Lessons to be learnt from Trent Bridge
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
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"England should issue an immediate, genuine and unequivocal apology to Zaheer Khan for the behaviour of the fielder who scattered sweets near the crease, whether or not it was an attempt to distract the batsman," writes Christopher Martin-Jenkins in the Times.
What really offended during this match was the overt aggression, including chat designed to distract the batsman, chuntering at close quarters from disgruntled fast bowlers, and, in the case of Sreesanth, a beamer to Kevin Pietersen and a bouncer bowled by the same bowler to Paul Collingwood from round the wicket and a yard beyond the popping crease. Sreesanth lost half his match fee for a petty little tilt at Vaughan’s shoulder as he walked past him, but he should have lost the rest of it for that deliberate no-ball and if the senior India players believe the beamer to have been deliberate, he should not play any more Test cricket until they are sure that he has learnt the lesson.
"Although Tests tend to be sacrosanct, pranks have always gone on in cricket," writes Derek Pringle in the Telegraph. "Especially in the county game, but most possessed a content that could be shared with spectators and wouldn't make adults cringe. The Essex team of the 1970s and 80s were famous for them and I remember John Lever bowling an orange to Glamorgan's John Hopkins in a county match first ball after tea. The batsman didn't spot it until it exploded on his bat and there was a moment of silence before the crowd realised what had happened."
Christopher Martin-Jenkins also says in the Times that "Chris Tremlett further enhanced his reputation, justified the timing of his selection and poured balm on the troubled spirit of the England team".
Is too much sledging bad for the game of cricket? Former England batsman, Micky Stewart, and former Australian Test player Andy Bichel debate the issue in the Guardian.
Also in the Guardian, Steve James says that Alastair Cook needs to sort out his lbw problem. Cook has been dismissed leg before four times in this series and 12 times out of 37 innings to date.
The way Zaheer [Khan] swung the Duke ball both ways with "no discernible change of action or release" has given England a problem that they need to solve quickly, says Simon Hughes in the Telegraph.
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo