Roebuck Ponting must abondon diplomacy

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

He did once say that he would never send his mother-in-law to Pakistan

aah yes, I just remembered that. His comment came after the infamous Gatting behaviour of 1987, and to be fair, Botham's jibes were not the worst that came from England's rather ungracious guests that winter. He said something like: "Its the perfect place to send your mother-in-law on an all-expenses paid trip". However, Sky did arrange for his mother-in-law to go to Pakistan during the 2001 trip (probably paid for by Mr. Murdoch and not by Mr. Beefy!), and there were some very interesting segments during the lunch/tea breaks when she was shown going through all the expensive stores, the glitzy hotels and the extravagant malls, shopping on her son-in-law's credit card! Botham, his mother-in-law and the rest of the Sky crew were graciousness personified throughout the whole thing, which was good to see.

Anyway, returning to topic, a very interesting article on reverse swing, by the Pakistan editor of Cricinfo. Some interesting comments here:

See, that was the last time a battered old ball swinging when it shouldn't, created such fuss. Then, it was a fantastical, other-worldly creation of a malevolent, wild-eyed, wild-haired, moustachioed medium-pacer from the subcontinent. Moreover, it was an invention cloaked in a maelstrom of fingernails, bottle tops and knives. Now, the inventor is a wily, ingenious even, resistor of conditions: "Yes, yes, Sarfraz Nawaz discovered the art. He was a clever one, he was, a little askew but intelligent." And the bottle tops?

Thirteen summers on, reverse swing has become, apparently and belatedly, legit. Articles are telling us that the skill stands on the brink of becoming the soul of this Ashes series. In 1992, despite being the mind, body and soul of Pakistan's 2-1 series win, it was the tarnishing of a series. [...]

Now, in a few months' time, what Gideon Haigh referred to as one of the headline trends of the 1990s, will complete an astounding rehabilitation. With England arriving in Pakistan, the spiritual and necessary home of the skill, with two of the best practitioners now on their side, reverse swing completes as admirable a tale of redemption as any, an apt closure from a disreputable past. And if it turns out that Wasim at Lancashire and Waqar at Glamorgan had anything to do with Flintoff and Jones's mastery of this skill, then well, isn't that just the cutest thing?

[John]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Reeve was smacked out of his brains!!
My Understanding of that case was that Boycott actually helped neither side, and spent most of the time talking about himself - not a great suprise to many who know him.

I haven't got what was exactly said in the court case. It would be interesting to know. Boycott was there to defend Imran whether he went on about himself or not.
The point being opinion was split about the whole issue of ball tampering. Thats why I am interested if Roebuck does accuse the English of not playing ball where does Botham stand? I am assume very likely with Roebuck because Botham would maintain that such sort of swing can only be done illegally.
The fact is as far as I know Wasim and Waqar were never accused of ball tampering other than that occasion. They went on to become among the finest of their generation.

[flanflinger]

I am waiting for Roeebuck to state that the fact that Hoggard and Jones are ggetting convential swing should be looked at by the Match Referee. Surely polish the new-ball and then putting it in the right areas offten enough is against the rules...

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by John

1. He must draw attention to how frequently England players leave the field.

Actually, I must admit, I've been particularly interested in that too.


But then I've also been particularly annoyed by the number of times the Australian batsmen have stopped the English bowlers mid way through their bowling run up, just to do a bit of gardenning. The England players certainly don't do that.

[John]

Both questions Roebuck raised were discussed yesterday.
1. Ponting's reaction to the run out.
But more interestingly
2. Tony Grieg's little "story" about how he was talking to a Pakistani taxi driver about reverse swing and whether it was cheating. Was he talking to a taxi driver or perhaps maybe Australian players?
It is important to remember how Wasim and Waqar were accused by Botham and Lamb they went to the tabloids etc. So England supporters should not to get too hot under the collar if accusations are made because Botham and Lamb didn't pull any punches.

[Zainub]

Doesn't everyone think it's amazing how people always insist that Peter Roebuck is a useless person, but yet still read his columns... (and then come out say again how useless he is) ...I guess that's job done for Peter, if he can get people to pay attention to what he's saying despite the fact that they don't rate him at all...you'd actually have to give credit to Mr. Reobuck for that, we might as well call it good journalism - at least he gets his stories to sell.

[John]

Originally Posted by Zainub

Doesn't everyone think it's amazing how people always insist that Peter Roebuck is a useless person,

I don't think Roebuck is useless. I have my doubts whether he or Botham are "bitter and twisted." I think terms like bitter and twisted are too often used when you don't agree with someone. It doesn't mean they are bitter twisted.
When Roebuck says certain bowlers are throwing I believe that is his opinion the same with Botham and ball tampering.
Whether they are correct is matter of debate. Not whether they are bitter and twisted.

[Zainub]

Exactly the point I was trying to make my self, John. EXACTLY.