The Sydney Test

The Sydney Test Match was a true test to reveal the true gentlemen in the sport of cricket. Everyone knows that the Aussies are good in sports, but they are equally an arrogant lot. The Australian cricket team is the precursor to the Aussie arrogance, their lack of respect for others was clearly evident when they man-handled and pushed aside an Indian Cabinet Minister after winning a cricket series at India in 2006.

During the recent Sydney Cricket Test match between Australia and India, the Australian team accused Harbajan Singh of racially mocking Andrew Symonds (an Australian from Caribbean Origin) by calling him a "monkey". What connection does the word have with Symonds (apart from the fact that he looks like one)? Indians themselves are at the receiving end of racial abuses, so how can they racial abuse someone else? Harbhajan Singh was provoked by Symonds himself when he offended Singh with a "F*** Off" and in the same match Brad Hogg called the Indian captain, Anil Kumble a "Bastard". Which one do you seriously think is offensive?, no one from the Indian side reported that to the ICC match officials. The Australians acted just like cry babies. Everyone in the cricketing world knows that the Australian's are in the forefront of sledging, they openly use offensive language and gestures and easily get away with it. A Gentleman's Game, my a**!

Clearly India lost the Sydney Test Match due to blunder decisions made by the match umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson. Steve Bucknor is a good umpire, but lately he is getting old and making lot of wrong decisions and he strongly needs to consider retiring. Umpire Mark Benson made the mistake of asking captain Ricky Ponting to know if Ganguly was out, ofcourse he is going to say Ganguly is out! What else did he expect?? I am not of the opinion that technology should completely take over the umpiring decisions in cricket, but a batsman should be able to challenge an umpires decision.

During the 2003 Pakistan-Bangladesh Series, Pakistan captain Rashid Latif was suspended for five one-day matches by match referee Mike Procter for claiming a catch which had touched the ground. The same Mike Procter being the match referee for this series also should have banned Ponting and Clarke for claiming catches. Why the double standards? If there is any racism, its against the Asians. What happened to the ICC's strong stand against racism?? Inspite of all the unfair treatment towards the Indians, they should be applauded for shaking hands with the Aussie's after the match. I agree with what Kumble said "only one team was playing with the spirit of the game".