Eng v Aus – Natwest Challenge, first game

Well, they said when he got Ponting out – ‘nobody bowls for dismissals down leg in ODIs’. I don’t think anything has changed since then – very lucky for Harmison and Jones. Fingers crossed everything turns out in London as well as can be expected. Not wanting to play in Karachi or Zimbabwe doesn’t seem so ’silly’ now, if it ever did.

I can’t imagine the next two one dayers will be played as planned. I only hope this will be done because the matches would be inappropriate, rather than because of safety reasons or injury to players’ nearest and dearest.

as far as I know, the ECB are meeting tonight to discuss cancelling the game, but hopefully they will go on the theory that lightning does not hit twice – and let us all pray that this is true. A friend of mine was actually in a tube behind one of the tubes that got hit, but was unhurt.

What a gutwrenching awful feeling.

Fuck ‘em – don’t change a thing because of murderers. If we do, they achieve their objectives.

what’s jagadishs’ deal with karachi. I think most people would agree karachi is a way more dangerous place than london. The fact that london attack is so out of the blue is what makes is what makes it newsworthy. In karachi probably 10 people die every month in terrorist related activity. So, Karachi – no, London – yes.

The games are on. I am sure that all the players feel deeply for all the victims, their families and loved ones. Flags will be flying at half mast on Sunday and Tuesday and black arm-bands will be worn. They are playing on to be defiant in the face of a cowardly attack on innocent people. New Yorkers were not bowed, nor the citizens of Madrid, and certainly not Londoners and their Aussies guests. See you there.

I bet not one single terrorist would dare to face an over from Lee or GBH armed only with a small piece of willow. Makes you sick, doesn’t it?

Actually I think the ODI’s being played is a testament to the solidarity of the British people. Cricket is a sport which unlike other sports places real emphasis on fair play, courage, and gentlemenly behaviour (though these standards are often not upheld) and the continuance of play sends the message that life (and particularily commercialism) will continue. I just find the timing quite odd since the G8 talks are working towards the reduction of Greenhouse gasses and all the sites targeted were modes of mass transport (but I doubt the attackers were thinking of it from that prespective, nay enviormentalism probably was not even on their mind).

But in all do fairness I think the ECB had to make this decision in regards to Karachi. England showed real quality as a nation standing up in the World Cup, even is if meant sacrificing their spot into the super six, and they kind of fell apart with mish-mash handeling of the Zimbabwe tour. The ECB had to reassert itself and caving in and allowing the Karachi tour as a knee jerk reaction to the London blasts would just damage their reputation further. Afterall, bombings in London were unfortunate the fact in most people would feel safe travelling to the British Isle, I could not say the same about Pakistan. The British bombings were not directed at the Australian cricket team hence they decided to continue. Likewise deciding to continue was more to show the attackers that the host nation would not bow down. In Pakistan the attacks would not be on the host nation but on the visitors. I mean look at the blast in front of the NZ hotel. India only played an ODI in Karachi and matters were left at that. Comparing the situations in London and Karachi simply is not reasonable, London is equipped with a certain infrastructure with Karachi simply does not possess.

I say fuck yas all. The Aussie cricket team is the best! We even one the natwest series and the ashes 06/07. You could only hold it for 15 months!