The Tour Will Go On

In spite of all match fixing controversies surrounding Pakistan Cricket team, the team management has decided to continue the tour. In fact, the team has arrived in Taunton. Meanwhile, the 'Center of Attraction', Mazhar Majeed, has been released on bail by Scotland Yard Police. Also, the three alleged players, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir & captain Salman Butt, whose mobile phones were confiscated, have also travelled to Somerset, with the team.

The whole Pakistan has mixed sorts of emotions; people are cursing their 'heroes'. Some are crying over the incident, while some are still not ready to believe the 'spot fixing' allegations. The media, former players and fans, all are very disappointed with these sorts of allegations. Some former players are putting all the blame on PCB for not reacting on One dayer and T20 Captain Shahid Afridi's warning of keeping Pakistani players away from Majeed Brothers.

Andrew Strauss, on the other hand, showed mixed feelings. He, on the one side, was very happy to win the test from the position of losing; on the other hand; he also looks dejected on the possibility of deleting the Test Match's records from the history.

Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed, on the other hand, said that the tour will continue as per the itinerary, with a warm up game against Somerset at Taunton, scheduled for Thursday.

Veteran Yousuf Helps Pakistan take control

In the second test at The Oval, Pakistan's returning batsman Mohd. Yousuf made a patient half century to help Pakistan take lead in the ongoing Test match. Apart from Mohd. Yousuf, new batsman Azhar Ali made a patient half century and is still batting (when the blog is posted) on 66 and is the leading scorer in Pakistan's first innings as they take a lead of 45 runs in the first innings.

Pakistan, on the other hand, restricted England to a mere 233, thanks mainly to a first 5 wicket haul for the debutant Wahab Riaz, who took 5-63 in his first ever test innings. Pacer Mohd. Asif took 3 wickets and played an important role in restricting England to 233.

Pakistan were 276 when the last news came in. For England, G.P. Swann took 3 wickets.

Ponting Has to Face the Music

James Sutherland - the Chief Executing Officer of Cricket Australia said that sacking Ricky Ponting from the post of Australia's test captaincy would be unfair. "Ricky's had a very, very good series," Sutherland told reporters. "He's been under incredible pressure. I thought the dignity and poise that he showed in defeat was something that all Australians should be very proud of." He also dismissed the blames made on the selection committe about the non inclusion of the off spinner Nathan Hauritz. "I think everyone will be looking for people to blame. I don't think that in any way we can hold the selectors accountable for us losing the Ashes," Sutherland said. "At the end of the day, the players go out and do the business on the field".

Sutherland is also hopeful that good days for Australian cricket would return soon an he is very hopeful of coming strong in the tournaments to come.

Ex Australian players and former greats of the game has to say a lot of positive and negative things about Ricky Ponting, The Australian team, Selection Committee and other issues related to the humiliation Australia and Ponting received after the Ashes debacle.