OK here goes...brace yourselves
I am neither a reverend, nor indeed a fister of reverends.

However, I did once mark the scorebook of the Indian test cricket team in a one day international with Scotland. As a reward for my hard work, I 'took tea' with both teams. The Indian team at the time included Sunil Gavaskar, one of the highest-scoring batsman of all time, and now occasional TV pundit. He slept a lot.
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:33, 4 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

Richie Richardson is the overseas player for my mate's cricket club
last season, my mate's batting average was better than Richardsons. It's fair to say he mentions this A LOT.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:37, Reply)

Isn't Richie in his 50's?

(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:38, Reply)

well, yeah. I didn't say it was a good cricket club.
You still get the overseas player thing even in the lower leagues apparently.

Although, I'd be prepared to bet that Richardson in his 50s is still a better batsmen than most!
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:41, Reply)

How old is your mate?

(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:48, Reply)

Bee Gees blah blah

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:50, Reply)

The men are talking about sport.
Get back in your box.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:52, Reply)

36, I think

( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 11:22, Reply)

Is Richie Richardson the same as Robbie Roberston?

( b3th Not shit. Not mod., Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:40, Reply)

Those Indians are shit at cricket though aren't they?
If England can give them six of the best, trousers down, they must be crap.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:38, Reply)

At present, India are the number one team in the world, but yes, they've been well below par this series.

(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:41, Reply)

They play golf as well?

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:44, Reply)

Yes
Yes they do.
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:53, Reply)

I must take issue with this
England came from 80-6 to win by 300+ runs in four days. England are the best team in the world. I know I'm jumping the gun on the ICC rankings, but how many times am I going to get to say that with any authority?
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:47, Reply)

You are wrong.
For now. I refer you to the answer given by the Honourable Reverend above.

We are fucking good though. The bowling yesterday was very good.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:49, Reply)

If we'd sneaked it I'd concede
But we absolutely battered them. Our eight and nine were bashing them all over the park like they were Bangladesh, and then we bowled out the world's best batting line-up in two sessions. Come on.

But I will admit it would have been more satisfactory had Sehwag and Zaheer been fit.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:52, Reply)

was the rest of the team fit?

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:53, Reply)

They looked average.
We bowled them out in an afternoon on a wicket we got 500 runs on.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:56, Reply)

Apart from Gambhir, yes
My point is that Virender Sehwag is the best batsman in the world. India are still a superb team and beating them in so emphatic a manner is a great achievement, but he makes a difference.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:56, Reply)

so what you are saying here
is that you found the team fit.

Thus proving that you are a card-carrying dirt-road-bandito.

you foolishly fell into my trap. I have no interest in cricket whatsoever.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:58, Reply)

By your usually high standards this is abominable

(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:59, Reply)

boredom is a terrible thing

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 11:01, Reply)

I have no idea what you mean
My job is not only interesting but varied and involves no contact whatsoever with complete fucking idiots.

*grinds teeth*
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 11:06, Reply)

England have played very well, there's no doubting that.
Both their batting and bowling have been very good. But India have been poor. Injuries have played a part, but the players on the field have not done very well, e.g. M.S Dhoni.

The question is, if we were playing South Africa at the moment, would we be 2-0 up at this stage? I'd guess not.

SA are touring England next year, so that will be the real test.
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:58, Reply)

I don't know, if we can beat India at home we can beat anyone at home
A real test would be to play on subcontinent pitches and win. I agree that the Proteas would not have folded so easily after Broad's remarkable spell with the ball on Saturday, and Graeme Smith's field placing wouldn't have been so inept as Dhoni's
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 11:00, Reply)

Oh, of course dear boy.
Got to beat the best away from home, or you haven't proven anything.
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Tue 2 Aug 2011, 11:06, Reply)

We have done well though
Bowling out India's batsmen so cheaply, even without Sehwag, Gambhir and Dhoni (let's be honest), is a hell of an achievement. England got more runs yesterday morning, batting from 7 down to 11, than India managed in the next two sessions with their full XI
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 11:07, Reply)

This is true
However, playing against a full strength Indian team, in India, with frenzied home support and helpful pitches would be a totally different proposition.
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Tue 2 Aug 2011, 11:13, Reply)

Absolutely true
It does make a wonderful change to see an England team replete with world-class players though, as opposed to lobbying for a test to be called off if Gooch/Botham/Gower/Thorpe was injured (delete according to period)
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 11:17, Reply)

Yes they're playing very well at the moment
My (minor) concerns at the moment are that the openers seem incapable of putting on a decent stand, and Swanny seems to be a bit below par, by his standards.

On the plus side, they're batting well as a team - right down the order, and we seem to have selection problems with the bowlers for the next test in that we have more than 5 competing for 4 slots.
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Tue 2 Aug 2011, 11:25, Reply)

I've been worried about Straussy for a while
He really seems to be struggling, but is doing a great job as captain. Once upon a time it might have been prudent to think about who should be captain come the next Ashes series, but we're so far ahead of the Aussies at the moment that it's scarcely a concern.

God that felt good.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 11:29, Reply)

he wasn't below par.
He was bowling well on the second day, and was decent at Lords. When you can't get the pacemen away, you attack the spinners, and when you don't need long spells from your spinner to skittle a team then it's inevitable that you won't bowl him if he takes some tonk. Swann's game has always been about luring the batsmen into shots, so he's bound to take a bit of hammer every now and again.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 11:30, Reply)

While you have an entirely valid point
You've just shown why India aren't the best. We're raping them here and SA would do the same in SA. Ergo, they can't beat the best away from home. They have a batting lineup that can't handle pace and bounce, a "world class" spinner who is much use as a chocolate fireguard on non-subcontintent pitches and no pace options past Zaheer and Sharma.

SA are a different kettle of fish, I agree, but our 1-6 matches theirs pretty well, Prior is a better keeper and they don't have a decent spinner. Still, Steyn and Morkel are fucking good. We'll see how that one pans out.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 11:28, Reply)

A mouthwatering prospect indeed
Steyn is something special, certainly, but I'd rate Jimmy Anderson as highly as Morkel or a good day. And they don't have the depth of bowling that we do.

As usual, I agree with pretty much everything you just said
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 11:31, Reply)

be interesting to see if (?) Tahir is their first choice by then
Paul Harris is a fucking joke. I get more turn than him.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 11:34, Reply)

SO DOES THE M1
Not sure. Sorry. Tahir has definite potential, I think our top 6 outshines theirs nowadays though.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 11:36, Reply)

Do you play much, Mr Badger?
I play for a team over in Dunfermline, and we're always looking for new players. You're in Edinburgh aren't you?
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Tue 2 Aug 2011, 11:49, Reply)

The point I'm making (I think)
is that I don't really consider India to be the best in the world as they struggle to win away from home. South Africa can put on a decent showing pretty much anywhere - hence why next summer will be much more of a challenge for England.
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Tue 2 Aug 2011, 11:52, Reply)

Having just read this, I don't fucking blame him.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:39, Reply)

Gavaskar eh?
Impressive. Was Kapil Dev there too?
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:48, Reply)

Not that I recall. Not entirely sure of the year either, so maybe he'd retired or was just taking a few days off.
I remember Chetan Sharma and Maninder Singh being there though.
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:55, Reply)

Must admit I'm rather jealous
Am gutted that I lacked the foresight to get tickets to see the test in my home city
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 2 Aug 2011, 10:56, Reply)