That's The Game

Pakistan 523-8 declared
v England 598-9 declared
Pakistan 173 all out
England 74-4

Match Drawn

Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Saturday 17 October 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

Dry Day #8

Great day. For me, everything negative said about this match can be answered by one response. That's the game. I read a few forums & Twitter accounts. People who should know better writing this match off. That's the game. People moaning about time wasting & bad light. That's the game.

Sure. It can be improved. The Regs need looking at.

Maybe, under lights, the team batting fourth need a definite formula. Which can only be impacted by bad WEATHER not bad LIGHT.

Nominally, England were chasing 99 in 19 overs. But, everyone in the ground knew they'd be off before that. They'd gone off early on Day 4. And a meter reading was taken. The light goes out here. Set your watch by it. I thought they might get 13 in. They got 11 in. That's the game.

I've thought long & hard about it. And I ain't got a solution. Partly, we may need a decision on lights. Either put 'em on & play. Or leave 'em off. This put them on, but go off ten minutes later fiasco isn't working.

Essentially, we need to address the underlying problem. Ridiculously slow over rates at all stages of the game. If England hustle earlier when bowling, they have more overs to chase the small total, they Win. Maybe it is time for the ICC to issue guidelines on hustling. And, for an official to police it at the gate.

If you're in the field & you need a drink. You take a turn out on the boundary & the Twelthie feeds & waters you down there. If you field in the cordon. Tough. Go without. Or if you really need a glug. Take a trip to Cow Corner for an over.

Quick drinks run every hour (as now). And fall of wicket. Fielder's drinks on the boundary. If the batsman is desperate, he can Retire Hurt. Harsh but Fair.

Fielding boxes, pads, lids are brought on once. And then stay on the player or behind the keeper until lunch/tea/close.

New gloves. Speak to the manufacturer. Oh, now you mean. No. That's at drinks break, fall of wicket, lunch or tea. Or you can feign injury & Retire Hurt.

We all sort of feel none of that is going to happen.

So, I'm still left with That's The Game. And, the game is - 420 plays 300 plays 189 all out plays 310 to win it. And, MANY OTHER VARIATIONS. Including, 500 plays 600 over 4 days, 199 all out over 5 hours and an hour to score a ton to win it.

Rashid. Got in The Game. Pleased. As. Punch.

224/452