England V India Test Match Postponed At Last Minute

[saintpeter48]

While I sympathise with anyone who tested positive for covid, what about the 1000s of people who have travelled down, booked hotels etc, or the food and drink vendors who have spent small fortunes on fresh stock to last 5 days, will there be any compensation.

[dannyk13]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2021/09/10/opening-day-englands-fifth-test-against-india-called-live-latest/

[Ellipsis]

It's a real shame. Mind you, looks like they wouldn't have got much play in anyway:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/6691246

[ichkeria]

Are they still awarding the test to England and calling it a 2-2 draw?

That is insane.

[dannyk13]

ich, why is it insane? It is the Indian team that is refusing to play so they lose by default.

[sunny-dave]

This is disgusting - it isn't that India couldn't raise a team - it was a cold-blooded mercenary decision by the the Indian players and the BCCI :

Michael Vaughan

Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"If you go back to the start of the summer, the India team didn’t want to play this Test due to how close it was to the IPL. The difference between The Oval and this match is that the IPL starts next week. These players are absolutely petrified of getting Covid, having to isolate and missing out on the IPL"

"India have flexed their muscles. The BCCI would be scared to death that players couldn't get to the IPL.
It will be a long legal process to decide where the costs of this will lie.
I'm pretty sure India could have found 11 players to have played today."

[Stickybottle]

I agree with danny
If you refuse to play you ought to lose the match by default

[Stickybottle]

Michael Vaughan
I'm pretty sure India could have found 11 players to have played today."

You would certainly think so in a cricket mad country of 1.3 billion people

[sunny-dave]

To emphasise :

ALL the Indian players have tested negative - this is purely a monetary decision, with total contempt for the ethics of the game and for the fans who have spent time/money in getting to Manchester.

It stinks to high heaven, but the power of the BCCI will mute any response from the ECB and the ICC.

[goodgoalie]

I agree - this is all about money and the IPL. Talking of which, I wonder if the BBC and Sky commentators and presenters still get paid for the 5 days?

[New Judge]

Just to clarify, it's not postponed, it's cancelled.

[bednobs]

i would imagine that people will get money for their tickets back

[sunny-dave]

True - but hardly the point, bednobs.

Transport and hotel costs for spectators won't be refunded (let's remember this is a five day match with people attending from all across England and Wales) - for a match cancelled for no other reason than the financial gain of the Indian players and the BCCI.

[douglas9401]

It's just not cricket

[calmck]

Just watched replay of a New Zealand customs programme. The arrogance of some of the visiting Indian team in refusing to the cleaning of their boots and equipment was astounding

[New Judge]

I haven't seen this. Did the NZ border authorities request the Indians clean their shoes on arrival?

[jno]

they haven't decided the outcome of the series yet. As the results so far have been two thrashings by India, one by England, and a game aborted by rain when India were looking well ahead, I couldn't have any objection to saying they won a four-match series.

Alternatively, there's the seldom used boundary countback system, whch would also make India the winners.

[ichkeria]

“ It is the Indian team that is refusing to play so they lose by default”

Yes fair enough if they are refusing to play for a good reason. There were mumblings about the IPL. But it seemed very early days to be pronouncing on that.
The IPL aside I can’t see why India would simply refuse to play. The other consideration I suppose if that these series are part of a wider competition.
On balance I’d say they unless they can prove the reason is unreasonable they should declare it null and void

[mushroom25]

// it was a cold-blooded mercenary decision by the the Indian players //

is it any more or less cynical than the decision by the Premier League to block the league's brazilian players from international duty so they didn't have to isolate this weekend?

[sunny-dave]

Nope - that was wrong too - they should all be suspended for as long as their potential quarantine would have lasted - but money talks, so they won't be.

[Mozz71]

Mushroom, I feel that the teams ought to be compensated for losing players in the international bre ak. They are covered by player insurance in case of injury, the same should apply in this case.

And yes, I believe India should forfit the match. Not England bias talking, I'd say the exact same if England had pulled out.