I am apoplectic with rage

[anotherhawkeye]

Sort of expected. I know the seniors had a big role in this decision. They grow up in the 80s.

[vamos_rafa]

Yeah this was expected. Glad that MSD didn publically acclaim that it was his own decision. Man that would have felt stupid.

[thevortex]

I dont see the logic in us behaving just as badly as the other team! Then how and where do we stand up and criticize them? Dhoni did the right thing. In fact, I would say that the recall should have happened even without the interference of the opposition captain and coach. On reflection I do not like it that the opposiition management got into the dressing room and discussed this during the course of the match. Such communication should go through the match officials. With reason. Dhoni could not have contemplated rejecting the offer that came from his opposite number (along with the English coach) without alienating them or at best appearing to be a boor. We have got to keep in mind that on-field Dhoni had no problem in maintaining the appeal and confirming to the umpires (thrice, I read) that he wanted the appeal to be upheld and Bell to be sent back. All said and done though, this incident had no connection with the ultimate result. England would have won and won massively, even if Dhoni were not to recall Bell. To me, this is an incident for the news-hounds looking for headlines rather than cricket fans trying to pick up the pieces and get to terms with the massive Indian loss.

[Guest BossBhai]

-- Removed on request of the user --

[Sachinism]

I dont see the logic in us behaving just as badly as the other team! Then how and where do we stand up and criticize them? Dhoni did the right thing. In fact, I would say that the recall should have happened even without the interference of the opposition captain and coach. On reflection I do not like it that the opposiition management got into the dressing room and discussed this during the course of the match. Such communication should go through the match officials. With reason. Dhoni could not have contemplated rejecting the offer that came from his opposite number (along with the English coach) without alienating them or at best appearing to be a boor. We have got to keep in mind that on-field Dhoni had no problem in maintaining the appeal and confirming to the umpires (thrice, I read) that he wanted the appeal to be upheld and Bell to be sent back. All said and done though, this incident had no connection with the ultimate result. England would have won and won massively, even if Dhoni were not to recall Bell. To me, this is an incident for the news-hounds looking for headlines rather than cricket fans trying to pick up the pieces and get to terms with the massive Indian loss.

Nice to see you back :two_thumbs_up: The main issue is we were conned into changing the decision. Bell f'd up and should have been out. The English have no regard for 'the spirit of cricket' and have the audacity to question someone elses actions. That is not on. Dhoni changing the decision there lost the series, because I can assure you that that kind act will already be forgotten by the English players, they'll just come harder at us knowing how soft we are.

[goose]

Also, the nastiness that would have ensued would have ensured a closer contest than what we got.

[kabira]

Picture this, after tea they scored 70 runs in less than 7overs... If Bell had been out, there was chance of another wicket and atleast 30 less runs, and then with new ball we could have pressured them more. I think our bowlers loss heart. Cricket is a funny game you know, we cannot say we would have lost anyways etc etc. yes margin was big, but cricket is 80% played with mindset, 20% you need skill.

[thevortex]

I dont know how you feel about this guys. But it takes a strong man to desist from wanton violence. In the streets it is the person who shouts the loudest who will run the fastest when push comes to shove. Dhoni, giving an inch to the English, is actually a sign of strength rather than one of weakness. That is the way I see it. As a matter of fact, that is just about the only thing he got right in this Test match. :) Regardless of whether Dhoni allowed Bell to come back or not, the English were going to come at us hard for the next 2 Tests. I dont see any change in that at all.

[Sachinism]

Also' date=' the nastiness that would have ensued would have ensured a closer contest than what we got.[/quote'] Exactly, our players seem to need a kick to get going

[ravsdh]

I dont know how you feel about this guys. But it takes a strong man to desist from wanton violence. In the streets it is the person who shouts the loudest who will run the fastest when push comes to shove. Dhoni, giving an inch to the English, is actually a sign of strength rather than one of weakness. That is the way I see it. As a matter of fact, that is just about the only thing he got right in this Test match. :) Regardless of whether Dhoni allowed Bell to come back or not, the English were going to come at us hard for the next 2 Tests. I dont see any change in that at all.

one thing was pretty telling aswell. sachin never pads up to a ball and gets given out lbw in a test match. i can only remember this happening 4 times in his career 1) brisbane 2003/4 when bucknor went blind, it was sailing miles over the stumps 2) adelaide 2003/4- he simply missed a straight one from macgill 3) to ntini in the 'unofficial' deness test of the SA series in 2001 4) yday if god misses a straight one as bad as he did yday, something has gone terribly wrong. ive never seen him leave a ball like that, that was THAT OUT before. it was as out as out gets, massive massive misjudgement, suggests his head isnt in the right place either.

[Cricket Tragic]

He got bowled against Ntini if I remember correctly. It wasn't LBW.

[ravsdh]

i apologise. you are right. so this occurance is even rarer

[Square Drive]

Strauss has done a similar thing against us when he recalled Mathews after he ran out because of a collision with the bowler. As a captain Strauss deserved this type of gesture from the opposition team. But that arrogant idiot Andy Flower shouldn't have allowed to enter Indian dressing room to talk about such an issue.. I wouldn't have recalled Mathews - Flower

[ravsdh]

yes but there is a difference here. they impeded matthews. he wasnt technically out as he was obstructed. as was grant elliott. here, according to ALL laws, bell was out. the ***er even said he was stupid. he played the system and won

[riwi999]

I am not too pissed off that Bell was recalled. Actually I expected it. Nowadays cricket is more than just a game. It is a diplomatic, relationshp-building medium. The way the ICC and ECB spoke about how the incident "confirms the warm relations with BCCI", that should be clear. I half-expected the Queen of England to call up Pratibha Patil. There's one thing I completely disagree with though. Every commentator (including Ganguly) has been saying that Bell did not really intend to go for a fourth run. I disagree. I've seen the replay many times and everytime it has looked to me as if Bell did start off quickly on that fourth run. It was only after going some distance that he began walking towards the non-striker's end. Either he thought it had gone to the boundary or he had reconciled himself to being run out. I've seen this so many times now and everytime I get the same feeling. Please do look at it and let me know what you think. This guy had clearly started off for the fourth and was therefore out of the crease. If that's the case, it was just a routine run-out. Everybody has managed to hype it up as a "spirit of cricket" thing, making Dhoni feel guilty and then reverse his decision.

[Brainfade]

While not as vehemently or hilariously, I certainly agree with the OP's sentiment. I have not watched the video, but it appears that Bell did - at some point - think of taking a run, but decided not to and ran to tea. Too damn bad, Ian. Suck it up like a man, not a 7-yr old galli kid crying for gaaji. It reminds me of 2 things: (1) In 1980, India vs. England, Golden Jubilee test. India had made 242 in the first, and England were struggling at 58/5 in their first. Bob Taylor and Ian Botham were at the crease trying to rebuild, but Taylor edged to Kirmani and was walking back. But guess what the Indian captain (GR Vishwanath) did? He ran all the way to the boundary and called him back because - get this - he was at 1st slip and did not hear a nick. Yeah, it was gentlemanly and all that, but Botham hit a 100, Taylor backed him up, our bowlers and fielders were demoralized, the shameless punks took the lead, our batting collapsed in the 2nd innings and the Poms won by 10 wkts. Now, you may argue that one decision does not a match make. But, at that moment, when Kapil and Ghavri were going great guns, the captain's action was demoralizing. His job is to win the game for his team. Don't cheat, don't break the rules, but don't send a message to your team that says "hey, I don't trust your ability to judge a nick and appeal." GRV's self-righteousness demoralized the team and cost him their trust; it was all downhill from there. Think Gavaskar would have done that? (2) A year later, same venue. Kris Srikkanth's debut match. He had made 13 or so runs, had crossed over for a run, and started his customary walk to square leg prior to getting back to his stance. He happened to be out of the line of popping crease, and John Emburey threw the ball to the keeper, who promptly flicked the bails and appealed. The umpire raised it, and Srikkanth was on his way back. Whoever the heck was the England captain didn't call him back, and our captain sure as heck didn't go begging for him to come back. Like some folks here said - it is a damn shame that Strauss and a teammate went to the dressing room to beg for Bell's wicket back. Their guy f'd up ... he either cheated or he forgot the rules. Either way, he paid for it with a wicket. And to the poster who said it was OK to give an inch: I agree, but not to punks who'll then take a goddamn mile.

[goose]

Read Flower's latest interview on Cricinfo. What a f%ckwit.

[devla]

If Tendulkar forced this decision, he should be dropped for the next game. Hell, we're losing by 300+ runs with him, how much worse can it get.

[Maundy Gregory]

While not as vehemently or hilariously, I certainly agree with the OP's sentiment. I have not watched the video, but it appears that Bell did - at some point - think of taking a run, but decided not to and ran to tea. Too damn bad, Ian. Suck it up like a man, not a 7-yr old galli kid crying for gaaji. It reminds me of 2 things: (1) In 1980, India vs. England, Golden Jubilee test. India had made 242 in the first, and England were struggling at 58/5 in their first. Bob Taylor and Ian Botham were at the crease trying to rebuild, but Taylor edged to Kirmani and was walking back. But guess what the Indian captain (GR Vishwanath) did? He ran all the way to the boundary and called him back because - get this - he was at 1st slip and did not hear a nick. Yeah, it was gentlemanly and all that, but Botham hit a 100, Taylor backed him up, our bowlers and fielders were demoralized, the shameless punks took the lead, our batting collapsed in the 2nd innings and the Poms won by 10 wkts. Now, you may argue that one decision does not a match make. But, at that moment, when Kapil and Ghavri were going great guns, the captain's action was demoralizing. His job is to win the game for his team. Don't cheat, don't break the rules, but don't send a message to your team that says "hey, I don't trust your ability to judge a nick and appeal." GRV's self-righteousness demoralized the team and cost him their trust; it was all downhill from there. Think Gavaskar would have done that? (2) A year later, same venue. Kris Srikkanth's debut match. He had made 13 or so runs, had crossed over for a run, and started his customary walk to square leg prior to getting back to his stance. He happened to be out of the line of popping crease, and John Emburey threw the ball to the keeper, who promptly flicked the bails and appealed. The umpire raised it, and Srikkanth was on his way back. Whoever the heck was the England captain didn't call him back, and our captain sure as heck didn't go begging for him to come back. Like some folks here said - it is a damn shame that Strauss and a teammate went to the dressing room to beg for Bell's wicket back. Their guy f'd up ... he either cheated or he forgot the rules. Either way, he paid for it with a wicket. And to the poster who said it was OK to give an inch: I agree, but not to punks who'll then take a goddamn mile.

You seem to forget that Srikkanth was run out going for the extra run, it was simply routine. What are you supposed to do, give a debutant a 'life'? And what did you expect Botham and Taylor to do, deliberately not score many runs?:headshake:

[Ultimate_Game]

While not as vehemently or hilariously, I certainly agree with the OP's sentiment. I have not watched the video, but it appears that Bell did - at some point - think of taking a run, but decided not to and ran to tea. Too damn bad, Ian. Suck it up like a man, not a 7-yr old galli kid crying for gaaji. It reminds me of 2 things: (1) In 1980, India vs. England, Golden Jubilee test. India had made 242 in the first, and England were struggling at 58/5 in their first. Bob Taylor and Ian Botham were at the crease trying to rebuild, but Taylor edged to Kirmani and was walking back. But guess what the Indian captain (GR Vishwanath) did? He ran all the way to the boundary and called him back because - get this - he was at 1st slip and did not hear a nick. Yeah, it was gentlemanly and all that, but Botham hit a 100, Taylor backed him up, our bowlers and fielders were demoralized, the shameless punks took the lead, our batting collapsed in the 2nd innings and the Poms won by 10 wkts. Now, you may argue that one decision does not a match make. But, at that moment, when Kapil and Ghavri were going great guns, the captain's action was demoralizing. His job is to win the game for his team. Don't cheat, don't break the rules, but don't send a message to your team that says "hey, I don't trust your ability to judge a nick and appeal." GRV's self-righteousness demoralized the team and cost him their trust; it was all downhill from there. Think Gavaskar would have done that? (2) A year later, same venue. Kris Srikkanth's debut match. He had made 13 or so runs, had crossed over for a run, and started his customary walk to square leg prior to getting back to his stance. He happened to be out of the line of popping crease, and John Emburey threw the ball to the keeper, who promptly flicked the bails and appealed. The umpire raised it, and Srikkanth was on his way back. Whoever the heck was the England captain didn't call him back, and our captain sure as heck didn't go begging for him to come back. Like some folks here said - it is a damn shame that Strauss and a teammate went to the dressing room to beg for Bell's wicket back. Their guy f'd up ... he either cheated or he forgot the rules. Either way, he paid for it with a wicket. And to the poster who said it was OK to give an inch: I agree, but not to punks who'll then take a goddamn mile.

Our habit of bending over backwards to goras has been our bane for ages and I thought we were over it... guess not! Do you think someone like Ponting, Fleming, Smith, Strauss etc. would have recalled our batsman back?