Opinions on Bells run out?
Stupid behaviour from the batsmen or against the spirit of the game?
Posted Jul 31, 2011, 2:49 PM UTC
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IMO Bell's fault. Clumsy moment for him. In his defence, he and pretty much everybody else at Trent Bridge thought it had been misfielded for 4. A silly lapse in concentration in an otherwise brilliant innings. Opportunistic run out for the Indians, but credit to them for being alert enough to take it. Bell clearly figured it was a 4, he wasn't attempting a 4th run, he was starting to wander back to the pavilion for tea. A naive little moment, and he was very lucky to get away with it.
I think the umpires (and Dhoni especially) did the right thing in terms of the 'spirit of the game'. I thought the petulant boos from the English crowd towards the umpire and the Indian team were a bit needless, but predictable. When Bell strode out again after tea, they quickly changed their tune.
So, in terms of following the laws of cricket to the letter, Bell should have been gone. But following the law of keeping the spirit of the game of cricket alive and well, I think it's right that he was reprieved. It's difficult in situations like this where laws and spirit cross over.
The main thing I dislike is that the commentators have been going on and on and on about it. ECB released a fucking press release (which is funny enough, but at least they're trying to be clear about what happened) that has so far been read out about 5 or 6 times, and they're just discussing the same old shit over and over again. Yes, we fucking get it, it's an anomaly. But the day's cricket has carried on - it needs to be covered, but I hate how it has utterly monopolised the discussion when in the end it's simply an intriguing moment within a very intriguing and beautifully poised match. There's fucking plenty more to discuss, but at this point they're just labouring their points into a giant circlejerk. Gets a bit tiresome after 3 hours.
Either way, fantastic innings from Bell today. He looked in total control. Morgan and Prior in fine nick too. Fantastic day for England. Well in control after the day's play - expect Broad and Swanny to swing the bat tomorrow, then we'll be looking for 10 wickets in 2 days as the pitch deteriorates.
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What commentary were you listening to? I though TMS did well at covering it but not repeating themselves.
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Sky Sports. Usually I love their commentary team (Bumble and Warney, what could go wrong), but yesterday they were so focused on the run out. Endless replays, endless discussion, and after the last ball of the day they all had a merry debate about it in the studio, rehashing the exact same things they'd been saying in the commentary box.
The rest of Bell's great innings was only mentioned as a sidenote ('despite this, Bell played really well').
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I think Bell did sort of try to run for four. Here's why - he first assumes the ball's touched the boundary since the fielder didn't seem to know either. He then sees no boundary signalled and then thinks - hang on maybe I can sneak in a fourth run. He starts jogging back but Morgan doesn't respond. Bell tries to cover up his run attempt as jogging back for tea.
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Well done Dhoni. Handled much better than Colly from few years ago. Bell clearly wasnt running from 4th run so well done for not going to cheap and undeserving wicket.
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Sorry but comparing this to Bhajji's LBW dismissal are absolutely ridiculous. Bad LBW decisions happen in every game, you only have to look back to Lords and the luck Tendulkar and Raina enjoyed to see that, plus it was India who declined to allow DRS to be used for LBWs. Teams have appealed for decisions they might not think are out for decades, every team does it, as if you don't ask you don't get. This was a freak occurrence, Bell was naive, but Dhoni probably made the right decision to reinstate him
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How do you know it was widely known by lots of the England fielders? You're comparing apples with oranges. I think Dhoni is an absolute credit to the Indian team and Dravid's interview afterwards was bang on the money.
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True I suppose. Merely pointing it out because it was widely known by lots of England fielders and then it was also shown on the screens.
Then the spirit of the game is mentioned when this happens.
Guess this tour will be remembered for a while! :)
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Boycott on TMS (paraphrased):
Bell was stupid, he should have waited for the umpire to call over, and Dhoni did the right thing.
Agnew in response:
Yes, but for Dhoni to reverse the decision was great for the game, great for the spirit of the game.
Boycott:
Bollocks, now India have let Bell and Morgan put on another 50 or 60 runs, that's taken the game away from them. Bell should've been out.
Agnew:
Well, when you put it like that...
I was up a ladder painting the side of the house, and nearly fell off while listening to that particular exchange. Boycs, the only man in England who seems to think Bell was out, never ceases to amuse me.
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Gotta give it to Boycs, he is always provocative listening so always interesting.
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Well, it was definitely out. If I were the Indians (I'm English) I would have done the same probably.
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Very bad sportsmenship from the Indians, the feilder had very much given the impression that it was 4 and a dead ball!
As a scotsman I didn't really have strong feelings on who won this series, but now I want the Indians to lose, heavily if possible. That is just not cricket.
Ok edit: That is why I love cricket well done everyone involved; MS Dhoni deserves alot of praise. Bring on the rest of this amazing series!
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Having watched it a couple of times, I'm not so sure its bad sportsmanship at all... When the fielder taps it back, it hits his knee, perhaps he thinks its gone for four - as it usually does - he then throws it back... Bell is being very slack by not getting back with no boundary signalled, and the right thing is done by removing the bails and appealing...
I think Dhoni made a great decision by rescinding the appeal, but I think if it was out, the whole thing is Bell's fault anyway... Perhaps he should have done the right thing in the end, and walked, it was his mistake, and he was legitimately out...
*edit: I also don't think the English batsmen should not have started to walk off when the umpires and Indian team made it clear that there was something going on...
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Now how do you feel that they have done the right thing?
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Well done India, I think that is a good call; it would have lead to alot of bad blood in the rest of the series that will now be diffused, which is good for everyone.
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Ian Bell is apparently claiming that he heard "over" called by Umpire Rauf before he began to walk off. I can see Andrew Strauss looking puce with rage on the England balcony. Rauf had handed bowler Sharma back his jumper; Bell had tapped his bat down in exaggerated fashion in the crease before walking off...
If that is true it's a disgrace.
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Funnily enough, now Bell is back in I think I've changed my mind. I honestly think Bell has just been stupid there. Great sportsmanship from Dhoni.
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Boycott thought the exact same thing on TMS, as did Vaughan. Stupidity got him out, nothing else, and Dhoni has won himself a lot of Engish fans I think.
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Would Ricky Ponting have withdrawn the appeal?
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depends if you offered him good odds on it...
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Realistic answer: never in a million years. He played for the win first and everything else second. Ponting would have been in the camp of those who suggest a professional should have known better, and should be punished for the lax handling of the situation.
While I can see the point of people saying that Bell should be out, well done to Dhoni and crew I say. Sparks of greatness like this are what makes sport special.
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Apparently mssrs Strauss and Flower went to the Indian dressing room and asked the Indians to reconsider their appeal. The Indians replied that they would consider it and then decided to withdraw the appeal. Great show, really reaffirmed my faith in humanity..
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Bell back in.
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Bell is back on the field. Well done Dhoni. It should've never got this far though...
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Angelo Matthews re-instated by Strauss in the Champions Trophy QF, remember?
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That was because Strauss didn't want to attract the attention that Collingwood did. Also, Andy Flower thought it was too generous.
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Yes, but I was more arguing against the one-sided argument presented here by gatorboy regarding the sportsmanship of England and Strauss specifically.
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Bell claimed that the umpire called over.
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Well played Dhoni & co. Didn't have to do that, but they did. Nice gesture. Hats off.
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The thing is, its not only the batsmen walking off. Wicketkeeper, slips, bowler, captain, all walking off.
Id say right conclusion was reached, due to Dhoni's decision, although technically everyone did not help the situation. Even the umpires weren't sure and surely all it needed was a Yes or No to whether or not time had been called.
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Basically this sums up why I like cricket more than football these days. On the one hand you have multi-millionaires falling all over the place, happily deceiving referees. And on the other you have stuff like what Dhoni did today. Bravo.
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Cricket - the last true "Sport" still being played. Well played, India.
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Does anyone have a link to a video of it? Missed it due to being in work
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Bit of both I would say, but I think the Indians should really have withdrawn their appeal in the spirit of the game. Disgraceful end to a fantastic innings.
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Stunningly embarrassing for the Indians
edit: seen some replays and now think Bell was being dozy and deserved it - still think it's pretty poor form though.
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Good stuff to Dhoni & the Indian team - that's the way you get kids to understand the game and respect the traditions & umpires. Very impressed. ++++
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I agree, stunningly bad cricket from Bell... Also poor sportsmanship as he walks off with a decision pending, and even argues with the official who tells him what's happening...
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standing applause for Dhoni
Yeah, sport is supposed to be fun. It would've taken the fun out of the second session, and maybe the rest of the match if Dhoni'd not decided to recall the appeal.
(Slightly related aside - let me hope that cricket will slowly be rid of the filth of Pontingitis.)
Interesting you can applaud a team who continually petulantly contradict and complain about umpires, yet speak about the "filth" of Ponting. One standard for all please.
Honest question: What are the issues you have w/ Ponting?
Just that he took winning too seriously. Winning is
There is a subtle difference between these two. And Ponting thought both were the same. He is why Allan Border is called a great captain, and he never will be.
terrible decision by dhoni, UNLESS praveen signaled a boundary. bell's a professional, and he has to wait for the umpire to call tea. no rule was broken, and bell would have paid the price. what Dhoni did was gamble on the chances of our win, and that's not acceptable.
I agree, sport has to be fun and when I play, that's what dominates my behavior on the field. Same does not apply to professionals, WHEN NO RULE WAS BROKEN.