Hilarious, from beginning to end! :) "Wicket for a nice piece of bowling"?? lol.. :D :D

Good article in a lighter vein...........but memories of Sehwag getting banned for one match due to to "Excessive" appealing does come to mind. One can not help but wonder what would have happened if Broad was from India/Pakistan or Sri Lanka.

Incredibly funny article to cheer up a dreary work day. Keep them coming Andy!

Good Article....Quite Hilarious..

This one of the funniest articles I have read in a long time! Simply because of the truth in it! I live in Brazil (and play for its National team) and I can watch the matches only over the internet, while watching this appeal, same thoghts passed through my head as well!!! I thought my eyes were betraying me, till I saw the replay... My congratulations to the umpire and to you Mr. Zaltzman for the entertainment!!!

Viren.

Ha ha ha.... I really wonder how one could dwell so much on a seemingly simple incident. Enjoyable post :)

I am really agree with Andy. If Broad is from any of the continent side, up to the time he definitely got a ban.

it was funny in parts, the article. but, come on, give the lad a break, there is no way he would have appealed so vehemently, had he even the slightest doubt that 'Sharma hit the ball with his bat whilst his legs were still some distance away'. it made for fun watching, though.

I saw the match, the appeal was too much, Broad went on and on about it. It was obvious that the ball hit the bat and that was it.

Very funny article Andy...! Keep it up...

I strongly felt, when Stuart Broad said... Howwwwwizzzzaaaaaaat? Ideally Tiffin should have said - "Thats bad...!"

This is the best thing I have read today. Hillarious to the core. I am almost tripping of my office chair. Now I know what they mean when they say "Cricket is a funny ole game". I always understood the old part but today I have first time understood why it is funny.

Funny. Funny. Funny.
Keep it up!

Hey Andy! u didn't have to read so much into it! Never the less, it's a good article.

This is the best thing I have read today. Hillarious to the core. I am almost tripping of my office chair. Now I know what they mean when they say "Cricket is a funny ole game". I always understood the old part but today I have first time understood why it is funny.

Funny article. But, remember the match referee was from Subcontinent and player was from England. if it had been other way around, the player would have received a heavy fine, if not a one match ban

yes, anywhere but from the subcontinent. I fear what would've happened if he were to be from Bangladesh.......perhaps banned for life!
Fine article though

Broad is very fortunate that he does not represent an asian team. they would have docked 20-30% of his match fee. I do feel bad at times about recent BCCI's behaviour but incidents like this one justify all that.

Andy, that was hilarious. Totally awesome! I do wish most newscasters/reporters could be half as funny. Mornings would be less depressing.

It is a very funny article to read . I enjoyed it to the core of my heart and brain. But still i wonder if Stuart Broad had been reported for excessive appealing and his father Mr. Chris Broad would have been dealing with the case of (spirit of the game), code of conduct or some other sort of behavioural conduct. It would certainly be an interesting scenario for the viewers to watch and read the news afterwards.
Thanks.

Lol!

I think the write up about Andy Zaltzman is as funny as this article:P!...

That is such a great start to the day! That was hillarious, keep it up!

Now I understand........... "CRICKET IS A FUNNY GAME"

I saw it and for a moment I thought Ishant was OUT. So convincing was the appeal.The other issue about if Broad was from India/ Pakistan etc. ? Well some would argue look what Bhajji got away with ? This is the romance of cricket. Good or bad decisions will always happen. But Thank God the days of Evil decisions of Indo-Pak matches are over. Nice article. Loved it. Keep it up Andy.

Don't be so high and mighty about Broad, all of you calling for a ban.

We all know that Lalit Mohdi has the ICC in his pocket, hence why Harbajhans incident was dropped months ago, hence why he tried to have the 1st est moved, and hence why you guys seem to think that if you call for something to happen, it will.

It gets my goat, that as with every other sport, money now talks louder than fair play in cricket, too.

Bowlers make such mistakes - in a follow through, having bowled a ball at 85-90 mph, they're off balance, and sometimes what they think they've seen just isn't correct.

I bet if you asked Broad now, he'd say that at the time, he thought it was out, but havinv seen it since, he thinks its a stupid appeal to have made.

But not worth a ban.

Persistent and unnecessary appealing is a different matter, however.

You'll see Monty do plenty of that in the tests - now theres more of a candidate for a ban in my opinion.

yeah its true!!! very bad sight for Broad may be!!!!!!!! thank god most umpires would give tat as for bowler's confident appeal, gud umpiring!!!

Funny, really funny. It is not broad appeal, the broadest appeal by Broad. He proved his name is Broad.

Thanks for the fun.

It is really very funny . I was watching on TV and did thought that Rohit was out , only watching is on slow motion i realized pad is nowhere close .
May be i and Borad have vision problem.

Anshuj

Great piece of article. Good work. Keep it up.

Andy, you just made me roll off my office chair with laughter! If i lose my job in recessionary times like these, i know whom to blame :-). Keep them coming mate.

cricket and cricinfo needed you. welcome :D

if it was an indian appealing like broad and his father was the ref i am sure that the bowler would be suspended.

Good Stuff.. enjoyed it..

A very funny article indeed. The appeal was simply ridiculous. If only Broad was from the sub-continent, I have absolutely no doubt that he would have been banned for at least 1 match apart from being flayed from the media the world over(especially Australia) for the 'unsportsmanlike' behavior and acrimonious conduct that brought disrepute to the 'gentleman's' game

Just saw the clip online.Whats more amusing to me that Broads appeal is Ravi Shastri the commentator going "thats close" as soon as Broad goes up.Its a few seconds before the replay comes on and up until that point, both Shastri and the other guy (Botham?)think its a good appeal.

Somehow, I like the young lad... one excessive appeal in an otherwise good performance may be excused; I also feel, now that India is on its ways, all the scribes seem to have suddenly taken a liking for the winning team, even some one like Tony claiming them to be the heir-apparent for the no. of position... I am an ardent Indian fan and no doubt, Dhoni, Yuvi & Company are doing a wonderful job, but to be no. 1, atleast wait for a couple of years of consistent performance in all forms of the game, then perhaps, you can lay claim on the no. 1 position... till then, simply wait and watch and admire the good stuff... Cheers, RP...

nice piece of stuff man. enjoyed it a lot. keep it up.

In fairness to Broad, he did say after the game in an interview that had his Dad been the match referee he would have lost his match fee (Stuart that is). So he knows how lucky he was to get away with a slap on the wrist, and they probably understoon he's a young lad learning. No need for all the subcontinent drawbridge-raising and sour suggestions about what would have happened if Broad was from Asia - he isn't and therefore it's moot.

What a totally pointless article. I hope every time someone is given out when they shouldn't have been you are not going to waste yours, mine and everyone elses time by writing an article like this. Broad is a young cricketer excited by playing cricket why try and question his character or his integrity.

hilarious!
extremely funny and marvellous...:)
keep the good work!
the bat looking like a leg lol!

Awesome article! Had me laughing all the while, and certainly cheered me up at work! :)

This is issue trying to be raised for what???? for Indian field, umpire, or Indian game or sportsman spirit ???? nothing else but this is only anger of defeat...side you favour for.... indian has faced really bad time with 7 ture and 1 controversial appeal/bad decision in australia which made them to lose the test match series where the result could have been really opposite what happend in clear word is india should have own that test match serious. thank you gentlemen Andy Zaltzman ... thanks for your absurd writing

dude
dats hillarious
cricinfo needs u

Very funny Andy Keep it up.

This was the best article really. What a way to start the article and what an ending... simply. i could not restrict laughing. Every word had a special tone. Broad appealed with the confidence of a mathematics graduate asserting to an innumerate friend that 3 plus 3 equals 6.One can therefore ascribe his behaviour to a mixture of youthful excitement in the middle of an outstanding spell, the effects of the heat; perhaps an unfamiliarity with certain aspects of the lbw law, or the fact that Sharma’s bat might look a bit like a leg from certain angles.These lines were like Cherry. really a funny article with Clear visions. Good Job!!Keep it up!!!

Umpires learn from Mahanama, jus dont blindly follow the books, then there is no difference between u and us sittting here. Give a nice judgement keeping in view the spirit of the game and how the bans affect players and also the readers. They add nothing to the game atleast learn by now.

Lucky Stuart If only Broad was from the sub-continent, I have absolutely no doubt that he would have been banned for at least 1 match apart from being flayed from the media the world over(especially Australia)

It was a mistake. Kunal, Bhagirath - remember Harbhajan was let off on a racism charge and the rules of the game were changed specifically for Murali!

Hilarious..'unfamiliarity with some aspects of lbw law'... indeed - ball hits bat..appeal very loudly and get an lbw was the strategy!! I am not sure if anyone has commented on this- I think it was Pathan taking a run from the batting end after touching the ball and Broad charging down the wicket, ostensibly to collect the ball and hit the stumps - got in Pathan's way and quite deliberately kept his right leg stuck out in the batsman's way - but as it turned out Broad was the one who fell!! Reminded me of the Gambhir incident!
Please correct me if I'm wrong - maybe the names perhaps but the event did happen!!

Funny as hell. First time I read this article and Andy, I've become your fan.

Enjoyed the article completly. Only thing I would disagree is, England team not getting enough practise (first 2 lines). I lived and played cricket in India and England, both countries. The flat Indian batting wickets do not need any special practise. In England, till you reach county or national level, everybody play cricket on pitches which are very much like Indian pitches. Rather, we have seen in the past that, English batsmen use to score 100s of runs from their first match in India.
Its hot, dry, flat and very good for batting.
Just give credit to Indian bowlers, who managed to put all that pressure on England. Also, India is a far better fielding side than England (Ian Bell's run out by Raina in 2nd match).
Just see the difference between line-length-swing of Zaheer-Munaf and English bowlers. Also, we have seen that Flintoff did create problems for Indians.

Somehow, I like the young lad... one excessive appeal in an otherwise good performance may be excused; I also feel, now that India is on its ways, all the scribes seem to have suddenly taken a liking for the winning team, even some one like Tony claiming them to be the heir-apparent for the no. of position... I am an ardent Indian fan and no doubt, Dhoni, Yuvi & Company are doing a wonderful job, but to be no. 1, atleast wait for a couple of years of consistent performance in all forms of the game, then perhaps, you can lay claim on the no. 1 position... till then, simply wait and watch and admire the good stuff... Cheers, RP...

What a load of tosh. I fail to see where there is anything remotely funny in that article. Broad made a mistake, nothing more. And then we get the Indians saying any one of them would've been fined heavily for it. No, that is not excessive appealing, that is one appeal the lad got wrong.

At least Broad didn't give an unsporting wave to a man he had just got out. Was Harbhajan fined for that or have referees just given up with him now for fear the toys come out of the pram again?

Falling off office chairs??? Do me a favour, it didn't even raise a smile.

brilliant blog....keep writing....

outrageous...can't thank you enough Andy...this is exactly what we need amidst all the number crunching, opponent bashing and self promoting.
after all it is just a game and when someone so genuinely talented conjures up such an insanely funny and incredibly witty article practically out of thin air, one should just appreciate it and leave the bitching for some other post.
I have fallen head over heels Andy...please keep writing!!

Very funny article Andy!"... or the fact that Sharma’s bat might look a bit like a leg from certain angles..." I almost tripped out of my chair laughing at this sentence :D. Good one!

This article of Andy has transcended into a piece of fine literature...keep it up..thanks.

Thank god for sarcasm

I think Andy Zaltman must use his judgement correctly,and don't be so bias against the English bowlers.

absolutely completely hilarious..funniest cricket article i've read!1

Hilarious piece
And I should say the killer part is, "Tiffen must have been momentarily overcome with feelings of confusion and doubt..."

Good job Andy!

Andy Good article. Apparently some people are too shallow to understand that this article is a sarcasm. If they don't get it - then the apparently should not read or comment on it. And also, I agree with most of the comments on what would happen if Broad was from the sub-continent. It really does not matter at all. The decisions handed out to players from the sub-continent were right decisions in the minds of the umpires and the boards - so deal with it and stop complaining. I am from the sub-continent too and you have to respect the game. Remember how you explain the game - "Its a Gentleman's Game".

Cheers and Thanks Andy for some light hearted humour - which some people just don't get it.

humourous!! loved reading it!!!

Hi andy,

this is my first read of your wriing. Loved it,totally remeniscent of ton Sharpe/Barry norman.
great stuff
I also think we can all learn from the match refree who recognised ayoung bowlers desire to do well for himself and his country.
More so stuart bRoads father can probably learn a lot from your article and the thought process es of the match refree.. Ps I am indian so do understand all the victimisation feeling, but we have to move on and it make it better for all.

61 comments on the post.. (62 now!) Reliving Stuart Broad's heartfelt holler - Andy seems to have finally discovered the right balance for his comedic cricket crazy crackle!

A truly funny post - more power to you, Andy!!

P.S. - love your podcast :)

Now this is something what you call forced humour. Didn't find it funny at all. Guys who fell out of their chairs reading this must be nuts I guess.

Ruchit...I guess you could call those who fell out of their chairs slightly unbalanced? :-)

Although from India, I agree with Martin in that it probably was a one-time mistake, probably from enthusiasm, not worthy of such discussion/criticism.

Hilarious! Keep up Andy! There is nothing against Broad, but I also hear indian fans. They rightly complain the ICC attitude, who are looking for some mistakes by indians to haul them up. And of course they will run away once BCCI shows its power. Sad, but true..

And yet Broad appealed with the confidence of a mathematics graduate asserting to an innumerate friend that 3 plus 3 equals 6! lolz! Very funny article Mr.Andy.
And all you cry babies calling for Broad's ban remember that Flintoff's decision in the 2nD oDI. Chill guys! Don't make a mockery of a humorous article!

Broad just might have started a minor revolution, something the commentators would refer to as 'Premeditated appeal' in the future. Commentary might run as:
" Nice flight by Harbhajan..he appeals for a premeditated leg-before, but Pietersen has hit a premeditated switch hit. Its caught on the third man boundary.. and the umpire decides its not-out. Looks like it was a premeditated decision..."

"Sharma’s bat might look a bit like a leg from certain angles"... Andy Zaltzman at his very best!!!

Andy, you should be writing frontline articles, not just blogs! Incredibly funny take on a seemingly innocuous incident.. :)

My late Great Uncle (not he wasn't a great uncle)would often regale us with stories of his "life on the frontier' as in the n/w frontier of India.
He recalled his efforts to explain the l.b.w. law 'to the wiley Pathan'.He was grateful to be alive the next day.His brother in law alas fell foul of cannibals in Africa when the no ball rule saw the local missionary given not out when on a herculean 7 off 65 balls. Both of these men died prior to the new 6 ball over and with the demise of the 8 ball over my uncle gave up the will to live. He was last seen riding a mule up the Kyhber pass muttering about Sikh warriors who would rather face frenzied Musselman than the demon leg breaks of Posit minor a terrible soldier
but wonderful cricketer.Needless to say my great uncle died before I was born yet I'm sure some of you recoil in horror at the prospect of facing a demon bowler on a wearing pitch. I have been a cricket lunatic (ask my wife) for almost 50 years.
With time Broad will improve

Broad was desparately seeking a miracle when all else failed. Can't blame the poor bloke for trying:)
Great piece by Andy, and to all those losers who thought Broad was fair in his appeal, and there was nothing funny in this article, you need to get a sense of humour, especially if you happen to be an English fan!

Oh dear, some of you are missing the point of this article. It's written with tounge firmly in cheek, but there's always someone who will start the whole asian vs non-asian debate off again. Maybe the appeal was excessive, and he did then possibly show some dissent, but guys ... it was one appeal, and the article is about that single incident. Get a life ........

thankyou for starting my day with a smile.

Very nice article Andy. Funny from start till the end. I can only wonder what Stuart Broad must have thought after looking at the replay.LOL

Russell Tiffen punished by cruel gods for bad decisions in previous games... ha ha ha :-)

how refreshingly brilliant! had me in stitches

What a hilarious article. I fell on the floor laughing laughing. One of the best articles in recent times

agree with lizzyp. pure tongue in cheek stuff.. when do Asians shake off this Communist way of looking at things? Read Zaltzman for the first time and I am not going to be a regular.

Man, that was awesomely put.. I laughed my heart out.. Hats off to your uncanny ability to draw humour out of a simple incident!! :-)

LOL. This is just too good. Cricinfo should make a weekly regular column - GO Zaltzman.

Simply wow...Simply the best I have read recently!