Cricket has always been called a Gentleman's game, but not any more, if what we saw today @ the SCG, in the 2nd Test Match between India & Australia is anything to be taken as a reference. Indians done-in by the poor Umpiring decisions, the un-gentlemanly sportsmanship of the world champs Australians and the racism row, is anything to go by! India losing out to Australia in a critical match, and leaving Australia 2 up in a 4 match series!
Anil Kumble's rightly said in the post match conference that "Only ONE team played with the spirit of the game!" It was quite evident which team was he referring to. Here are the world champions against world champions, and if this was a gentleman's game, we should have had the highest standard being set / show on the field by both sides - unfortunately it was not to be.
Starting with Ricky Ponting, the captain himself, who appeals for a catch when he did not take it clean, and when the ball was not nicked by Dhoni - says something about the leadership of the team.
"Yatha Raja Tatha Praja" - is quite evident here, with the vice-captain Michael Clarke, who appealed for a catch which as replayes showed very clearly that he had grounded the ball - it was a not out (Saurav Ganguly) but like a gang of brothers, the Captain (Ponting) confirms that it was taken! Well, what can we expect out of the future captain, when he was caught clearly by Dravid in slips for a duck, waits for the Umpire! Sunil Gavaskar, in whose name the series is being played (Gavaskar - Border Trophy) was aghast - He was heard saying "Well, what is he waiting for ?".
Adding insult to injury, if not the injury itself are the two Umpires, who right thru this match have been found wanting (of competence / integrity or mebbe both) when one after the other both Steve Bucknor & Benson, where both ruling against India - made one wonder, that Match-Fixing can also happen by the umpires blessings!
Dravid being given out when he had not nicked - Ganguly being given out, when the catch was not taken cleanly by Clarke, Symmonds not being given out more than once when he was clearly found otherwise - the list goes on..
If one thot the Umpires on the fields, without access to any technological help could go wrong, and make "human" mistakes - then what can one say about the third Umpire, who also gave wrong decision, AFTER seeing the clear replays! Even the Australian commentators were left wondering what the heck was going on here...!
The final straw to these whole mess, now seems to be the apparent (unconfirmed reports as of now) ban of Harbhajan for 3 matches as a result of the Racist Remarks allegedly made by him against Symmonds! (who won the Man of the Match), but who actually was out twice, but for the blessings of the umpire, who ruled him not out!
If Bhajji had made those comments, am sure its a fitting decision, but as reports suggest, there's hardly any evidence, (concrete) to suggest that such a remarks were indeed made - Umpires, and the rest of the players close by categorically saying they did not hear any such thing - then it makes one wonder, as to how the Match Referree Proctor could come to the conclusion, one only has to wait and see.
As reports suggest, India, may even cancel its tour, though in my opinion may not be the right response - the right way would be to play the next two matches and beat Australia squarly - but with the Umpires, the Home Team / Captain being what they are - i doubt if any fair game can be played at all anymore!
A sad day for the world-cricket!
Anil Kumble's rightly said in the post match conference that "Only ONE team played with the spirit of the game!" It was quite evident which team was he referring to. Here are the world champions against world champions, and if this was a gentleman's game, we should have had the highest standard being set / show on the field by both sides - unfortunately it was not to be.
Starting with Ricky Ponting, the captain himself, who appeals for a catch when he did not take it clean, and when the ball was not nicked by Dhoni - says something about the leadership of the team.
"Yatha Raja Tatha Praja" - is quite evident here, with the vice-captain Michael Clarke, who appealed for a catch which as replayes showed very clearly that he had grounded the ball - it was a not out (Saurav Ganguly) but like a gang of brothers, the Captain (Ponting) confirms that it was taken! Well, what can we expect out of the future captain, when he was caught clearly by Dravid in slips for a duck, waits for the Umpire! Sunil Gavaskar, in whose name the series is being played (Gavaskar - Border Trophy) was aghast - He was heard saying "Well, what is he waiting for ?".
Adding insult to injury, if not the injury itself are the two Umpires, who right thru this match have been found wanting (of competence / integrity or mebbe both) when one after the other both Steve Bucknor & Benson, where both ruling against India - made one wonder, that Match-Fixing can also happen by the umpires blessings!
Dravid being given out when he had not nicked - Ganguly being given out, when the catch was not taken cleanly by Clarke, Symmonds not being given out more than once when he was clearly found otherwise - the list goes on..
If one thot the Umpires on the fields, without access to any technological help could go wrong, and make "human" mistakes - then what can one say about the third Umpire, who also gave wrong decision, AFTER seeing the clear replays! Even the Australian commentators were left wondering what the heck was going on here...!
The final straw to these whole mess, now seems to be the apparent (unconfirmed reports as of now) ban of Harbhajan for 3 matches as a result of the Racist Remarks allegedly made by him against Symmonds! (who won the Man of the Match), but who actually was out twice, but for the blessings of the umpire, who ruled him not out!
If Bhajji had made those comments, am sure its a fitting decision, but as reports suggest, there's hardly any evidence, (concrete) to suggest that such a remarks were indeed made - Umpires, and the rest of the players close by categorically saying they did not hear any such thing - then it makes one wonder, as to how the Match Referree Proctor could come to the conclusion, one only has to wait and see.
As reports suggest, India, may even cancel its tour, though in my opinion may not be the right response - the right way would be to play the next two matches and beat Australia squarly - but with the Umpires, the Home Team / Captain being what they are - i doubt if any fair game can be played at all anymore!
A sad day for the world-cricket!
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