4th ODI: England v New Zealand at The Oval, Jun 25, 2008

First of all let’s not bitch and moan, Elliot was out, NZ can cry and weep all they like, when two players collide the game is only stopped if one is seriously hurt. Elliot’s dying swan act would have made an Italian soccer player proud.

Somebody in the NZ dressing room knew the rules, sending out a physio, trying to get him to stay down and pretend to be hurt. I feel for Collingwood he is going to be lambasted in the press but I say Elliot should have walked.Collinwood asked the question, the Umpire saw right through the pantomime and gave Elliot his marching orders, good decision. I did like Vettori’s little boy sulking act at the end, I could just imagine his words; I’m not shaking that nasty mans hand, he was mean to my friend, next time I am not playing if I can’t play by NZ rules..

Here is his match end comment: Daniel Vettori.: "There was a little bit of raw emotion at the end, so I apologise to Paul and his team. Now he has admitted he was wrong hopefully we can move along and play the next game in the right spirit."If Collingwood was wrong then the umpire was wrong, since the umpire was not wrong Vittori is questioning an umpire’s decision in the press. A clear case of bringing the game into disrepute, the correct outcome: an Oscar for Elliot and a 75% match fee fine for Vettori.

The real crime was that last ball, what the hell was England thinking? Sure the run out was on but so was the draw, there was nobody backing up so the attempted run out was too risky. The series was drawn with one to play; a draw would have seriously pissed off the Kiwi’s and still given England a chance at winning. England must have discussed it before the ball was bowled; they spent enough time on that last over. I don’t know who the fielder was but it is his decision to have a wild chuck at the stumps that should be lambasted in the press.

Collingwood should be dropped as captain and from the side; it is his job to explain the larger picture to his team mates. He either did not outline the situation clearly or his authority was ignored and his batting is awful. His decision to call Elliot’s bluff has probably saved him, if the selectors dropped him now it would be seen to be pandering the Kiwi Nancy boys.

Thanks

John "Slainethehornegod" Tyson