India needs cricket at the moment: Collingwood

[Bublu Bhuyan]

Link: http://cricket.ndtv.com/cricket/ndtv...6&Keyword=news

England batsman Paul Collingwood said his team was hoping that it gets a green signal from ECB's security delegation to play the first Test in Chennai as the players realised that terror-struck India needed cricket at the moment.

"Hopefully, we all get on that plane and play cricket, which is what we want. Hopefully, we send a team out there that is safe and plays cricket because that is what India needs at the moment -- cricket. We need to get back to playing because they're a cricket-loving nation," he said after the team's practice in Abu Dhabi.

The England team which had left India after playing only five of the seven one-dayers following the terror attacks in Mumbai will return to play two Tests, beginning on Thursday, if their security delegation was satisfied with the security situation at the two venues.

"We all have concerns for obvious reasons but we are leaving it at the hands of people who know what's going on. What has happened there is absolutely unbelievable but at the end you have to put your trust in security officers who are gauging whether it is safe enough to go," Collingwood said.

Collingwood said the team was awaiting security delegation's decision which will be informed to them tomorrow but there was no pressure on anyone to go to India.

"Sunday night is D-Day. It is the time we get all the information back and there will be no pressure put on anybody to go back to India. Everybody knows that and everybody will have to make their own mind up. Hopefully, it's a team thing," he was quoted as saying by 'The Times'.

"Obviously, the timing is not ideal but what we've got to do as a group of players is be 100 per cent mentally attuned to starting on Thursday," Collingwood said.

[Bublu Bhuyan]

Link: http://uk.reuters.com/article/sports...BrandChannel=0

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - England's cricketers are keen to return to India for a two-test series after their tour was suspended following last week's attacks in Mumbai, coach Peter Moores said on Saturday.

"There's a strong feeling that we want to go and play these tests," Moores told the England and Wales Cricket Board website (www.ecb.co.uk).

"There's a general will within the team to go and play these test matches. Because, one, people will be representing their country but also in the situation we find ourselves after what happened in Mumbai."

The England team, along with nine members of the England Performance Squad, are training in Abu Dhabi as ECB security experts evaluate the situation at the test venues.

A final decision on the tour will be made on Sunday night after the latest security reports.

The first test starting on Thursday was moved to Chennai from Ahmedabad and the final test to Mohali (December 19-23) from Mumbai.

England returned home last week after the one-day series was cut short following the militant attacks in Mumbai that killed at least 171 people.

"Everyone will have different opinions and if someone doesn't want to go we will respect that," Moores said.

"Hopefully we can take our full-strength side there, compete, win the series and have a good Christmas."

The team's preparations was affected by rain on Saturday, but Moores said it was important for his players to be mentally ready for the test series.

"Mentally, everyone has to assume we are going," he said.

"It's about (getting) your skills ready to go as a batter or a bowler. It's such a quick turnaround now, so the lads have got to get themselves (together) really quickly if they are going to be ready."

"The practice has been compromised quite a lot, we are practising in the wrong country but the lads are in good spirits."

England lost the curtailed seven-match one-day series 5-0.

"It is more of a mental shift we need now, we have been playing one-day cricket for a long time and we need to get ready for test cricket, and the disciplines of the longer form of the game," Moores added. "We cannot use the compromise to practice as an excuse for poor performance."

[Ghoshtbuster]

Yes - we get the picture.

[Boi]

And Pakistan Dont???!!!!
Another Excuse Just To Cover Up The Reason Why He Really Is Going To India!!!

[TaZ]

India needs cricket at the moment
(And I need a lucrative IPL contract)

[Bublu Bhuyan]

^^ Money ain't everything in life.

[observer1]

Originally Posted by Boi And Pakistan Dont???!!!! Another Excuse Just To Cover Up The Reason Why He Really Is Going To India!!!

Well said.

Seriously, England Cricket team is just a joke

[Kriketer]

Only if they had the same sympathy for Pakistan, but oh well sadly for many people, money is what this world is all about.

[Wazeeri]

Don't think Botham can get an IPL contract at this age.

[Omar Malik]

Originally Posted by Wazeeri Don't think Botham can get an IPL contract at this age.

LOL

[Omar Malik]

Originally Posted by Boi And Pakistan Dont???!!!! Another Excuse Just To Cover Up The Reason Why He Really Is Going To India!!!

Rightly said!

[the Great Khan]

translation: "our buds the Indians need us so we can get them big money contracts as gifts..as for the Paks well who cares about those terrorists anyways?"

[kingusama92]

India needs cricket = I need money for christmas

[Oxy]

Originally Posted by bublubhuyan ^^ Money ain't everything in life.

It is after the Stanford disaster....

[SUPERSAMI]

good god, all this ass licking is nauseating!

[Amir]

Someone should tell Collywobble that cricket doesn't need boring cricketers like him.

Win win if he were not to be selected for the test match. India gets it cricket. And cricket doesn't suffer from pathetic and boring batsmen like Collyflower.

[shabas]

Originally Posted by SUPERSAMI good god, all this ass licking is nauseating!

Your screen name is hilarious...

[shabas]

Originally Posted by the Great Khan translation: "our buds the Indians need us so we can get them big money contracts as gifts..as for the Paks well who cares about those terrorists anyways?"

Point taken buddy.

[Lethal]

Why has my post been deleted? Anyone care to answer

[Omar-45]

Collingwood is just an ass, along with other English Players.

Why dosent a senior figure in the cricketing world, just come out and say it in public England are going back for the money????

I dont think a lot of PPers have got anything against england going back to India, but it makes my blood boil when the same attitude and media statments arent given when its time 2 go to Pakistan.

Pietersen is just a money licking, selfish, arrogant man who said to Chris Gayle after the Standford HUMILIATION that he didnt need the $1,000000 anyway.

[Inswinger]

All the English players must be talking out of their a*ses because on s*it is coming out.