In the Loving Memory of Gentleman’s Game that died in Sydney on January 6th, 2008
2008
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Rishabh Srivastava - Profile
There are 176 more posts on Jai Hind: Proud to be an Indian by Rishabh Srivastava
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australia, BCCI, Chanderpaul, Clarke, Cricket, Dravid, Ganguly, Harbhajan, icc, india, Kumble, Match Ban, Ponting, Sydney, umpires
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The second Test at the SCG has been full of controversies, and many minutes of air time and centimetres of newspaper space have been devoted to them, especially the umpiring errors. Indians played remarkably well and especially captain Kumble stood ground and set an example. The test result is an agony. The Indians did not deserve to loose this test match but for the poor decisions. Finally, Bucknor and Benson smiled. They won it for Australia. Out of 12 wrong decisions, 10 were against India which literally means that an innings was wrapped up by Umpires. As Ian Chappell said on commentary on the 5th afternoon “Batsmen usually say to each other ‘you take care of this bowler……..’. [In] this match the Indians might have to say ‘you take care of Bucknor, I will take care of Benson’.” !
But, it’s hard to digest the fact that the Australians have enjoyed this Godly treatment every now and then. It was interesting to read this snippet from a daily recently “During an informal chat, some months ago, Shivnarine Chanderpaul made an interesting point: if the umpires don’t rule all the 50-50 decisions, or even some of the 40-60 ones, in Australia’s favour, most of the Test teams can beat them. He might, of course, have been exaggerating the beating part a bit. But the fact remains the current Australian lot, whether while batting or bowling, invariably seem to enjoy the benefit of doubt more. It’s like a protective cover that comes to their rescue whenever they are in trouble, or when the opposition is on top”.
The worst decisions of the game were,
* On the first day, a Sourav Ganguly delivery appeared to have taken some wood of Ricky Ponting’s bat on its way to MS Dhoni down the leg side but was not given out.
* More followed when a caught behind shout off Andrew Symonds went unheard, and was rounded off with another one – this time via the third umpire – who dismissed another stumping call. The burly all-rounder replied emphatically with his second Test hundred.
* Wasim Jaffer was bowled on a no ball by Brett Lee.
* Umpiring errors continued into the second day when umpire Steve Bucknor didn’t refer to the third umpire on a stumping call against Symonds as following replays showed his foot wasn’t grounded inside the crease.
* Mike Hussey was not given out when he edged a ball to Dhoni of RP Singh.
* On the fifth day, Rahul Dravid was undone by a decision from Bucknor, following a caught behind appeal by Andrew Symonds. Dravid, not one to reveal his emotions on the field, reacted angrily and replays confirmed why. The bat was way behind the pad but was adjudged to have edged the ball.
* Sourav Ganguly edged the ball to slip fielder Michael Clarke who claimed a dubious catch, umpire Mark Benson thought it apt to ask captain Ricky Ponting who confirmed he did take it, even as Ganguly refused to leave the field. Replays confirmed Clarke had grounded the catch.
The Umpires lost the confidence of the viewing public. Leave aside the Umpiring decisions, the spirit that Australian Players showed was also very timid and don’t have sportmanship in them. They can go to any level to win the match. I have played my cricket honestly and sincerely, and that is the approach of my team as well. I expect that from the Australians also,’ Kumble said in the post-match press conference.The behaviour of Australian side lead by captain Ricky Ponting was not of a champion side.
* Ricky Ponting appealed for a catch of MS Dhoni at slip which he didn’t caught even cleanly. When questioned about the same in press conference later he lost his temper. Why?
* Michael Clarke grassed the catch of Sourav Ganguly twice (he neither picked the catch cleanly and then touched the ground when he rolled) yet he said that he has taken the catch cleanly.
There were far more incidents on the field that will be questioned time and again.
I have just got the news that Harbhajan Singh has been banned for 3 test matches for “racial slur.” First there is no audio or video eveidence. Somethings were said no doubt. At no point during all this did anyone see Symonds speak to Ricky Pointing and explain the situation.This came as the bigger tragedy as Mike Procter, the refree himself said that Umpires didn’t heard anything from Bhajji which can be considered racial. Then how come he has imposed ban of 3 matches on him? He has given decision on a testimony of few Australian players whose honesty is questionable while he does not believed in what Sachin Tendullkar said. I hate to see an indifferent treatment to players of different nationalities from ICC. Team India has been victimised and BCCI should now support the players at all cost. BCCI is considered to be power house in World Cricket and it should show its power now. Indian team have registered a complaint against Bradd Hogg of abusing an Indian Player. The relationship between the two teams have soured and now this series cannot be played in a congenial environment. Moreover, Indian Players are mentally drained and will be low on confidence after this test match. They will be feeling cheated by Officials. I feel that BCCI should consider abandoning the tour. BCCI cannot dodge away from the responsibility and should take stern measures. Our team needs support of each individual in this crisis and its happy to see that they are getting it too. What is being played in the middle is not a Cricket but something else. It is even worse than a gully Cricket.
Australians have no right to bring disrepute to this game any further. Apart from dragging Harbhajan Singh into a racial row, the conduct of the Australians in the second cricket Test against India, which ended on Sunday, is a blot on their sportsmanship. They may have won the game with the generous help from the umpires but their behaviour should be an embarrassment for a team that is undoubtedly a champion side.
In view of the farce in the second test match and ugly cricket played by the Australia, Indian board should pull back their team. Australia might have won but they could not beat the Team India. They have reached their Nadir. The Cricket is dead. May its soul rest in peace!!
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[...] Cricket Team
Aussie ki taissie saalon ki..
Careers are made and destroyed in a tour and umpires have no right to play with careers. If u have ever played a competitive cricket u can feel the mental trauma that our players must be going under right now.
Umpires are human and to err is also human. But if mistakes are repeated again and again then something is cooking behind the scene.
Anil Kumble said—–I don’t think the Indian team is very happy at all, we are all very disappointed by the way this Test match has gone, we landed with an intention this tour would be played in the right spirit.
ICC has now imposed ban on Harbhajan. Can you give such decision on the testimony of 2 players. First there is no audio or video eveidence. Somethings were said no doubt. At no point during all this did anyone see Symonds speak to Ricky Pointing and explain the situation.This came as the bigger tragedy as Mike Procter, the refree himself said that Umpires didn’t heard anything from Bhajji which can be considered racial. Then how come he has imposed ban of 3 matches on him?
Mike Procter should declare the result of this Test null and void because of the bad umpiring decisions,the poor sportsmanship particularly from the hosts and let the replay be the next scheduled Test between the two teams.
Australian media is also not happy with their team’s approach and are supporting Bhajji. I quote from Herald Sun—–
“INDIA captain Anil Kumble’s denunciation of the way Australia plays cricket will be widely supported throughout the international cricket community.
By so publicly questioning the manner in which Australia play, he is expressing a view held by many people in this country and many more beyond the Indian diaspora.
A calm, dignified man who acceded to the leadership just seven weeks ago, Kumble was distraught after India’s loss to Australia in the second Test match which ended at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
It was not, however, the 122-run defeat that prompted him to conclude a tumultuous press conference by saying: “Only one team is playing in the spirit of the game.”
For someone renowned for his thoughtful and measured approach to matters on and off the field, his statement was a damning condemnation of the operational methods of the most powerful and successful cricket team in the world.
The words he chose to vent his spleen were similar to those used by Australian captain Bill Woodfull at the height of the Bodyline crisis in Adelaide 75 years ago to the month, words which still resonate today and are often quoted. When joint manager of the England team Pelham “Plum” Warner entered the Australian room to inquire after the health of Woodfull, who had been struck over the heart by a ball from Harold Larwood, Woodfull said: “I don’t want to see you, Mr Warner. There are two teams out there. One is trying to play cricket and the other is not.”
Sydney Morning Herald says——–
RICKY PONTING must be sacked as captain of the Australian cricket team. If Cricket Australia cares a fig for the tattered reputation of our national team in our national sport, it will not for a moment longer tolerate the sort of arrogant and abrasive conduct seen from the captain and his senior players over the past few days. Beyond comparison it was the ugliest performance put up by an Australian side for 20 years. The only surprising part of it is that the Indians have not packed their bags and gone home. There is no justice for them in this country, nor any manners.
That the senior players in the Australian team are oblivious to the fury they raised among many followers of the game in this country and beyond merely confirms their own narrow and self-obsessed viewpoint. Doubtless they were not exposed to the messages that poured in from distressed enthusiasts aghast to see the scenes of bad sportsmanship and triumphalism presented at the SCG during and after the Test. Pained past players rang to express their disgust. It was a wretched and ill-mannered display and not to be endured from any side, let alone an international outfit representing a proud sporting nation.
Sydney Morning Herald
CRICKET is facing its greatest crisis since the match-fixing saga, after the Board of Control for Cricket in India ordered a suspension of the national team’s current tour of Australia.
In doing so, the all-powerful Indian board, which accounts for an estimated 70 per cent of the game’s global revenue, has issued a direct challenge to the sovereignty of the International Cricket Council and the integrity of Australia’s players.
Incensed by the ICC’s decision to ban Harbhajan Singh for three Tests for allegedly calling Andrew Symonds a “monkey” during the Sydney Test, the Indian board has announced it will “fight the blatantly false and unfair slur on an Indian player” and has ordered its players not to travel to Canberra, as scheduled, until an appeal is heard.
The Australian national newspaper criticised the behaviour of the home team and said Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson should be called to account for their poor umpiring.
“It is shameful this splendid test match, won in such a remarkable fashion by the indomitable Australians, has left such a bitter taste,” wrote Mike Coward, veteran cricket writer.
“The standard of play often was outstanding and occasionally exceptional but the standard of player behaviour was questionable and, at times, unacceptable. And the standard of umpiring was poor.
“Test cricket is not robust enough these days to withstand these failings and the protagonists and umpires Steve Bucknor, in particular, and Mark Benson should be called to account,” he said.
Peter Roebuck was more stinging in his write-up for the Sydney Morning Herald, saying only “rabid nationalist” will relish such a “rotten contest.”
———- A Report
‘It’s sport, not war’
Sporting greats upset by Australia’s behaviour….
The criticism of Australia’s conduct at the SCG has spread to other sports with three members of the country’s Hall of Fame calling for the team’s “moral compass to be returned”. John Bertrand, a sailor who won the America’s Cup in 1983, is the chairman of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and he wants a meeting with Cricket Australia to let it know its sides should be showing more respect to opponents.
Australia’s behaviour during the match in Sydney has been under severe scrutiny. Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey have defended the team actions during the victory, but there have been a host of complaints in the fallout from a game that included issues over race, sportsmanship, umpiring, catching and walking.
———
http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/ausvind/content/current/story/329929.html