England vs Pakistan Test Series

[canveyshrimper]

We won by an innings and something like 225. U Akmal top scored with 79, their next highest was 21. Incredibly depressing read the live text from the BBC. The post-match presentations were done in private too.

The presentations weren't done on the ground as they normally would, but done in the Long Room, given the circumstances probably a wise decision. The Pakistani manager has confirmed that the computers & mobile phones of Amir, Asif & Salman Butt have been confiscated for investigation.

There seems to be some doubt that the T20 match and the ODI series will go ahead.

 

[Bluesmanager]

Not according to the Pakistani team manager - he's insisting they go ahead.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Much as I'd like to agree, does anyone have the right to deny the players involved their livelihood? Let's face it, these guys won't have a lot to fall back on, and if they end up being thrown out of cricket they're screwed - that young bowler Pakistan have looks a decent prospect, probably doesn't have the wits or knowhow to realise when he's getting near **** Falls in instances like this, should he be chucked out?

Absolutely Hansie Cronje was banned for life from playing and coaching for his part in fixing the result of the 5th Test against England in 1999. Two Indian players Mohammed Azharuddin & Ajay Jadeja were also banned for life, although IIRC Jadeja's sentence was rescinded after a few years. If the Pakistan players are guilty they should be banned for life, irrespective of age and possible naiveity. Also Asif has previous having been banned on a couple of occasions for drugs offences.

There's been instances of match fixing in football in the past, back in the 60's three Shefield Wednesday players were found guilty of taking bribes. The three David "Bronco" Layne, Peter Swan & Tony Kay (who by then was at Everton) were allon the fringes or had played for England.

I always loved the comment by Richie Benaud in the wake of the Cronje scandal, he said he'd spent 60 years trying to work out how to win cricket matches, and along comes someone who wants to lose them.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Not according to the Pakistani team manager - he's insisting they go ahead.

I think they'll go ahead as the matches will almost certainly have been sold out long ago. And while the Pakistan team will change a lot to bring in their one day specialists like Afridi, there will be much doubt about the integrity of the results as allegedly two have already been fixed.

 

[Ailsa Road Shrimper]

I think the issue realting to the 3 no balls in this match has been blown out of proportion a bit, it's not exactly match fixing (though obviously it's not good for the game).

I'm pretty sure Matt Le Tissier admitted in his autobiography that he once kicked the ball out of play deliberately in a match against Wimbledon in relation to a bet and barely an eyelid was raised, I would liken the 3 no balls in the Cricket to something like this.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I think the issue realting to the 3 no balls in this match has been blown out of proportion a bit, it's not exactly match fixing (though obviously it's not good for the game).

I'm pretty sure Matt Le Tissier admitted in his autobiography that he once kicked the ball out of play deliberately in a match against Wimbledon in relation to a bet and barely an eyelid was raised, I would liken the 3 no balls in the Cricket to something like this.

I'm afraid its the tip of the iceberg Kev. The no-balls were to show that they had the influence to fix things. Plans were afoot to fix the result of two out of the forthcoming ODIs and they'd even fixed tests in the past (eg the dramatic collapse at Sydney).

This time 24 hours ago I was checking how much tickets were for the 4th day*. After this news, I haven't even bothered to look at the scorecard.


*FWIW, £70-75 to see a rigged contest.

 

[Bluesmanager]

And besides which, cricket has a history of match-fixing, I think it's fair to say. Football's had it's moments, but never as many or (as far as I'm aware) as high profile ones at cricket.

 

[canveyshrimper]

No more or less than any other sport. Stories about boxers taking a dive have done the rounds for years. Snooker has had more than its fair share of fixing allegations and betting irregularities. Football has had many problems down the years, I mentioned the bribes scandal of the 60's and weren't Juventus guilty of something that saw them relegated to Serie B?

 

[Pubey]

No more or less than any other sport. Stories about boxers taking a dive have done the rounds for years. Snooker has had more than its fair share of fixing allegations and betting irregularities. Football has had many problems down the years, I mentioned the bribes scandal of the 60's and weren't Juventus guilty of something that saw them relegated to Serie B?

Yep a lot of ref bribing in Germany and Italy.

 

[Bluesmanager]

Bugger. Forgot Juve.

 

[Stats]

Speaking of match fixing taking bribes etc, there are many players who have worn the blues shirt in the past who have played like they have been trying to fix matches.

Carl Emberson and Mark Prudhoe spring to mind.

 

[Swiss Tony]

It's way past time for Pakistan cricket to go in the sin bin of crickers,up Holland to the test game,we then can all hop on the ferry for cricket/**** up weekends,simples people.

 

[steveo]

I think the issue realting to the 3 no balls in this match has been blown out of proportion a bit, it's not exactly match fixing (though obviously it's not good for the game).

I'm pretty sure Matt Le Tissier admitted in his autobiography that he once kicked the ball out of play deliberately in a match against Wimbledon in relation to a bet and barely an eyelid was raised, I would liken the 3 no balls in the Cricket to something like this.

That sort of thing wont really have a bearing on the result. If you check the spread bet index for things like time of first corner, or time of first throw in, its easy for a player to lump a big number on and go short and just mis kick the ball off the pitch very early. Obviously its a lot harder to influence things like time of first goal.

There was probably a market for no balls, so you can easily influence that by chucking a few more.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

This time 24 hours ago I was checking how much tickets were for the 4th day*. After this news, I haven't even bothered to look at the scorecard.

*FWIW, £70-75 to see a rigged contest.

I'm with you there, Matt. On Friday night, as I came home from Lord's, I was sitting there in rapt awe, thinking to myself that that was the best day of Test cricket I'd ever had the outrageous good fortune to witness. Asif and Amir were damn near unplayable in the morning and, at 47/5 and 102/7, we were well and truly staring down the barrel of a Test defeat.

Now I'm sitting here wondering whether Pakistan in fact threw it - and that Trott's brilliant and chanceless century (truly magnificent), and Broad's swashbuckling ton (rather more fortunate, but also more elegant, than Trott's) weren't "wot won it" for England, because Pakistan had in fact lumped on an England win once they'd reduced them to 102/7 and then thrown the game.

I'm also particularly galled to see Amir's name involved. There's no way that an 18 year old kid - the most exciting teenage bowler we've seen since Waqar (perhaps even more than him, and that's saying something) - would have had the gumption to set this up for himself; which can only lead to the conclusion that senior players have led him down the path - a path that may end up to him being banned if the charges stick against him. Amir's elders and supposed betters could lead to the game of cricket being robbed of one of the most exciting young talents it has produced in recent years - and that is little short of criminal. I hope the authorities bear that in mind - and show the lad some clemency if it transpires that he is involved (and one could be forgiven for thinking he is in light of how appallingly bad some of those no-balls were).

I feel pretty damn sore about it, to be honest - my favourite international sport feels more gravely imperilled than at any time in my life. I can only hope that this expose helps clear out the augean stables that is Pakistani cricket, because the demise of Test cricket in the subcontinent would be a mortal blow from which the sport as a whole might struggle to recover.

Gutted. Oh well, at least I was blissfully ignorant of all this on Friday which, at the time, felt like one of the greatest days of sport I'd ever seen.

Matt

 

[Bluesmanager]

I seem to recall a case from F1 in the last few years wherein one of the Renault drivers involved turned against his team and threw in with the FIA, and thus got off the resulting charges. To be honest, it's just about the only way I can think of that'll save all the players involved, which, as you say Matt, is a great shame for Amir, who probably (and this is meaning no offence to him) doesn't have the guts to stand against his team mates, particularly if he's alone in the matter.

 

[Swiss Tony]

I'm with you there, Matt. On Friday night, as I came home from Lord's, I was sitting there in rapt awe, thinking to myself that that was the best day of Test cricket I'd ever had the outrageous good fortune to witness. Asif and Amir were damn near unplayable in the morning and, at 47/5 and 102/7, we were well and truly staring down the barrel of a Test defeat.

Now I'm sitting here wondering whether Pakistan in fact threw it - and that Trott's brilliant and chanceless century (truly magnificent), and Broad's swashbuckling ton (rather more fortunate, but also more elegant, than Trott's) weren't "wot won it" for England, because Pakistan had in fact lumped on an England win once they'd reduced them to 102/7 and then thrown the game.

I'm also particularly galled to see Amir's name involved. There's no way that an 18 year old kid - the most exciting teenage bowler we've seen since Waqar (perhaps even more than him, and that's saying something) - would have had the gumption to set this up for himself; which can only lead to the conclusion that senior players have led him down the path - a path that may end up to him being banned if the charges stick against him. Amir's elders and supposed betters could lead to the game of cricket being robbed of one of the most exciting young talents it has produced in recent years - and that is little short of criminal. I hope the authorities bear that in mind - and show the lad some clemency if it transpires that he is involved (and one could be forgiven for thinking he is in light of how appallingly bad some of those no-balls were).

I feel pretty damn sore about it, to be honest - my favourite international sport feels more gravely imperilled than at any time in my life. I can only hope that this expose helps clear out the augean stables that is Pakistani cricket, because the demise of Test cricket in the subcontinent would be a mortal blow from which the sport as a whole might struggle to recover.

Gutted. Oh well, at least I was blissfully ignorant of all this on Friday which, at the time, felt like one of the greatest days of sport I'd ever seen.

Matt

Ilike you was there friday,and came away with the same thoughts as you thinking it was indeed a truly great days cricket i'd witnesed,i'm trying very hard not to think Mr Broad and Trotts tons were tainted in anyway,christ that would be just horrible for all cricket fans and especially the two batsman involved.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

A good article in the Grauniad which sums up a lot of my feelings of sadness today about recent revelations...

clicky

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

KP has been dropped from the ODI's according to this !!

KP Dropped

 

[Pubey]

http://twitpic.com/2jxr0o

 

[number11]

I would prefer him to get some cricket under his belt in the championship than play a meaningless 20twenty match, but I would have preferred that happening with KP's blessing and understanding!