Seemingly intransigent
It seems that the cricketing events at the Oval [what other sorts of events are there at the Oval? — ed] are verily taking the countries involved by storm. As well they might, for this sort of thing has never happened before — not ever in the history of Test cricket.
It seems to me that the whole fiasco could have been avoided had the umpire who pulled the Pakistanis up for ball tampering allowed the match to continue when the Pakistani team showed themselves to be willing to continue (after their initial reluctance to do so). But he didn’t and so it can't.
It also seems to me that the Guardian is looking for trouble where it isn't, with the following clearly absurd and more obviously inappropriate comment in its leader column:
But it [the fiasco] can only fuel the alienation felt by some British Muslims at a time of great strain.
Overall, it seems the seam has opened up a can of worms.
Will cricket ever recover? Erm, yes — of course it will. But it will probably make a Private Eye cover in the meantime.
Filed in Sport