Tour likely to continue after ICC sacks

umpire


By Julian Linden
SYDNEY (Reuters) - India's troubled tour of Australia is

expected to proceed as planned after the International

Cricket Council (ICC) bowed to pressure on Tuesday and

sacked umpire Steve Bucknor.
The ICC caved in to India's demands to axe Bucknor from

next week's third test in Perth as well as appointing match

referee Ranjan Madugalle as a mediator to resolve the bitter

dispute between the teams following last week's ill-tempered

match in Sydney.
The Indian cricket board (BCCI) immediately welcomed the

moves and said it was likely the tour would resume after it

was suspended on Monday.
"Definitely I'm happy," BCCI president Sharad Pawar told

reporters in New Delhi.
"Particularly I'm grateful to the Australian board for

taking a very positive approach in the matter."
The BCCI had told their players to remain in Sydney rather

than travel to Canberra for their next practice game, until

Harbhajan Singh's appeal against a three-match suspension

was heard.
Harbhajan was banned for calling Australian all-rounder

Andrew Symonds a "monkey" but has denied the charges

and appealed against the ruling.
ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed confirmed that Harbhajan

would be allowed to resume playing until the case was decided

but there was no guarantee it would be heard before the third test starts in Perth next Wednesday.
BOWDEN IN
However, a separate case into allegations of abusive language

by Australian all-rounder Brad Hogg would be heard before

the next match started, the ICC said.
Speed is hopeful the game will go ahead as planned after the

ICC appointed New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden to officiate

alongside Pakistan's Asad Rauf.
India wanted Bucknor sacked as punishment for a series of

blunders the 61-year-old West Indian made in the Sydney test

that contributed to their defeat.
Speed said the ICC did not normally allow member nations to

interfere with the umpires but the change was necessary to ensure

the tour continued.
"Steve accepts that his presence was a problem and in the best

interests of the game he accepted the decision," Speed said.
"It is an extraordinary set of circumstances and we want to take some

of the tension out of the situation."
Speed said Madugalle would fly to Perth to speak to Australia captain

Ricky Ponting and Indian skipper Anil Kumble before the match.
Relations between the two teams have hit rock bottom since last

week's drama-charged match in Sydney which ended with Kumble

accusing the Australians of breaching the spirit of cricket.
"We are bringing Ranjan in as a facilitator in an effort to prevent

any ill-feeling that may have been present at the Sydney test from

rolling over to Perth," Speed said.
"I believe the captains need to sit with Rajan Madugalle and listen

to what he has to say and express to him what their problems are,

resolve those issues and move forward."
Australia lead the four-match series 2-0 after wins in Melbourne and Sydney

Sack Ponting, he turned his cricketers
into wild dogs, says Roebuck of Oz


One of the most respected names in Australian cricket
circles today called for the sacking of captain Ricky Ponting
for turning "a group of professional cricketers into wild dogs"
and said it's a surprise why the Indians haven't gone home
yet since "there is no justice for them in this country, nor
any manners".
Writing in The Sydney Morning Herald, Peter Roebuck, who
commands respect Down Under, described the home side's
win "the ugliest performance put up by an Australian side for
20 years."
"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," he wrote.
Roebuck also tore into other senior Australian players, writing, "
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."
Pointing out that "Australia itself has been embarrassed" by the
behaviour of its players, Roebuck adds: "The notion that Ponting can
hereafter take the Australian team to India is preposterous. He has
shown not the slightest interest in the well-being of the game, not the
slightest sign of diplomatic skills, not a single mark of respect for his
accomplished and widely admired opponents."
Expressing support for Harbhajan, Roebuck, a former county captain,
writes: "Harbhajan Singh can be an irritating young man but he is head
of a family and responsible for raising nine people. And all the Australian
elders want to do is to hunt him from the game. Australian fieldsmen fire
insults from the corners of their mouths, an intemperate Sikh warrior
overreacts and his rudeness is seized upon. It might impress barrack room
lawyers." Roebuck writes: "In the past few days Ponting has presided over a
performance that dragged the game into the pits. He turned a group
of professional
cricketers into a pack of wild dogs. As much can be told from the conduct
of his closest allies in the team. As usual, Matthew Hayden crossed
himself upon reaching three figures in his commanding second innings,
a gesture he does not perform while wearing the colours of his state.
Exactly how he combines his faith with throwing his weight around on
the field has long bemused opposing sides, whose fondness for him ran
out a long time ago. Hayden has much better in him."
Slamming young Michael Clarke, who has been touted as a future captain,
Roebuck writes: "That his mind was in disarray could be told from his batting.
In the first innings he offered no shot to a straight ball and in the second he
remained at the crease after giving an easy catch to slip. On this evidence
Clarke cannot be promoted to the vice-captaincy of his country. It is a captain's
primary task to rear his younger players and to prepare his successor
for the ordeals of office. Nothing need be said about the catch Clarke took
in the second innings except that in the prevailing circumstances the umpires
were ill-advised to take anyone's word for anything."
Probably the worst aspect of the Australians' performance was their conduct
at the end, writes Roebuck. "When the last catch was taken they formed into a
huddle and started jumping up and down like teenagers at a rave" Not one player
so much as thought about shaking hands with the defeated and departing."
Finally, Roebuck sums up with another go at Ponting: "Ponting has not
provided the leadership expected from an Australian cricket captain and
so must be sacked. On this evidence the time has also come to thank
Hayden and Gilchrist for their services. None of them are bad fellows.
All will look back on this match not as their finest hour but their worst.
Obviously a new captain and side is required. But that is a task for another day.
It is possible to love a country and not its cricket team."

Bucknor replaced for third Australia v India test

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - West Indian umpire Steve

Bucknor has been replaced for next week's third test

between Australia and India, the International Cricket

Council (ICC) said on Tuesday.
ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed told a news conference

that New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden would stand in his place.

Cultural divide fuels Australia-

India cricket crisis




SYDNEY (Reuters) - The cricket world is in crisis, the multi-million

dollar India tour of Australia is in jeopardy, and bilateral ties are

being tested, as charges of racism, cultural divisions and unsporting

behaviour soil cricket's image.
Indian fans are burning effigies of umpires after incorrect decisions

contributed to the country's defeat in the second test against Australia

in Sydney on Sunday, and an Indian player was convicted of racism

for calling an Australian player a "monkey".
India is refusing to play rest of the games and headed off to Bondi

Beach on Tuesday for a game of volley ball with lifesavers, insulted

by the umpires' decisions, racism charge, and allegations an

Australian player called Indians "bastards" during the test.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called on Tuesday for

cricketing authorities to settle the matter "at the first available

opportunity", while the country's foreign minister said bilateral ties

would survive the crisis but called for calm.
"One of the things that we do share in terms of cultural or sporting

activities is that both nations and both peoples have a great love of

cricket," said Foreign Minister Stephen Smith.
"I don't see any problems in the relationship arising through the test

series. We all have strong views as cricket fans about test matches.

I think, is the time for cool heads to prevail."
Australians and Indians follow cricket with fanatical fervour. National

pride is at stake during test matches. But while cricket unites both

nations, the cultural divide between the two seems to be escalating

the crisis between cricket's two most powerful nations.
When Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh called Australian Andrew Symonds,

of British and West Indian origin, a "monkey" it was declared racism by

cricketing officials and he was suspended for three matches.
Indians argue that "monkey" is not racially insulting in their country.

The monkey god Hanuman in India is a hero -- a provider of courage, hope,

knowledge, intellect and devotion.
Indian officials have appealed the decision, arguing umpires took Symonds'

word over Harbhajan's, but Australia claims Harbhajan has abused Symonds

during previous matches.
"The Indian board realises that the game of cricket is paramount but so too is

the honor of the Indian team and for that matter every Indian," said the board

in a statement.
Indian fans have home burnt effigies of the second test umpires. "Indian team,

come back home," chanted fans in Jammu.
"The slur of racial abuse on Harbhajan Singh, that has assumed

larger proportions in this country, because we have been

an anti-racist country. If he is hanged that is what India is

not willing to accept," former Indian test player and now

commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu told Australia's Sky television.
Further angering India is a claim that an Australian player

called the Indian team "bastards" -- in Australia the word bastard

is often used affectionately by laconic Australians, but in India it

carries a great slur.
"This is a serious term," said India team manager Chetan Chauhan.

"It has a lot of bad meanings back in India. In India, we do not have

children without getting married. It is a taboo and it is not accepted

in the society."
The crisis is also about the apparent "gentleman ethos" of cricket and

alleged unsportsman-like behaviour.
Many Australian fans, have joined Indian fans, in slamming their team

after some players accepted the incorrect umpire decisions and

refused to honourably concede they were out.
"Like most Australians, I felt somewhat empty and embarrassed at

Australia's 'win' in the second test against India. This is clearly a

victory that we cannot celebrate," Stuart Gardiner wrote in a letter in

The Australian newspaper on Tuesday.
Australia's cricket team has a reputation for playing hard, and for

sledging or abusing opponents on the field, which many commentators

say has annoyed the cricket world for years.
"The question that needs to be ask is: 'What turned fun-loving

cricketers and fans from being good sportsmen on and off the field

into overzealous, competitive, win-at-all-costs people?," Stephen

Hagan from the University of Southern Queensland asked in an

opinion article in The Australian

Time to go, says Bucknor's old mate

"Before they decide to withdraw him from the third Test,

I think he should quit," says umpire A V Jayprakash about

Steve Bucknor, his partner during his first international match

in 1997, in the wake of his wrong decisions in India's second

Test against Australia.
Bucknor was also on field in Jayaprakash's most famous game

at Kotla, when Kumble got a perfect 10. And as fate would have

it, Jayaprakash was the TV umpire during Bucknor's 100th Test

in 2005 at Eden Gardens.
"When players stop enjoying your umpiring, one should call it quits.

I did the same. My only fear is, in case Bucknor is pulled out of the

Perth Test, he will always be remembered for the mistakes

he made in Sydney. All those early years when he made a reputation

for himself as a top cricket umpire will go down the drain," says

58-year-old Jayaprakash about 61-year-old Bucknor.
While there have been several instances of Bucknor's errors

going repeatedly against the Indians, Jayaprakash vividly

remembers the senior umpire's forgettable Test involving Pakistan

at Eden Gardens.
Jayaprakash was the TV umpire in that game of the 2005 series.

As light faded at the end of Day 3, Sachin Tendulkar was given

caught behind off Abdul Razzaq. The ball seemed to have missed

the bat by some margin.
"In the last few years, because of his age, he has made quite a few

mistakes," says Jayaprakash. But he is quick to add that the

West Indian wasn't quite anti-India. "I have seen the era when the

Indian crowds used to love him. He was a star all over the world."

India undecided on tour future despite ICC action



MUMBAI, India (Reuters) - India's cricket board (BCCI)
expressed satisfaction at the International Cricket Council's
decision to drop umpire Steve Bucknor from the third test but
has yet to reach a decision on the future of the Australia tour.
"We are happy that this issue (umpiring) has been resolved,
but the working committee will meet tonight (Tuesday) and
decide on the future course," board secretary Niranjan Shah
told Reuters on Tuesday.
On Monday, the BCCI suspended the tour pending the outco
me of an appeal for banned spinner Harbhajan Singh, who was
handed a three-test suspension by match referee Mike Procter
for racially abusing Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds during
the second test in Sydney.
India reacted with anger and disappointment at the series of
umpiring blunders that led to their second test defeat as well as
the controversial ban on Harbhajan.
The hosts won by 122 runs to equal their own record of 16 consecutive
test victories and lead the four-test series 2-0. The third test is
scheduled to be played in Perth from Jan. 16.
On Tuesday, the International Cricket Council replaced West Indian
Bucknor with Billy Bowden of New Zealand and appointed match
referee Ranjan Madugalle to act as mediator in the row between rival
captains, Anil Kumble and Ricky Ponting.
The ICC also said Harbhajan may continue to play pending the verdict
of his appeal, although a date has yet to be set for the spinner's hearing.
However, the Indian board has categorically stated that Harbhajan
had to be absolved of the racist charge and "will fight the blatantly false
and unfair slur on an Indian player".
The team had been asked to remain in Sydney until further instructions,
vice-president Rajiv Shukla told Indian media.
They were due to travel to Canberra on Monday for a tour match.
"I don't want to comment (on the future of the tour) as of now.
If everything turns out fine (committee's decision) the team can still
reach (Canberra) in time," Shah said.

Harbhajan cleared to play while appeal

is pending



MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Indian spinner

Harbhajan Singh has been cleared to resume

playing until his appeal against a three-match ban is heard,

the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Tuesday.

Harbhajan was suspended by ICC match referee Mike

Proctor for three matches on Sunday after being found

guilty of racially abusing Australian all-rounder Andrew

Symonds during last week's ill-tempered second test in Sydney.

Harbhajan has denied abusing Symonds and the Indian

cricket board has lodged an appeal on his behalf.

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said a date for Harbhajan's

appeal had not yet been set but the bowler would be allowed to

continue playing in the meantime, in accordance with ICC regulations.

"The ICC has a robust process of dealing with Code of Conduct

issues and that process will now run its natural course," Speed said

ICC stands by umpires despite Indian
complaints


SYDNEY (Reuters) - The International Cricket Council
will resist Indian demands to sack umpire Steve Bucknor
from standing in next week's third test against Australia.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wants Bucknor
banned from officiating at the match in Perth as punishment for
a series of blunders he made during the second test in Sydney.
The ICC said member countries were not permitted to interfere or
oppose the appointment of umpires.
"The standard test match playing conditions are signed by the
respective board, and the condition states that neither team has a
right to object to an umpire's appointment. There is little
ICC can do," an ICC spokesman said on Monday.
Bucknor and Englishman Mark Benson were heavily criticised
by Indian officials for their handling of the second test which
Australia won by 122 runs.
Both teams were adversely affected by wrong calls but
India suffered more than the Australians.
The most significant occurred on the first day when
Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds was incorrectly
given not out on 30 before going on to make 162 not out.
Then on the last day India's Rahul Dravid was wrongly given
out when he was trying to save the game.
"I have been informed by the BCCI 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," the Indian team
manager Chetan Chauhan told a news conference.
"We're not saying this because we have lost the game. It was for
everybody to see."
Benson was not scheduled to stand in the third test but
61-year-old Bucknor was listed to officiate along with
Pakistan's Asad Rauf.
Jamaican-born Bucknor is the most experienced umpire in
international cricket history, having stood in a record 120 tests, and
five World Cup finals

Team India c Benson b Bucknor

In a match where V V S Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar kept

their tryst with the Sydney Cricket Ground, umpire Steve Bucknor

too managed to maintain his record. After some very poor

umpiring by Bucknor and Mark Benson saw India go down by

122 runs and 0-2 in the series today, skipper Anil Kumble, sources

said, gave Bucknor a zero in his captain's report - just what Sourav

Ganguly did in the last meeting at the SCG four years ago.
An upset Kumble, who remained stranded at the non-striker's end

on 45 as Michael Clarke took three wickets in five balls to win the

Test for Australia with just seven deliveries to spare, also accused

Australia of unsportsmanlike conduct. "Only one team was playing

in the spirit of the game, that's all I can say," Kumble told a news

conference. The ICC code of conduct barred him from giving vent

to his anger.
With Bucknor due to stand in again at Perth - he has been named

for the third Test with Asad Rauf - team manager Chetan Chauhan

said the BCCI was "lodging a strong protest with the ICC to ensure

that some of these incompetent umpires do not umpire in the rest

of the series".
"The way the umpiring has been conducted, the team has been

agitated. A lot of decisions have gone against us. Had even 50 per cent

of those come out in our favour, the result would have been different.

It has really affected us and we are not saying this because we have lost

this Test match. I have been informed that the Board is lodging a strong

protest with the ICC to ensure that some of these incompetent umpires

do not umpire in the rest of the series," he said.
The BCCI is learnt to have already lodged a strong protest through its

vice-president Rajiv Shukla and is trying to get Bucknor removed from

the third Test, citing a recent precedent in Sri Lanka where umpire Rudi

Keortzen was removed as umpire from the next match after he wrongly

ruled Kumar Sangakaara out - Sri Lanka subsequently lost the match.

Keortzen remained on the ICC posting list and came to India for the

Kolkata Test where he made another blunder, giving Rahul Dravid

out caught behind though the batsman hadn't nicked the ball.
Even match referee Mike Procter is said to be unhappy with the umpiring

by Bucknor and Benson in this match. They made a combined contribution

to a phenomenal 12 bad decisions in the match (see box) -- a record that

overshadowed some classical innings with the bat and ball.
"I can only say that I am disappointed. I think a draw would have been a

fair result but everybody could see what happened. Unfortunately,

I am not in a position to make further comment" Kumble said.
"It's tough when you've played all forms of cricket over the last 25 years

and end up on the losing side like this, it does affect you. You try and take

it sportingly, but it's very difficult and it hurts when you lose like this and

then when you've had a great chance to win."
From the dressing room, a few unmentionables were mouthed in disgust

as the horror on field was revisited on the laptop of team analyst Dhanjaya.
As he walked back, Rahul Dravid could be seen laughing, shaking his head

at Bucknor's decision ruling him out.
Sourav Ganguly was next, adjudged caught by Michael Clarke at second

slip when there was considerable doubt about the ball carrying - in fact

TV replays showed the ball hit the ground. As Ganguly stood his ground,

umpire Benson chose to go by Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke's word.

Ganguly left reluctantly.
The umpires saw their wrong acts on the giant screen even before Dravid

and Ganguly left the ground but didn't call back the players -

England's Kevin Peitersen was called back during India's first Test at Lord's.
Ponting, meanwhile, defended Bucknor and Benson. "The players haven't

lost their confidence in the umpires. Everybody realizes that they are

trying to do their best," he said.
Upstairs, in one of the glass cases at the SCG boxes, Sunil Gavaskar,

head of the ICC cricket committee, was fuming. "This is utter nonsense.

They have robbed the sheen of a good Test match," he said on air.

Australia proposes peace talks to end India row


SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia captain Ricky Ponting has

been urged to hold peace talks with Indian skipper Anil Kumble

to try and resolve the escalating crisis between their teams.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland wants the

rival captains to hold a private meeting to avert any threat of

the tour being cancelled as tensions threaten to boil over.
The row, which has been simmering since Australia's tour of

India last October, erupted after the hosts pulled off a last-gasp

but highly controversial win over India in the second test at

Sydney on Sunday.
Kumble accused the Australians of bad sportsmanship and his

team mates were left fuming after their spinner Harbhajan

Singh was later suspended for racially abusing Australian

all-rounder Andrew Symonds.
India have appealed against the ban and lodged a counter

claim against Australian Brad Hogg, promoting Sutherland's

suggestion of a meeting between the captains.
"It's not for me to comment on whether Anil Kumble is out of line," Sutherland

told reporters in Melbourne on Monday.
"That is something that Anil and Ricky need to sit down and discuss.
"Anil Kumble had a fantastic test match as a captain and a player

and there is no doubt he was disappointed in the end.
"To some extent it's not surprising in that emotionally charged

environment to say what he did. But in the course of the next

few days it is time for the two captains to get together and have a chat."

It doesn't stop there: Harbhajan gets

3-Test ban over racial abuse charge


In a move that's going to give rise to more acrimony

between the two sides, Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh

was banned for three Test matches tonight for racially

abusing Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during

the Sydney Test.
International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Mike

Proctor upheld the charge after a marathon six-hour plus

hearing. Harbhajan had denied he racially abused Symonds.

The BCCI said it would appeal against the ban.
BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah told The Indian Express:

"We are totally backing Harbhajan on this and in the next 24

hours will appeal against the ICC decision." Though Shah was non-committal, Board sources

ruled out chances of Indians pulling out of the tour. With the

Board appealing against the ban, it is likely that the issue may

just drag. The Indians are hoping that this ambiguity may allow

Harbhajan play the next two Tests.
Team manager Chetan Chauhan, who represented the Indian

side at the hearing along with media manager M V Sridhar,

skipper Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh,

later said two Australian players, Matthew Hayden and

Michael Clarke, had alleged that Harbhajan called

Symonds a "big monkey" - but this was not heard by Sachin,

who was then Harbhajan's batting partner, and the two umpires.
Sridhar said there was no evidence to suggest that Harbhajan

made any racial slur. "We will be extremely disappointed

if action is taken against Harbhajan since we feel that there is

no evidence against him," Sridhar told reporters after the hearing.
BCCI Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty said:

"It is a case of the word of our players against the Australians.

The match referee went by what the Aussies said since I have

learnt that the field umpires had nothing against Harbhajan."
The Indians, on their part, have also lodged a complaint against

Australian spinner Brad Hogg for using abusive language during the Test.

India confirm lodging complaint against Hogg


SYDNEY (Reuters) - Indian cricket officials have confirmed that

they have lodged an official complaint against Australian all-rounder

Brad Hogg for allegedly abusing Indian captain Anil Kumble during the second test.
Indian cricket board vice-president Rajiv Shukla told Reuters on

Monday the complaint was lodged with the International Cricket

Council on Sunday night while they were hearing the case involving

Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh.
"The team management has lodged a complaint. Hogg used abusive

language against Anil Kumble on the ground," Shukla said.
Harbhajan was suspended for three tests after being found guilty of

racially abusing Andrew Symonds during the match by calling him a

monkey.
Harbhajan has denied the claims and plans to lodge an appeal.
Cricket Australia boss James Suthererland told reporters in Melbourne

on Monday that he had not been notified about any complaint lodged against Hogg.

Administrators back Australia's aggressive attitude


By Greg Stutchbury
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia's hard-nosed approach to cricket,

which was questioned by India captain Anil Kumble after an enthralling

second test ended on

Sunday, has received the full support of Cricket Australia।

After his side had lost by 132 runs, Kumble said that "only one side

was playing with the spirit of the game" after several incidents दुरिंग

the test, which were headlined by India's Harbhajan Singh being banned

for three tests after he was found guilty of racially abusing एंड्र्यू

Symonds।

Harbhajan was cited by match referee Mike Procter after Australia

captain Ricky Ponting complained to on-field umpires Steve Bucknor

and Mark Benson the

off-spinner had called Symonds a "monkey"।

Ponting also signalled to umpires they should dismiss Saurav Ganguly

after Michael Clarke had taken a low catch, while the Indian team वेरे

also reportedly annoyed at Clarke and Symonds standing their ground when they had clearly edged deliveries।

Symonds was given not out while on 30 and went on to score an

unbeaten 161 in the match's first innings, which changed the nature of the game।

Australia also have a well-publicised history of "sledging" or वेर्बल्ली

abusing their opponents to put them off their game, however Cricket

Australia (CA) said on Monday they always played within the laws and the spirit of the sport। "It has always been the Australian way to play the game hard but fair," CA chief executive James Sutherland told reporters।
"Tough and uncompromising is certainly the way all आस्ट्रेलियन

teams have played। It does not matter who is the captain.

"This team under Ricky Ponting is no exception ... (and) Cricket

Australia supports the Australian team in its endeavours to play the

game as best as they possibly can।"

Emotions spill over after Australia win

Emotions spill over after Australia win



SYDNEY (Reuters) - 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 protest 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.
They made no attempt at chasing down the 333 they had been set to win but held out realistic hopes of hanging on for a draw when they started the second last over with three wickets in hand.
But Clarke, who had managed just one run with the bat in the match, manufactured an astonishing over to seal Australia's win by dismissing Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh and Irfan Pathan in five balls.
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.
"The last 30 or 40 minutes of the day's play was about gambling, about rolling the dice," Ponting said.

India officials call on ICC to take action on umpiring


SYDNEY (Reuters) - Indian cricket officials have called on the sport's world governing body to ban umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson from officiating in the rest of the series for their handling of the second test against Australia.
India lost the match by 122 runs after their celebrated batting lineup collapsed on the last day at the Sydney Cricket Ground but the tourists said the umpires were to blame for the result.
The Indian team manager Chetan Chauhan told a news conference that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) planned to lodge a formal protest with the International Cricket Council about the performances of both officials.
"I have been informed by the BCCI 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.
The five-day match was dogged by a series of umpiring blunders that reignited the debate about whether the match officials should be allowed to make greater use of technology to ensure they make the right decisions.
Both teams were adversely affected by wrong calls but the most significant occurred on the first day when Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds was given not out by West Indian umpire Bucknor when the player edged a catch behind.
Symonds, who later admitted he had nicked the ball, was on 30 at the time but went on to make another 132 runs to finish unbeaten on 162.
The Indian players would not comment on the umpire's decisions for fear of breaching the sport's code of conduct but Chauhan said the team felt robbed.
"I would like to express the sentiment of the team. The way the umpiring was, the team is agitated and upset," he said.
"A lot of decisions have gone against us, of course a few went against the Australians also but it really affected us.
"Had some of the decisions, I would say 50 per cent of the decisions, (been) received in our favour, the result would have been different.
"We're not saying this because we have lost the game. It was for everybody to see."
The Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who was also the victim of an umpiring error when he was wrongly given out lbw in the first innings, said it was unfair to criticise the officials.
"I'm not going to sit here and talk about umpiring decisions because if I do I'll find myself in hot water," he told a news conference.
"All I'll say about the umpires is that they're out there like me trying to do the best job that they can.
"I didn't get too many runs in this game, I made a few mistakes. Sure, they made a few mistakes, but that's the game of cricket."

Kumble accuses Aussies of bad sportsmanship

Kumble accuses Aussies of bad sportsmanship

SYDNEY (Reuters) - India captain Anil Kumble launched an astonishing attack on Australia's cricketers after his team were beaten in the second test on Sunday, accusing them of breaching the spirit of the game.
Kumble was unable to contain his fury after his team were beaten by 122 runs in a thrilling and controversial end to one of the most absorbing matches ever seen at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Asked by Indian journalists about Australia's tactics, Kumble echoed something similar to the immortal line used by the Australian captain Bill Woodfull during the 1932-33 Bodyline series against England.
"Only one team was playing with the spirit of the game," Kumble said.
He also said he was prevented from elaborating on his specific complaints about the Australian players but indicated he was upset at the refusal of their batsmen to walk when they were clearly out.
The Indians were on the wrong end of a number of bad umpiring decisions throughout the course of the match but the most crucial occurred on the first day when Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds was given not out by West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor.
Symonds, who later admitted he had nicked the ball and should have been sent packing, was on 30 at the time but went on to make 162 not out and help Australia recover from a batting slump to make 463.
"We like to play hard on the field and we expect that from Australia as well," Kumble said.
"I've played my cricket very sincerely and very honestly and that's the approach my team takes on the field and I expect that from the Australians as well."
Kumble also bristled when asked about some of Australia's appeals after Rahul Dravid was controversially given out, caught behind on the last day when he had failed to make contact with the ball.
"We had decided that we will be honest and when a catch is taken the player says he's taken it, the captain nods his head and the umpire gives him out," Kumble said.
STRAINED RELATIONS
Relations between the teams were already strained after
Ponting lodged a complaint about Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh for allegedly making a racist comment to Symonds, but the Australian skipper denied there was any lingering bad blood between the sides.
"(I have) Absolutely no doubt about this match being played in the right spirit," Ponting said.
Kumble did admit his team had batted poorly on the last day, collapsing to be all out for 210 when they needed to bat through the day to salvage a draw.
However, he insisted his team still did not deserve to lose.
"The fair result would have been a draw," he said.
"It's tough when you've played all forms of cricket over the last 25 years and end up on the losing side like this."
He added: "We could have probably showed a bit more fight and we could have saved the game."

Australia v India second test scoreboard

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Scoreboard at the end of the second test between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Australia first innings 463 (A.Symonds 162 not out)
India first innings 532 (S.Tendulkar 154 not out, V.Laxman 109)
Australia second innings (overnight 282-4)
P.Jaques c Yuvraj b Kumble 42
M.Hayden c Jaffer b Kumble 123
R.Ponting c Laxman b Harbhajan 1
M.Hussey not out 145
M.Clarke c Dravid b Kumble 0
A.Symonds c Dhoni b RP Singh 61
A.Gilchrist c Yuvraj b Kumble 1
B.Hogg c Dravid b Harbhajan 1
B.Lee not out 4
Extras (b-3 lb-8 w-3 nb-9) 23
Total (for seven wickets declared, 107 overs) 401
Did not bat: M.Johnson, S.Clark
Fall of wickets: 1-85 2-90 3-250 4-250 5-378 6-393 7-395
Bowling: RP Singh 16-2-74-1 (w-2), Sharma 14-2-59-0
(nb-2 w-1), Harbhajan 33-6-92-2, Kumble 40-3-148-4 (nb-7), Tendulkar 2-0-6-0, Yuvraj 2-0-11-0
India second innings
R.Dravid c Gilchrist b Symonds 38
W.Jaffer c Clarke b Lee 0
V.Laxman lbw b Clark 20
S.Tendulkar b Clark 12
S.Ganguly c Clarke b Lee 51
Y.Singh c Gilchrist b Symonds 0
M.Dhoni lbw b Symonds 35
A.Kumble not out 45
H.Singh c Hussey b Clarke 7
R.Singh lbw b Clarke 0
I.Sharma c Hussey b Clarke 0
Extras (nb-2) 2
Total (all out, 70.5 overs) 210
Fall of wickets: 1-3 2-34 3-54 4-115 5-115 6-137 7-185 8-210 9-210 10-210
Bowling: Lee 13-3-34-2 (nb-1), Johnson 11-4-33-0 (nb-1), Clark 12-4-32-2, Hogg 14-2-55-0, Symonds 14-2-55-0, Clarke 1.5-0-5-3
Result: Australia won by 122 runs
Man of the match: Andrew Symonds (Australia)

Australia beat India in thriller to equal world record

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia beat India by 122 runs in an amazing finish to the second test on Sunday to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and equal their own world record of 16 successive victories.
Ricky Ponting's side sealed the win with just seven balls left in the match when India collapsed to be all out for 210 on a turning Sydney Cricket Ground pitch.
The tourists looked to have salvaged a draw when they were seven wickets down with just two overs to go but part-time spinner Michael Clarke dismissed the last three batsmen in just five balls

Harbhajan in trouble over verbal doosra to Symonds

Harbhajan in trouble over verbal doosra to Symonds

Andrew Symonds is at it again, and so is the entire Australian team-accusing the Indians of racist comments, and this time it's in their own country.
Harbhajan Singh has been reported for racially taunting Symonds on the third day of the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The Indian off-spinner is said to be charged with Level 3.3 offence that cites "using language or gestures that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of that person's race, religion, gender, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin."
Singh faces a ban of two-to-four Test matches or four-to-eight ODIs if proved guilty. It's still unclear if the Australian team management have reported the issue or the matter has been brought to notice by the two on-field umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson.
Singh can still go for an appeal in case the charges are proved and he's awarded a ban. Apparently, it was Symonds who started the conversation as Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh were in the middle of a record eighth-wicket partnership. It turned into a heated argument with Singh signalling Symonds with his hand, asking him to come up to him and have a talk. He had a little conversation as Symonds went past him. Skipper Ricky Ponting walked upto him and had a few words that cooled matters.
Umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson took note of it, and called Singh over. Interestingly, Benson put a hand over his mouth when he spoke to Singh, preventing any possible attempts to lip-read him.
Tendulkar, who was in the middle with Singh then, played down the incident. "There were just a couple of lines exchanged between the two here and there. It keeps happening. It was about getting friendly. Harbhajan told Symonds that you seem to be getting very friendly with our bowlers, I am also a bowler. Why aren't you trying to be friendly with me?" he said.
Singh will attend a hearing with match referee Mike Procter tomorrow evening

Tendulkar lords over Sydney, cracks 38th century


If this is a beginning, several happy endings are slated for the new year, what with a packed itinerary ahead.
Sachin Tendulkar scored his 38th century - his first in the last seven attempts, six of them in Tests. India added over 100 runs in each session at the SCG to 532, which was the second best score against the Australians in the last three years, and they are now in with a good chance of denying the hosts a 16 wins in-a-row record, if not of wrapping up this Test. Australia are 13/0 in five overs in their second innings, and still trail by 56, leading into the fourth day.
Sometimes it gets difficult when happiness comes in such abundance. Perhaps that can account for Harbhajan's appearance tomorrow with the match referee because of a little moment of banter after his charismatic and reassuring presence at the crease.
Harbhajan scored a critical 63 and spent 137 important minutes. Tendulkar was on 69 when Harbhajan arrived as the number 8 bat at the relatively shaky other end, and he left when Tendulkar was 133, and India's score had swelled beyond that of the opposition.
Most laudable was Harbhajan's conviction that helped him stay with Tendulkar through critical junctures. Their 129-run partnership snatched the initiative from the Australians.
Overnight batsmen Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly looked to start the day on a very positive note, the latter being the more aggressive. Ganguly struck two boundaries off Brett Lee-sublime drives off the front and back foot-and handled the short stuff with amazing ease, especially a stunning pull off Clark.
The duo looked set to beat the Aussies in their own game plan. With the field spread out against the barrage of boundaries-fielders manning the two ends of the square-both approached the critical first session with soft hands and quick feet.
Hogg was introduced in the sixth over of the day and Tendulkar took the cue, followed by Ganguly. Then there was Michael Clarke, and both Indian batsmen smashed the Australian left-arm varieties of spin for straight sixes while Tendulkar preferred to stand and deliver, Ganguly was happy to jump out and play the lofted shot.
Ganguly reached his fifty in 68 balls with six boundaries, but just when India appeared to have averted the danger signals and were nearing the first halt to rest, Ganguly fell to Hogg for the third time in the series. Ganguly stepped out again to play a big shot but was cramped for space and a chip shot he managed landed safely into Michael Hussey's hands at mid-off.
Ganguly's departure brought the under-pressure Yuvraj at the crease, and his cheap dismissal cast further doubt about over whether he really belonged to the Test arena on Australian wickets.
MS Dhoni arrived, but became Gilchrist's 40th victim while Test skipper Anil Kumble also fell, putting India on alert.
That was when Tendulkar decided to take charge. Warming up with a few boundaries off Mitchell Johnson and a cracking cover-drive off Clark, he got busy reinventing his famed upper-cut shot against Brett Lee.
Harbhajan showed his ability to switch between cross bat shots to ones driven in the V, varying between attack and dead defence. He crossed 1,000 runs in Test cricket on either side of Tendulkar reaching his century in 160 balls and eight fours. India pushed past 400 before retiring for tea (424/7).
In the first hour post-tea, Harbhajan treated Clark with contempt to reach his half-century from 73 balls and six hits to the fence. He fell next ball, overtaking Kirmani and Karsan Ghavri's long-standing partnership record, but RP Singh and last man Ishant Sharma joined the party to further frustrate the hosts.
Tendulkar showed amazing faith in his number 10 and number 11 bat - giving them as much strike as possible, in fact taking the single of the first ball. RP contributed 13 and Ishant slammed 23, including four fours against Lee.
Tendulkar's contribution in that last wicket partnership 31 was only 8 as he stroked past his 150 before Lee caught Ishant off his own bowling to bag a fiver.
Australia's woeful bowling rate meant that India could only bowl five of the scheduled remaining 11 overs in the last stretch.
Every morning session over the last three days has been critical towards shaping the match formations, tomorrow will be no different with Kumble and Harbhajan on a wicket that is now offering appreciable turn.
Scoreboard
Australia 1st Innings: 463
India (1st Innings) (Overnight 216/3): S Tendulkar not out 154,S Ganguly c Hussey b Hogg 67, Y Singh lbw Lee 12,M S Dhoni c Gilchrist b Lee 2, A Kumble c Gilchrist b Lee 2, H Singh c Hussey b Johnson 63, R P Singh c Gilchrist b Clark 13,I Sharma c & b Lee 23
Extras: (b-4,lb-13, nb-8,w-6) 31
TOTAL: (all out, 138.2overs) 532
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-183, 3-185, 4-293, 5-321, 6-330, 7-345, 8-474, 9-501, 10-532.
Bowling: Lee 32.2-5-119-5 , Johnson 37-2-148-2 , Clark 25-3-80-1 , Symonds 7-1-19-0, Hogg 30-2-121-2, Clarke 7-1-28-0.
Australia 2nd Innings:
P Jacques batting 8, M Hayden batting 5
TOTAL: (for no loss, 5 overs) 13
Bowling: R P Singh 2-0-7-0, Ishant 1-0-4-0, Harbhajan 1-1-0-0, Kumble 1-0-2-0.

By Julian Linden
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Matthew Hayden scored his second century of the series on Saturday to equal Don Bradman's career tally of 29 test hundreds and provide Australia with a glimmer of hope of pressing ahead for victory over India in the second test.
The left-handed opener followed up his hundred from last week's first test win in Melbourne with a stylish 123 to guide Australia to 282 for four at stumps in their second innings.
They accepted an offer to go off early for bad light on the fourth day at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Mike Hussey was also closing in on a century after ending the day unbeaten on 87 with all-rounder Andrew Symonds on 14 and Australia 213 runs ahead after trailing by 69 on the first innings.
Australia started the day on 13-0 and looking to score quick runs in the hope of pushing for a victory to equal their own world record of 16 consecutive test wins.
But their chances suffered a setback when they lost two wickets before lunch and two after tea while play was delayed three times because of rain.
A draw is now looming as the most likely result with more showers forecast on Sunday, although Hayden and Hussey have given Australia the chance of possibly making an early declaration to push for victory on the last day.
HITTING POWER
Hayden batted with a runner for most of his innings after injuring his right thigh but the problem did not effect his hitting power.
The Queenslander raced to his hundred off 160 balls and cracked a dozen boundaries in his 291-minute before he was caught by Wasim Jaffer off Anil Kumble in the last session.
Kumble then dismissed Michael Clarke for a golden duck when he found the edge and Rahul Dravid held a sharp catch at slip.
Hussey was dropped by Yuvraj Singh on 41 on the last ball of the morning session and made the Indians pay for their mistake by cruising past his half-century and sharing a 160-run partnership with Hayden.
The pair had come together early in the day after opener Phil Jaques departed for 42 and Ricky Ponting fell for one.
Jaques put on 85 with Hayden for the opening wicket but threw his wicket away when he holed out to Yuvraj in the deep off Kumble. Ponting was caught by Vangipurappu Laxman at silly point off the bowling of Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh.
The Indian leg spinner has dismissed the Australian captain eight times in eight tests and celebrated his latest success in boisterous fashion with an animated sprint towards the dressing rooms.
Harbhajan scored a half-century in India's first innings of 532 but is facing a charge of racial abuse after Ponting lodged a complaint against him following an incident with Symonds on Friday.

New Zealand's Bond joins ICL

Friday January 4, 04:50 PM

By Sanjay Rajan
MUMBAI (Reuters) - New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond has joined the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) in a move that could jeopardise his international career.
"Shane Bond has signed up," senior ICL official Ashish Kaul told Reuters on Friday. "It's a three-year contract that he has with the Indian Cricket League," the executive vice-president of ICL promoters Essel Group added.
Bond is widely regarded as New Zealand's best fast bowler after Richard Hadlee and his departure would be a huge blow to the national team.
The 32-year-old has taken 79 wickets in 17 tests at an average of 22.39 but is unlikely to play for his country again after New Zealand Cricket instructed selectors to consider other players over those who have joined the unofficial league.
Bond becomes the seventh New Zealand international to join the ICL, which is not sanctioned by the International Cricket Council.
All-rounders Chris Cairns, Nathan Astle, Chris Harris and Craig McMillan, batsman Hamish Marshall and bowler Daryl Tuffey took part in the recent breakaway Twenty20 league.
Bond, presently injured, is the biggest draw among current international players to have signed up for lucrative ICL, a body bankrolled by the controllers of India's largest listed media firm.
Media reports speculated that Bond's three-year contract was worth $800,000. Kaul did not confirm the amount.
Financed by Essel Group, which controls media firm Zee Telefilms, ICL are seen to be challenging the national board's monopoly of the game in cricket-obsessed India.
After successfully organising their inaugural tournament late last year, the ICL announced a series of events in 2008.
The cash-rich Indian board meanwhile roll out their multi-million dollar Indian Premier League (IPL) in April which has nearly 50 top international players in its line-up.
The ICL, meanwhile, has recruited retired batting greats Brian Lara of West Indies and Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq.
They also have on board ex-internationals from South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and England players such as Vikram Solanki, Chris Read and Paul Nixon.

India 532 all out v Australia (463) - innings

Friday January 4, 12:20 PM

SYDNEY (Reuters) - India were dismissed for 532 in their first innings after tea on the third day of the second test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.
Scores:
Australia 463 (Andrew Symonds 162 not out, Brad Hogg 79, Brett Lee 59, Ricky Ponting 55; Anil Kumble 4-106, Rudra Pratap Singh 4-124);
India 532 (Sachin Tendulkar 154 not out, Vangipurappu Laxman 109, Sauruv Ganguly 67, Harbhajan Singh 63, Rahul Dravid 53; Brett Lee 5-119)