Way OT: Indo-Pak Cricket WC Semifinal
http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/current/match/433605.html
We're just over a quarter of the way through Pakistan's chase of 261 to win - which means a couple of hours left before what's shaping up to be an exciting finish. Winner plays Sri Lanka in the final in Mumbai.
Mods, feel free to delete if this is too far off topic.
March 30th, 2011 at 10:44 AM ^
Cricket: The most boring game ever conceived.
March 30th, 2011 at 10:47 AM ^
A billion people in India don't care for your opinion
March 30th, 2011 at 11:54 AM ^
Fair enough, but how many of those people have actually watched Cricket on television?
March 30th, 2011 at 12:07 PM ^
Actually, most all of India is shut down right now, watching the match. I was there during the earlier group matches and everything is at a standstill when India plays.
And you can bet anything you like that even in the poorest of the poor areas, there is a crowd gathered around a single, small, flickering tv screen. India is really a single sport nation.
March 30th, 2011 at 12:37 PM ^
You do know that televisions exist in India right? And there are even these things called television channels that broadcast the game to a TV. So yeah, am sure a couple of people over there managed to figure out these fancy tv things and tune into a game or two.
March 30th, 2011 at 12:55 PM ^
Sure they exist, but are not particularly widespread outside of the cities. I can't imagine members of the lowest caste have ever watched television, and they make up a large percentage of the country.
Seriously. Have you ever been there? That might have been the case maybe 20 years ago. But things are a lot different today. A far greater percentage of the population has access to TVs. Even if only 50% of them watch a tv, that is still twice the population of the entire US.
And lowest caste?! That's like saying African-Americans have never been to a school in this country. Might have been true 200 years ago, but it certainly isn't true today. I grew up in India, and we had students from every caste/religion in my class. Hell the Indian cricket team has plenty of people from lower castes, and from poorer backgrounds. Despite what you might thing, there is such a thing as upward mobility in India. I am not saying the country is without its ills, but it is not exactly a bunch of wandering tribes in the sahara.
that African Americans have never seen a school. C'mon dude, 99.9% of the world has seen a television.
Talk about upward mobility. President Obama's grandfather was born into a stone age culture in Africa, two generations later you have the President of the United States. Pretty amazing.
African Americans have waaaaaay more upward mobility than the lowest castes of India. That's such a poor comparison, it's not even funny. There are 600 million people in India who don't own a television. Although there are 600 million who do, that's still a shitload of people. Things in India are repidly improving, but there's still a long, long, long way to go.
wow here's a shock, aaamichfan running his mouth about stuff he has no idea about.....
again.
Just because I didn't do enough to appease the adamant defenders doesn't mean I'm wrong. Sorry Bieber.
Sure India is still considered a 3rd world country, but they're not living in the dark ages.
Dude...no.
The world cup brings a completely different level of intensity to the sport; as an Indian myself, the India-Pakistan game rivals the Michigan OSU rivalry, the game today was essentially the world cup game for both teams, similar to the M-OSU 2006 1 vs 2 matchup
Awesome use of cultural stereotypes as the basis of your argument.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:12 AM ^
Cricket is pretty fun to watch actually... especially if you know the rules. And seeing a test in person is a lot of fun. My suggestion is to find someone that knows the rules and drink a case of beer with them as you watch a test. Even if you don't end up liking it, at least you'll be drunk.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:12 AM ^
Golf just called to say "wtf about me bro?"
March 30th, 2011 at 11:49 AM ^
I'm not much of a golf fan either, but at least golf has some variance. Cricket is just 36 hours of the same two wickets.
March 30th, 2011 at 12:00 PM ^
Point taken, but at least cricket requires athleticism. I could never respect golf because of John Daly.
Also, how much variance is there in golf? Dudes hit 18 golf balls into 18 holes and if it's a major tournament, they hit another 18 golf balls into the same 18 holes for a few days. I don't have a problem with golf personally, other than the yawn factor.
March 30th, 2011 at 12:56 PM ^
You haven't played much golf have you? And I never understood the argument that people running equals entertainment.
Who said anything about PLAYING golf? The whole discussion is about WATCHING sports on TV. Watching and playing ANYTHING are completely different experiences, including the so-called "boring" sports.
Playing has a lot to do with it. People saying crap like that usually are completely ignorant of the skill involved because they haven't done it and it doesn't appear athletic. And so they consider it "boring" to watch. I was also more referring to his statement of having no respect for golf because it is "unathletic."
I play golf, but watching an entire round on TV will eventually bore me to tears.
March 30th, 2011 at 10:45 AM ^
My throat's already hoarse from yelling at the TV for the past 5 hours.
Also, awesome to see at cricket thread on Mgo :)
March 30th, 2011 at 10:51 AM ^
I think Nehra for Ashwin was a terrible, terrible decision. Inexplicable based on both their performance in the tournament so far, and the way the pitch has behaved today.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:02 AM ^
Definitely a bad decision to keep Ashwin out, but give Afridi - and Wahab Riaz - credit for taking advantage. Even the commentators seemed surprised by the pitch.
No matter how this match ends - what a day for Riaz.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:08 AM ^
Haha. The innocuous seeming Yuvaraj does it again! I think we (I am assuming you are an Indian supporter) have edged ahead now.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^
Yuvraj has been stellar! And Nehra just bowled a pretty good over himself
March 30th, 2011 at 11:01 AM ^
How does one even watch this thing? And by that, I mean, where can i find a link?
March 30th, 2011 at 11:05 AM ^
There are sites that are streaming it - but you have to pay. The WC, especially a semifinal, and ESPECIALLY, India-Pakistan, is way too much $$ for them to let you watch it for free.
I know the IPL had a youtube channel that broadcast matches live. unfortunately I don't think any such thing exists for the World Cup.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:07 AM ^
There are plenty of free links out there. For instance -
http://www.dealsmama.com/home/cricket/index.asp?flg=server3
March 30th, 2011 at 11:09 AM ^
Stage could be set for Afridi though.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
that looks a lot like the basketball graphs that have become popular in the past year or two (points vs. time). A quick look at their runs vs. overs graph makes it clear to a total cricket novice like me that Pakistan looks to be in big trouble.
I wonder if folks on this blog realize this match will probably be viewed by about 10X more people worldwide than this year's Super Bowl, which I believe was the highest-rated ever.
That said, when you take the politics and international rivalry out of it, I can't stay interested for the pure sport. It's a little like baseball-- fun to watch a deathmatch like Yankees vs. Red Sox in the ALCS, but otherwise, can't get into it. Wish I could. Looks loaded with strategy, but it's not built for people with short attention spans.
Compelling article front-paged on ESPN, though, titled "Why You Should Care About Cricket". Interesting read.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=110329/Cricket
March 30th, 2011 at 11:28 AM ^
and decided to try to bring Pakistan back on his own. Still a lot of cricket left!
March 30th, 2011 at 11:34 AM ^
on Duckworth-Lewis I think.
But with Afridi to come in next I think this is basically even-stevens right now.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:31 AM ^
Ok. This stadium music is starting to get pretty annoying.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:34 AM ^
I'll pile on and say they could have really used Ashwin today. Run rate isn't bad...of course as I type that, Pakistan hits a 6. Ugh- they really need a wicket here
March 30th, 2011 at 11:45 AM ^
Well, as long as Nehra doesn't give away the game again, things are looking good. So far.
*fingers crossed*
And as I type this, Harbhajan comes through!
March 30th, 2011 at 11:40 AM ^
Justin.tv had a link for yesterday's NZ vs Sri Lanka semi-final. Watched the last hour for free, video a little choppy but way ahead of cricket365.com's game tracker.
Also fun to have a browser open to :
https://www.cricketbetlive.com/
You can watch the odds change virtually per bowl, certainly per over.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:44 AM ^
cricktime.com is a good working link
btw cricket isn't boring, in fact 20/20 cricke is way more energetic and difently more entertaining than baseball ( golf > baseball)
March 30th, 2011 at 11:50 AM ^
ODIs have enough contained excitement for our short attention spans too, but yes 20/20s are as exciting, short, and very very similar to the punch delivered in hockey and football games.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:52 AM ^
yeah i still feel odi is the best way to measure the strength of the team (test matches take way too long), but if they want to expand cricket into other countries, then 20/20 is the way to go.
world cup odi is greatest excitement compared to all other forms of cricket, btw
March 30th, 2011 at 11:50 AM ^
all I'm going to say is HUH? interesting sports but it is confusing as hell
Indians might say the same about traditionally american sports.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:51 AM ^
The most OT sports topic we have had, no doubt.
That said, India looking pretty good right now. Still could be a nailbiter...GO INDIA!!!
March 30th, 2011 at 11:55 AM ^
definetly very ot, but wouldn't be interesting to integrate cricket into college main stream sports? imagine um cricket, our large asian population would finally come in handy in terms of sports!
March 30th, 2011 at 11:58 AM ^
Seem to be plenty of India fans (yes!) but I wonder if there are any Pakistan supporters here? Awfully quiet from the other side.
Pakistan supporter right here.....though I don't really follow cricket.