Pirate Galaxy » the photo finish with stewards and th

If England go on to lose this series, they may well look back on the first day of this Test as the time it slipped away.It was hard to fault them in Visakhapatnam. Yes, they might have batted better on day two and, yes, they missed a key (though tough) chance on day one. But they were minor moments in a game in which the opposition took advantage of winning an important toss.Here England had every opportunity. They not only won a toss that should have proved every bit as important but they benefited from some poor fielding from India that had reprieved the highest run-scorer in Test cricket this year (Jonny Bairstow) and the highest run-scorer in Englands Test history (Alastair Cook). They should have punished such profligacy. They should have established a match-defining platform.Instead, they will start day two scrapping to remain in the game.That they have any chance of doing so is largely due to two facts: the sustained fine form of Bairstow and a pitch that has already misbehaved a little - Haseeb Hameed was dismissed by a delivery that reared and Chris Woakes by one that kept a little low - and may well deteriorate. Perhaps Englands total is not quite as modest as it appears at first glance.England will know, though, that they have allowed India a strong foothold in this game that they might have denied. And they will know that they squandered the chance to record a substantial first-innings total through some unnecessarily aggressive batting.We have to be careful with criticising Englands batting. We cannot praise them for their bold approach when the aggressive strokes land in the stands and chastise them for their carelessness when the same strokes land in hands. We cannot judge just by results.So Cook, for example, cannot be faulted for his shot selection. The ball that dismissed him was short. He was right to try and cut it. He simply executed the shot poorly. He should still play that shot the next time he faces the same type of delivery. He should do it better. He will know that.But some of the other batsmen need to ask themselves: what was the hurry? What was the necessity for Ben Stokes, who had been playing so straight and with such discipline, to skip down the pitch and even bring the possibility of a stumping into the equation? What was the necessity for Jos Buttler, who had done the hard work in reaching an increasingly assured 43, to skip down the pitch and try and drive through extra cover?Why did Joe Root, whose best Test innings (arguably, at least) came at Old Trafford earlier this year, when he demonstrated his denial as much as his strokeplay, think that he should pull the first delivery he received from a spinner before lunch on the first day, when he had not had time to assess the surface?The answer, as so often, is that England had decided to take the attack to the bowlers. They had decided not to let them settle and to be positive. They have embraced the modern approach - especially visible in Australia where attitude has largely replaced technique - that, to be successful in Test cricket, you dont just have to score runs, you have to score them fast.It is an error. While long-form cricket survives, there will always be a place for accumulation. The balls not played will always be as important as the balls that are. The likes of Cook will continue be as valuable as the likes of Stokes. There will always be a place for denial and discipline and determination. There are times when England have to dare to be dour, dare to be dull, dare to be different.As Bairstow put it: Grinding out the runs was something that we had to do. Its just that too few of them did it.England have to learn that there are different way to gain the upper hand on a bowler. One of them, no doubt, is to score at four an over. Another is to make them bowl for five or six sessions. Success doesnt have to be rushed. Erosions impact tends to last longer than a storms.This was, in some ways, an oddly low-quality day of Test cricket. After all, two of Englands top three were dismissed by long-hops and some of Indias fielding was more Monty than Jonty. We had deliveries that bounced twice before reaching the batsmen and deliveries that were so wide the keeper had no chance.All of which prompted the thought: might, by 2025, the best Test side be the one whose long-from cricket has deteriorated least quickly? Might it be the side who exhibit the fewest characteristics of T20? And, if so, will anyone want to watch them?Modern Test cricket is wonderfully entertaining. It may never have been more so. But is it as high quality as it once was? On days like this, it doesnt seem so. On days like this, it seems more circus than theatre.O. J. Howard Jersey . Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. Devin White Womens Jersey . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. 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LOUIS -- Theres no telling how these wacky World Series games will end.Apprentice Jack Martin has had a nervous wait for a photo finish to determine his first city winner for his master Pat Carey.Trainer Luke Oliver and jockey Brad Rawiller asked to view the photo of the finish of Wednesdays Ridgeview Park Stud Handicap at Sandown.After a five minute delay the judge awarded the race to Martins mount Taylahs Secret by a nose over La Consolidata.After inspecting the finish on a television monitor in the weighing room, Oliver and Rawiller werent convinced there was a margin between the two horses.They sought to view the photo finish with stewards and the mirror image clearly showed a margin in Taylahs Secrets favour.Both Oliver and Rawiller agreed with the judges decision.The victory was Martins second metropolitan success, but the first forr Carey.ddddddddddddIm very happy to get that win for the stable, Martin said.Theyve been a good support over the last year-and-a-half and its a pretty good way to get my first city one.Martin has three rides on Saturday at Moonee Valley where he has been entrusted with the ride on Carlo Bugatti in the Simpson Construction Handicap for five-time Melbourne Cup winning owner Lloyd Williams.I thought my manager was having a joke when he called me on Sunday and told me I had a ride for Mr Williams on Saturday, Martin said.Thats a privilege in itself so hopefully I can do the job right.Ive had a bit of luck lately and hopefully it keeps rolling. 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