bonesetter

Just think, then when New Zealand, or South Africa beat them, they could be excluded, too.

They could call it the "Not Quite Good Enough" league. Or maybe the "Scared of the Big Boys" competition. Or the "Beat us and we'll take our bats and balls and sulk all the way home" league.

Seriously, people, I'm sorry the umpiring was bad. It happens. And beating India at home has been such a tough mission for so long, because of the same reason. Pressure on the umpires leading to hometown decisions. So maybe those who complain the loudest could turn their energies to addressing this issue (or is it just too easy to blame someone else, and burn an effigy?).

It is regrettable that a test match outcome has been affected by poor umpiring. Australia certainly seemed to get the best of the bad decisions in Sydney, though not all of them. Thankfully, though, these were made by impartial, neutral umpires (oh, by the way, I'm not interested in any whingers crying about bribery, unless they can produce some decent evidence). Still, does anybody remember some of the shockers that meant Australia (best test team for decades) took so long to win a series in India? Are there some sour grapes being eaten?

I have just bought a "3 wireless" broadband contract in Dublin, lured by their "up to 3 Gbyte" claims. The speed is woeful, typically around 3kbyte - yes, that's 0.1% of the claimed speed.

I contacted their service department, to basically be told "Bad luck. We may be able to speed it up in the future".

I have contacted a couple of courier companies, but they have quoted ridiculous amounts. I could almost put the cartons in a first class seat for the prices I have been quoted (try 300+ euros/case). It's good wine, but I sort of need both arms and legs.

Has been ordinary with the ball, bad with the bat, the "small things", such as fielding have been woeful. His effort, or lack of, to get back to the stumps to run Warne out off Cook's throw was terrible. The first thing a young player learns is to do such things, and it doesn't take talent!

There are a plethora of Indian, and to a lesser degree Pakastani, fans who are just plonkers. Please don't misunderstand me, I don't suggest that all people from those two places are wankers. I am CERTAIN that there are huge numbers of admirable folk from the subcontinent who would make me look like a total fool, but really!!!

Just have a look - how long will it be till we see the next "How good is Sachin" question? A day? 6 hours? Now?

Or the next "How badly done by was Shoaib"?

You know what I mean people.

This is not meant to be a slur against any culture (I welcome the contribution to our great moasic of a planet, made by all) but more an appeal to the feeble minded to THINK BEFORE YOU ASK.

Given that it seems we all agree that preemptive judgement is impossible, how can any bowlers action be "cleared"? And doesn't this concept put the umpires in an untenable position, whereby they cannot call a no-ball, even though they may believe it to be an illegal delivery?