|
Sydney: The fractured relationship between the Australian and Indian cricket teams reached a new low on Sunday after Australia staged an amazing comeback to win the second test by 122 runs.
Part-time spinner Michael Clarke captured three wickets in the penultimate over to deny India a draw and ensure Australia retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and equalled their own world record of 16 successive victories.
But their incredible victory was overshadowed by a bitter outburst from the Indians, who accused the Australians of unsportsmanlike behaviour and called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to sack the two umpires that handled the match.
"Only one team was playing with the spirit of the game," Indian captain Kumble said, borrowing a similar line to Bill Woodfull's immortal comment during the 1932-33 Bodyline series.
The Indian team manager Chetan Chauhan said the tourists were so upset at the performances of the two on-field umpires, West Indian Steve Bucknor and England's Mark Benson, that they planned to lodge an official process at their handling of the match.
"I have been informed by the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) that they are lodging a strong protest with the ICC, so that some of the incompetent umpires do not umpire in the rest of the series," Chauhan said.
Daunting challenge
The tourists had been faced with the daunting challenge of batting through 72 overs to salvage a draw on a turning Sydney Cricket Ground pitch to keep the series alive but came up agonisingly short.
Ponting, who lodged a complaint about Harbhajan during the match for allegedly racially abusing Andrew Symonds, said Australia's win was among the best he had ever been involved in during his long career.
"My overall emotion and feeling at the end of the game was as good a feeling as I've ever had on a cricket field," he said.
"To win a test like that, coming down to the last eight or 10 minutes on the fifth day is very special."
Australia were not even entertaining thoughts of winning when they trailed by 69 runs on the first innings but gave themselves a chance of victory when they piled on the runs in the second dig.
Mike Hussey made an unbeaten 145 and man of the match Symonds (61), allowing Ponting to declare before lunch on the last day and give his bowlers just over two sessions to manufacture a result.
India's hopes of saving the match suffered an early setback when they lost out-of-form opener Wasim Jaffer, Sachin Tendulkar and Vangipurappu Laxman but Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly consolidated the innings.
Dravid was the victim of another umpiring blunder after tea but the tourists still looked to have done enough to avoid defeat when Ponting tossed the ball to Clarke in desperation and the match took one last twist.
He said both sides were together during the hearing into the alleged racial abuse.
India's Harbhajan banned for three tests
Mumbai: India spinner Harbhajan Singh was banned for three test matches on Sunday for racially abusing Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the second test in Sydney.
"I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Harbhajan Singh directed that word (monkey) at Andrew Symonds and also that he meant it to offend on the basis of Symonds's race or ethnic origin," match referee Mike Procter said in a statement released by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The charge was laid by match umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor following a complaint by Australia captain Ricky Ponting on Friday, prior to which Harbhajan was alleged to have made a "monkey" comment directed at Symonds, the statement said.
The hearing took place after the test ended on Sunday in which the hosts fought back to win by 122 runs and take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.
Harbhajan and Symonds, the only black player in the Australian team, had exchanged words shortly after the Indian reached his half century on FridayH.
Play had been delayed for several minutes while the umpires spoke to Harbhajan on the pitch, although Procter had said the umpires were not close enough to hear the exchange.
The ban starts with immediate effect but Harbhajan, who denies he racially abused Symonds, could be available for the third test in Perth from January 16 as the Indians plan to lodge an appeal.
"We'll appeal against the match referee's decision once we receive a communication from the ICC," the Indian board's vice-president Rajiv Shukla told Reuters.
"Till the decision of the appeals commissioner is known, the ban on Harbhajan will obviously be stayed."
Shukla also dismissed talk that the team was considering pulling out of the rest of the tour.
The incident has further fractured the relationship between the two teams which had soured during an acrimonious one-day series in India in October when players from both teams were involved in heated exchanges and Symonds was racially abused by the spectators.
Australia's feat in equalling their own record of 16 consecutive test wins was overshadowed by a bitter outburst from the Indians who accused the hosts of unsportsmanlike behaviour and called on the ICC to sack the two on-field umpires.
Harbhajan is the first Indian cricketer to be banned for racism after the ICC vowed to take a tough stand following several incidents in a number of countries, including Australia.
South African and England players have complained about being abused by spectators while playing in Australia while former test batsman Darren Lehmann was suspended in 2005 for racist comments during a match against Sri Lanka.
Do you agree umpires should dropped based on performance? Is cricket getting too mangled with controversy? What is your take on the entire episode? Would you say Australia is one of the greatest cricketing teams?
Your comments
The Australian team also uses unethical tactics to unsettle the opponent team. Such attitude will only bring disrepute to their team. Both umpires should be dropped from the ICC umpire panel.
Rajesh
Delhi,India
Posted: January 07, 2008, 16:11
Anybody who saw the match would know that the umpires failed in their duties. If they had even the slightest degree of doubt, they should have referred to the third umpire. But I won't say those decisions led to India's defeat. The Australian cricket team is one of the best in the world and have the potential to win the game without any favourable decisions from the umpires. Unfortunately, the spirit of the game is being ruined by these controversies.
Rajesh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 07, 2008, 13:24
The umpires should be dropped because they are not capable. They took help from the players to decide.
Santhosh
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 07, 2008, 11:58
Although Australia is the No 1 team in the world of cricket, its behaviour is not good. They think they are the gods of cricket. I hate the Australian players because of their unruly behaviour.
Kamran
Karachi,Pakistan
Posted: January 07, 2008, 11:23
Umpires should be dropped based on performance; it is only fair to the batsman. The umpires should be kept under pressure of being appraised in case of a wrong decision. Also, players making racist remarks should be given tougher punishments. There is no place for racists in cricket as it is a gentleman's game. Australia is, no doubt, the best cricket team now. The bottom line is -- you play well, you win.
Iqbal
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 07, 2008, 08:33
I am disappointed with the umpiring standards of this match. In the past, we have seen Glenn McGrath too exchanging words but he was never penalised for it. You can't have two yardsticks. However, I do feel the Indian team should concentrate on cricket and stay away from such controversies, which tend to shift focus from the game.
P.S.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 07, 2008, 08:21
Umpiring blunders are a part of the game. I am an Indian and yet I am saying whenever the Indian team is defeated, they start crying like this. We don't want to accept our defeat.
Amit
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 07, 2008, 08:11
No, the umpires should not be dropped. There are disagreements in all sports -- why should cricket be any different? Just get on with it. I was disappointed to hear an Indian player made racial remarks. Yes, the Australians are by far the best team in the world.
Laurence
Bangkok,Thailand
Posted: January 07, 2008, 08:02
Australia may be a big team but has proved they are not great, as cricket is a gentleman's game. At least, Captain Ricky Ponting should have shown some respect for the game during Ganguly's ouster and during Harbhajan's hearing.
Omprakash
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: January 07, 2008, 07:59
The umpires should definitely be dropped because it is not just about one or two decisions; six wrong decisions were given and all in favour of Australia. Mark Benson ought to be dropped from the series as his decisions made no sense. He was seen asking Ponting whether the catch was clean or not. Ridiculous! Australia is afraid of India because if anyone can beat Australia, it is India.
Maulin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 07, 2008, 07:57
Umpires have made bad decisions for as long as cricket has been played. If you let these decisions affect your thinking, you will not perform your best. The Indian side has some of the best players of the world and they should concentrate on playing good cricket. They should not worry about things that are out of their control, no matter how frustrating. I do believe the Australian side is an excellent team but whether they are the best, only time will tell.
Ken
Port Macquarie,Australia
Posted: January 07, 2008, 07:29
Yes, the umpires were incompetent. There is a possibility that they might have been involved in match fixing.
Mike
Perth,Australia
Posted: January 07, 2008, 03:47
I think the umpires were responsible for Australia winning both the Tests easily. Yes, both the umpires should be sacked for giving wrong decisions.
Cyril
Sydney,Australia
Posted: January 07, 2008, 02:13
Well, everyone saw what happened. Indians were playing against 14 Australians and had to loose. We saw Ponting?s influence on the umpire when Ganguly?s wicket was taken.
Jhakkas
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 07, 2008, 00:26
|
