbaston may have been thrilling to watch, but it was painful for the purist given the horrendous quality of batting on display.

There's a saying in motor racing: "You can't win a race at the first corner, but you definitely can lose it there". Swap 'first corner' with first session/day and it's valid for Test cricket too.

[Marauder]

Originally Posted by Eddy

There's a difference. Attacking cricket is good for the game. But there are times when you need to buckle down and defend your way out from a tight spot.

That's whats not happening often enough these days, especially by visiting teams.

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

^^^Not to misunderstand, T-20 cricket has had a good influence in that teams are willing to take risks for a result in a Test instead of letting it drift and see where it goes (as was the norm a generation ago), but that doesn't mean taking a cavalier approach every time you're out on the greens irrespective of the conditions (both literally and tactically).

I was just pointing out the hypocrisy of people who glorify and vilify T20 cricket at their convenience and look for soft excuses for the current situation.
I'm not saying that the current crop of batsmen have great technique but T20 is not the sole reason for their inadequacies.

Michael Clarke doesn't play T20 cricket, I don't see Chris Rogers in T20 leagues anywhere. Gary Balance, who was looking the most technically inapt batsman isn't a T20 superstar.

One of the major reasons why visiting teams struggle and we rarely see a team winning overseas is because of the scheduling and the amount of cricket every team plays.
Earlier, there used to be atleast 6-7 practice games on a tour. Nowadays, a touring team is given a 3-day warm-up match to get acclimatised to the conditions.
Look at England's schedule for the season;
-3 tests on dead pitches in WI
-7 tests at home
-2 month tour to dustbowls in UAE
-4 tests on green, bouncy conditions in SA

It would be a miracle if they are not pummelled against Pakistan in UAE.