I'm not sure if England themselves will believe what happened as they beat Sri Lanka in the first test in Cardiff. With no play until 3pm England still came out to bat to allow Ian Bell to complete his century and then declared with a lead of 96 runs and 55 overs left to bowl. Presumably they thought it a matter of going through the motions for the afternoon with Jimmy Anderson unfit to bowl to see if the rest of the attack could get a bit of practice in ahead of the next test and perhaps ruffle some Si Lankan feathers. What followed was more of a plucking with, as would be expected with the resultant collapse, a combination of good bowling and poor batting.
Dramatic as England bowling the Sri Lankans out for 82 in under 25 overs was the reassuring thing was the killer instinct England showed when they got a good start and continued to press the opposition. This ruthless streak is something England teams have not always demonstrated in most sports and has stopped them from being a good team into an excellentt team. With India due in the summer this spirit needs to develop ready for that challenge.
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It is hard to believe that nobody in FIFA can see the harm that they are doing to themselves and regardless of the guilt or innocence of the accused officials the whiff of whitewash will continue to haunt them. That Blatters only challenger Mohammed Bin Hammam has stepped down from the presidential race and since been suspended along with Jack Warner whilst Blatter was effectively exonerated despite the accusations against him will only add to finger pointing. There is still the farce of that election which now resembles something found in a banana republic rather than asking for other candidates or delaying the election as well as the fact that Blatter has not been suspended whilst his rival was.
Talk that companies may start withdrawing sponsorship in light of the revelations unless change happens seem fanciful. Whilst such action has been seen with individual sportsmen as Tiger Woods can testify and no doubt why Ryan Giggs sought his superinjunction as they would rather keep sponsors sweet than their partners. FIFA, however, is different as there is always another sportsman to sell your wares but there is only one governing body and it would be a brave company who withdrew their name from a World Cup and the coverage that would generate just because they disapprove of FIFAs antics.
Dramatic as England bowling the Sri Lankans out for 82 in under 25 overs was the reassuring thing was the killer instinct England showed when they got a good start and continued to press the opposition. This ruthless streak is something England teams have not always demonstrated in most sports and has stopped them from being a good team into an excellentt team. With India due in the summer this spirit needs to develop ready for that challenge.
***************************
It is hard to believe that nobody in FIFA can see the harm that they are doing to themselves and regardless of the guilt or innocence of the accused officials the whiff of whitewash will continue to haunt them. That Blatters only challenger Mohammed Bin Hammam has stepped down from the presidential race and since been suspended along with Jack Warner whilst Blatter was effectively exonerated despite the accusations against him will only add to finger pointing. There is still the farce of that election which now resembles something found in a banana republic rather than asking for other candidates or delaying the election as well as the fact that Blatter has not been suspended whilst his rival was.
Talk that companies may start withdrawing sponsorship in light of the revelations unless change happens seem fanciful. Whilst such action has been seen with individual sportsmen as Tiger Woods can testify and no doubt why Ryan Giggs sought his superinjunction as they would rather keep sponsors sweet than their partners. FIFA, however, is different as there is always another sportsman to sell your wares but there is only one governing body and it would be a brave company who withdrew their name from a World Cup and the coverage that would generate just because they disapprove of FIFAs antics.
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