Well, the Black Caps got up for a thrilling last-ball win over the English at the Oval in London last night, and cannot be beaten in the one-day series. But that's not the BIG story of the match - Cricinfo gives the low-down on the controversial runout of all-rounder Grant Elliott.
Here's my take on it. I lay no blame with Ryan Sidebottom; his collision with Elliott was entirely accidental. I lay no blame with the umpires, especially Mark Benson of England, who gave Paul Collingwood the opportunity to withdraw the appeal. Once Collingwood chose not to do that, Benson had no alternative under the Laws of the Game but to send Elliott on his way. I am critical of Collingwood, who, I am sure, would do things differently in the same set of circumstances. But he didn't this morning. For those who wish to compare this with the runout of Muralidharan last year, I believe there is no comparison - Murali made an error of judgement leaving his ground while the ball was alive.
That's not the end of Collingwood's troubles though. Cricinfo also reports that he has been found guilty of a slow over rate violation, and faces a four-ODI ban, this being his second offence It would seem that justice has been done!
1 comment:
Collingwood didn't have any mates in the Sky Uk (or whatever their name is) review team after the match. David Gower, Nick Knight and Nassar Hussain, got into him - given that two of them are former England captains I wonder what they would have done in the circumstances. The same I think.
I think Vettori made his point very aptly by not opening the dressing room door to allow Collingwood in. He then graciously accepted the apology at the after match presentations.
Regarding the slow over rate. I assume it excludes the `non-game' at Birmingham otherwise Collingwood probably wouldn't have been playing today.
In the end a good win for NZ but still no one goes on to a decent
score - 80 plus although Styrus may have been stiff to be run out by Elliot. But then again Styrus had been dropped 3 times before he was 30 including a relatively straight forward caught and bowled by Broad.
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