England wrapped up the fourth and final test this afternoon to condemn the Indians to fourth test defeat in the series and a second with an innings to spare. The home side confirmed their #1 world test status while India dropped behind South Africa to third after being whitewashed by the English! India have been embarrassed on this tour so far; the smallest margin of defeat was 196 runs in the first test with their worst defeat being the third test losing by an innings and 242 runs. With the exception of Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, the Indian side looked like amateurs compared to England, the Englishmen have come a long way in the past 2 1/2 years under Andy Flower. The fifth test was won with an impressive batting display from England backed up by a great bowling display to bowl the tourists out twice in two days after enforcing the follow-on. India came within nine runs of forcing the Englishmen to bat again, but it was realistically a lost cause with only the tail remaining for India going into day five! Now we move onto the one day series; I expect India to be much better in the one dayers; they are world champions after-all and England don’t have the strongest one day side, but I’m hoping that the test series euphoria will translate into England’s one day side and they can come away with a second summer tour series win!
As expected; Plymouth Argyle joint administrator Brendan Guilfoyle has given Heaney, BIL and Ridsdale until Friday 26th to complete the deal. Guilfoyle will then look to make a deal with James Brent who put an offer in for the club back in March. Brent did plan to have the deal completed by mid-summer, a month in advance of the start of the season but his offer was shunned in favour of Heaney/BIL who have failed to meet deadline after deadline, I will be surprised to see them make this final? deadline. Brent has not changed his offer from the one he made in the first quarter of this year. The bigger question is; will Brent be willing to pay the HUGE administration fees due to P&A Partnership upon completion of sale? Personally I believe P&A should relinquish their fee; let’s face it, Brendan Guilfoyle has done a piss poor job of managing the administration of Argyle!