The second story was a growing South Asian unease with the successful Australian attempt to claim the moral high ground in world cricket. Australians don't like it but the country's cricketers are widely seen as potty-mouthed bullies who manage to get away with murder partly because they sledge strategically and partly because the Australian definition of 'hard but fair'—filth on the field and a beer off it—seemed to have been swallowed whole by the umpires and match referees who supervise international cricket. Every time Ponting tells television cameras that after 2003 the Australian team cleaned up its act and then cites figures to show that Australian players have been brought before the match referee much less often than any other major Test side, aggrieved Indian supporters put this down to Australian hegemony. They remain convinced that umpires are willing to sanction shrill petulance (jack-in-box appeals, visible disappointment) but not manly truculence (obscenity, lewdness and intimidation) because the first is directed at umpires while the second stays between players. This sense of being hard done by is reinforced by the pattern of bad decisions suffered by touring teams in Australia, Kumar Sangakkara's appalling decision being perhaps the worst in recent times.

Australian cricket is hegemonic for the best possible reasons. Australia has had the best cricket team by miles for more than ten years, its coaches have, at one time or another, have tried to drill Australian skills into other national squads, its sports science and its training methods are cutting edge and Channel 9's cricket telecast has taught the world how to cover cricket. But because its players fetishize a hardnosed take on the game, they, unlike the West Indies in their pomp, are universally unloved and in recent years the Ugly Australian stereotype has been rendered uglier by Ponting's charmless leadership.

Indians don't think much of Ponting for several reasons. His first tour was dogged by rumours of bad behaviour, his second tour was an embarrassment (he scored less than a dozen runs in three Test matches), his onfield aggression struck Indians as offensive, his unlovely habit of spitting into his palms and rubbing them together left desis wondering how he got people to shake hands with him and not only did he look remarkably like George Bush, he behaved like him too.

Bush invaded Iraq and then managed to get the invasion ratified by the United Nations after the fact. Anglo-American rhetoric about the legitimacy of pre-emptive war is similar to Australian cricket's argument that bullying (so long as it wins matches) can be justified as robustness. 'Hard and Fair' in the world defined by Bush, begins to read like 'Shock and Awe'.

It is in this charged context that the just concluded Test series between India and Australia unfolded, and in the second Test at Sydney, the two grand narratives of 21st century cricket, India's growing economic clout and Australia's cricketing hegemony, met like unsheathed live wires. It didn't help that the tension between the two teams had been personified. Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh took it upon themselves in the recent one-day series between the two countries to answer sledging with fevered aggression. Harbhajan went on record to say that Australian behaviour was 'vulgar' and that they were bad losers. We are now told that he had a run-in with Symonds in Baroda, so when Sreesanth didn't make the squad to Australia, he was, for the Australian team, the Ugly Indian.

From the Indian point of view, the Sydney Test was a textbook illustration of the way in which an Australian series is loaded against the opposition. The Indian team got a slew of awful umpiring decisions, the Australians did their tiresome all-in-the-game-mate routine, Clarke exploited a gentleman's agreement to claim a dodgy catch, Ponting disclaimed a catch and then unsuccessfully appealed for another that he had obviously grounded (and, post-match, barked at an Indian reporter who questioned him about it), then reported Harbhajan for racially abusing Symonds.

	The most satisfying part of Hansen's judgment is his characterisation of Michael Clarke as an unreliable witness © Getty Images

When Mike Procter upheld the Australian charge and banned Harbhajan for three matches he brought the two live wires into contact and the lights nearly went out on the game. Indian players have been on the receiving end of the match referee's kangaroo court before and know it to be dysfunctional. Procter is a notably inept match referee who presided over the shambles created by Darrell Hair and the Pakistan cricket team last year. For him to have taken the word of the likes of Michael Clarke, who as a batsman had stood his ground after being caught off a massive edge at slip and who as a fielder had confidently claimed a bump ball catch, over the testimony of Tendulkar who insisted he hadn't heard 'monkey' being said, was the final straw. The most satisfying part of Hansen's judgment is his characterisation of the slippery Clarke as an unreliable witness.

I think it's likely that Harbhajan called Symonds a monkey, but judgment can't be based on what I or anyone else thinks: it rests on what can be proven. There was no corroborative evidence in the Harbhajan affair and the hostilities of the Sydney Test had destroyed any trust between the two sides, leaving the Indian team in a state of thin-skinned rage at being robbed. Procter managed to compound this mess by unequivocally finding for the Australians without explaining how he had come to his conclusions.

This is when India flexed its muscle, but the 'India' in question wasn't the BCCI, it was the Indian team. Anil Kumble and Sachin Tendulkar, the two most senior players in the Indian side, one its best bowler and the other its best batsman for nearly twenty years, put the BCCI on notice. They insisted that the Board stand by Harbhajan and made it clear that the team was unwilling to go on with the tour if Procter's decision wasn't reversed.

Journalists who think the BCCI used the occasion to assert itself are just plain wrong. The Indian board has no interest in cricket as such: witness the absurd schedule it framed for the Indian team. Left to itself, the Board would have hung Harbhajan up to dry (as it had sacrificed Bishan Bedi over the 'Vaseline' affair decades ago) and gone on with the tour: it was Tendulkar's ultimatum that goosed them into action. Press criticism of the BCCI's brinkmanship in chartering a plane to fly the team home from Adelaide if the appeal went against Harbhajan, could just as well be directed at the Indian team, because I'm certain that the old firm, Kumble & Tendulkar, had something to do with the arriving one-day specialists being quartered in Adelaide in solidarity with Harbhajan.

I suspect the reason for this last flourish was the report that Judge Hansen was likely to consider new audio evidence that had not been made available to Procter. The tapes didn't have Harbhajan saying 'monkey' but they had Hayden telling Harbhajan that a word he had used amounted to racism. My guess is that the possibility that the Australians would spin this as clinching evidence, drove Kumble and Tendulkar to circle the wagons in Adelaide. And here's the thing: it worked. The Australians agreed to press the lesser charge. Having set up this eyeballing contest, they blinked.

Is this the end of the rule of law as we know it and the onset of anarchy? No. On the evidence of the third and fourth Tests, it feels more like the dawn of a new age of civility on the ground and a possible end to sledging. There was a time in Test cricket (a very long time) when Australia and England were more equal than the rest and the game survived that asymmetry. It'll survive this one.

A shorter version of this post appeared earlier in the Telegraph, which can be read here

The best take ever on this whole affair. Worth spending the time on your article dude. Rock on.

Very well written, Mukul. One of the few articles I've read on this entire affair that I agree wholeheartedly with. The reaction of the Australian and, to a lesser extent, the British press is a reaction to an a shift in the balance of power in cricket towards Asia, not outrage at the recent decision. Kudos to Judge Hansen for calling a spade a spade and saying in Sydney, it was Symonds who broke the agreement made in India. For the first time in a long while, Australia are seeing a team challenge them both on and off the ground and they don't like it. More power to Team India, and, as you put it, the old firm of Kumble and Tendulkar.

Very well written, Mukul. One of the few articles I've read on this entire affair that I agree wholeheartedly with. The reaction of the Australian and, to a lesser extent, the British press is a reaction to an a shift in the balance of power in cricket towards Asia, not outrage at the recent decision. Kudos to Judge Hansen for calling a spade a spade and saying in Sydney, it was Symonds who broke the agreement made in India. For the first time in a long while, Australia are seeing a team challenge them both on and off the ground and they don't like it. More power to Team India, and, as you put it, the old firm of Kumble and Tendulkar.

Now that is a sensible no partial post unlike some of the utter crap being dished out in the australian media or the indian media for that matter

welcome back mukul.

Excellent column!!
Absolutely spot-on. Cricket will move on from this controversy to see better days ahead.

Great post Mukul. Apart from Michael Clarke being called an unreliable witness, I would also add Hansen's damning of Andrew Symonds attitude of "Test match is no place to be friendly". It just goes to show what a low-life Symonds is.

The article is a precise summary of facts and emotions... though the comparison with George Bush is slightly hyperbole....

Interestingly, Aussies lost the appeal because they fought it like India of past - amotionally; They didn't have facts and evidence and just ganged up saying "We heard our mate being abused" and the versions of different Aussie players were inconsistent.

They could do better to present facts and separate emotions from it.... India has learnt the art now... probably after Virender Sehwag appealing & Tendulkar ball tampering incident in S. Africa

If BCCI flexed its muscles on its own- then I am proud to say that I am an Indian. The Aussies can make all the noises they want. They get personal and they are like a bunch of kids who want to win at any rate. If we are to uphold the law the second test result should be banned from the records.

It is their modus operandi from the days I started watching cricket. They take the main guy in oppsoition and then mold an attack on the guy - first using the stupid press - Muthiah, Shoaib, Prabhakar, are few examples. Then they take the attack to the field. Using the umpires, referees who shamelessley go along with the Aussies.

The tourist will be playing against 20 players in the ground and a lot more out of the ground. If the Aussies had won the 17th they would let go of this issue. But now they are hurt and are bound to cry for some more time.

Let them wake up and smell the coffee. IF there is no India or Indian players the game is dead and we are positively arrognat about it.

what a remarkable article by mukul.this is a smart reply to the blind aussies media

Well put and oh well, I am sure there's going to be a few replies here that do not agree. What's this about gentlements agreement regarding catches or anything else for that matter. Since when did the players make catching decisions. Sporting or not, rules are rules. What are the umpires there for, getting a tan!!!! ok, if there's technology involved in making decisions, so be it, third umpire. Not the players. I don't see sledging/fighting of any sort in soccer, well yellow carded and maybe red carded. Cricket is different, sledging directed to an opposing player should be dealt with the umpire and put a stop to it, I don't see other countries sledging as much as the Australians do. oops I forgot, that must be a new ruling in the games that applies to only Australia. I am sure other countries do, but hey, OZ is ranked no1 for a long time now. As for GILCHRIST, now there's a sportsman, I will surely miss him. Not just a great cricketer, but a sportsman too.Good luck to both in IND & OZ

While this is a largley a good piece of writing, I still have some concerns about the balance of it, or lack thereof, specificially in relation to the 2nd test.

-Michael Clarke is still convinced that he took the catch, which was the underlying part of the agreement-was the player sure. He's not the first and wont be the last.
-The umpiring favoured Australia, but it wasnt as lopsided as it seemed. Laxman and Sachin's non-LBWs for example. (not to mention the balancing of poor decisions against Aust in the 3rd/4th tests)
-Pontings catch that was given not out was debated post-Test as to whether the fact it touched the ground made it a non-catch. The definition of controlling his body was the main issue, and not clear cut. He was within his rights to appeal.
-Michael Clarke should have walked, no question. But so should have Ganguly-and Harbhajan when bowled! by Pieterson previously.
-By agreement, Ponting had to report Harbhajan once the accusation was made. Not his fault.

More tiresome tripe from a subcontinental journalist with an obvious agenda of attempting to legitimize the appalling actions of the BCCI. For every point mentioned in this article, you can find opposing views with an equal level of legitimacy to that which you state here.

Thanks for sensationalist journalism at it's best. As if there's not enough of that going around.

I think this is a fair charecterisation of the events. when Australia saw the going tough on the third day, they resorted to this. It was designed to rattle Harbhajan and the Indian team. I mean Brett Lee can defend himself. he did not have any problem with harbhajan slapping him on the back side, people do it all the time.

Mukul,

Good one. You have exactly reflected the mind of a cricket fan. I really doubt that the Australian cricket team will learn lessons from this series. They will try to find some ways to sledge the other teams and which can be terms as friendly talk.

What a ridiculous blog. It provides further evidence that there is no future in cricket between Australia and India. Australia is rapidly moving toward leaving the ICC and forming a new body with other nations that respect the umpires, officials and the rules of the game. India will not be invited to join

Mukul,

Good one. You have exactly reflected the mind of a cricket fan. I really doubt that the Australian cricket team will learn lessons from this series. They will try to find some ways to sledge the other teams and which can be termed as friendly talk.

Hello Mukul
Great article. Two main points which I felt have not been covered by anyone so far.
1. all this would not have happened, if Steve had referred the third umpire. Why have a third umpire is my question. As crucial a series as this, surely Steve would have known that and he is getting on in age, one should definetley consider the option of using the third umpire. Why did he not refer to this option is my question. External pressure is something that australia puts on these umpires during home series. I have followed most of the series from New Zealand, and all visiting sides get the same result every year. What is being done about it.

Question 2. through times gone by, the rest of the cricketing worls knows what the australian teams have dished out to visiting players on field. There have been far worse things than calling a player an animal. This seems rather school boyish. Why is the complaint of the australian team being upheld to set a preceident using a visiting team

Bravo Mukul, Spot on and well written. I have lived in Aust for 35 years and it's fascinating to see how the Aussie press, Channel nine, CA and certain members of the ICC are so defensive and clumsy in their efforts to cope with a new world order based on meritocracy and finacial reality.

Very well said Mukul. One other thing I would like to add - the Aussies are just plain irritated (maybe scared is too strong a word) that the Indian team has been challanging them over the last 8 years or so. The Sydney test showed how desperate they had become to win against their best opponent.

Just like all the other Indian reporter, you say that the Indian players did nothing wrong , but everything that the Aussie's did was wrong, wake up to yourself. If the shoe was on the other foot and you were an Australian would be be arguing that the Indians were the one's who were not playing in the right spirit of the game, of which it did happen on more than one occasion. India is just jealous that they cannot beat a great team like Australia who have lost some of their stars and are not quite as good a team as they were last year, but still India could not beat them, To me India has failed.

Extremely well-written and thoroughly unbiased as compared to some of the articles posted even by former cricketers. I usually read articles and never comment on them , but Mukul ,I had to write somethin about this one .....absolutely fantastic and impressive

Can't say how delighted I am to read this post. Not that India's actions have been vindicated but some important things have been laid out in clear.
Thanks for the article.

Further to my length-restricted post previously, the other issues I couldnt fit into my response;

- The facts are that the Australians have been reported much less than most other teams in the last few years, whereas India is one of the worst. Attempting to justify or ignore this fact by categorising what is ok and what is not ok is clearly not your job. It is for the ICC to determine what is ok, and what is not, and based on their rules the Australians have not transgressed at all in the last year (India 7 reports). Both teams were guilty of overappealing and not walking this series.

- I think the comments about the link between Ponting and George Bush are at best tenuous and at worst, misleading and sensationalistic.

Both teams had moments that shouldnt have been proud of. That said, the guilty should be shared equally, not all on Australia.

Perhaps what needs to be considered is whether the trouble that has followed India in recent years is a coincidence or not.

Great article. One point- out of approximately 1.3 billion citizens in cricket playing nations, why is it not possible to select about 20 world class umpires and a similar number of match referees. Why is it that inept, useless officials like Bucknor and Procter keep surfacing all over the place, time and time again? Umpires and referees are paid decent wages. Even with a really tough "entrance exam" I am sure hundreds of worthy would-be umpires would emerge from India and other countries. One gets sick of seeing the same faces at all the matches. And who says a match referee has to be a retired ex-test cricketer?

Finally an article from you that I totally agree with. Without Tendulkar, our board would not have fought for Harbhajan nor they would have fired Greg Chappell.

It also needs to be said that Bhajji issue has totally overshadowed the adventures of Mr Bucknor and Mr Benson at Sydney. The score line says 2-1 but the best Australia deserved was 1-1 and quite possibly a 1-2. People can say all about losing three wickets in an over, but momentum plays a big role in any sport. Had the umpiring been fair, India would have been on top right from day one at Sydney.

one of the best articles on the issue. Specially about BCCI. It would have totally caved in and left the players high and dry. One thing I couldn't understand is why the term "monkey" is racial vilification. Is it really a racial slur in Australia? Nevertheless, great article.

one of the best articles on the issue. Specially about BCCI. It would have totally caved in and left the players high and dry. One thing I couldn't understand is why the term "monkey" is racial vilification. Is it really a racial slur in Australia? Nevertheless, great article.

we all know what happened in australia and your comparsion of cricket controversy to iraq war is disgusting and stupid.

i have a lot of respect for the jornalists of cricinfo (of which i'm a big fan of). i am very impressed with Sambit Bal and thought he is the best of the lot. Well, Mukul Kesavan will give him a good run for his money. this is an excellent piece of journalistic analysis. i only thought Sambit and maybe Roebuck were capable of such. i'm a Sri Lankan and was keenly watching cricinfo for the AUD-IND series coverage and loved the whole thing. keep up the good work guys. btw, i agree and hope that things will improve in the future (i still feel hard done by the sanga decision from rudi). i wanted SL to end the aussie run of wins and do it before india (we have our friendly rivalries too). look forward to the ODI's.

- Well written, to the point, balanced and succinct
- Rashid Lafif incident is well worth mentioning (claiming a catch), so did ponting and clarke

Well said, Mukul. If you have not done so already, please send this to Mr. Peter Roebuck. Lastly, I think the Aussie bullies did get away even now! From what I read Symonds started this thing with Harbhajan in Sydney and while the latter was fined 50% of his pay, the former was not punished at all! I wish someone point this to ICC (BCCI?, please wake up!).

Its a great take on this whole affair, the whole world including every Aussie knows what happened in Sydney is utter crap and if we reverse the decision India would have won the series 2-1, I hope and pray more journalists can take a impartial view on the whole episode and clear some air...

A very hard-hitting article Mukul, but it does raise a few fair points. Its interesting to note the sharp polarization between cricket fans, each side's strong endorsement of one "story" while rejecting the other. But here are some things I think are unfair:
1) You shouldn't categorize one side as being Australian (Western) and the other being Indian (Asian) and justify further statements based on these classifications. Its unfair to say "Indians don't think much of Ponting..." etc; with all due respect, I don't think you will ever be qualified to speak on behalf of every Indian. The same applies to references on anything "Australian"
2) You have compounded this (quite deliberately) by bringing in the Bush comparison. Apart from being petty, how would you react to being compared to a terrorist for sympathizing with the Indian team's cause?
As with many sharp disagreements today, one wonders whether if it will ever be understood that pointless one-sided harangues ever achieve anything?

This is one of the best articles I have read on the Harbhajan saga. Great job, Mukul.
Rajan

Thank you Mukul for succinctly capturing the core essence and emotion behind the whole sydneygate episode. I hope ponting and the rest of the grumpies read this...Way to go!

“Justice Hansen did not have the full history of Harbhajan Singh's previous code of conduct breaches”

Justice Hansen would have delivered the same verdict, even if he has the full history of Harbhajan Singh.

In incident Harbhajan was provoked, I believe and I think every one in cricket world does the same; whole bungle was plan gone wrong by Australian cricket.
Over and above there is no proof of charges.

Mr. Speed could you please, arrange a hearing for provocation, which was done by Andrew Symonds and supported by Ricky, Mathew and Michael.

I believe there was no bungle, but it is cry over cry again. Even by!

Win in sport is not above all, Important is playing game and taking part in it fairly

Ishwinder Singh

Thanks Mukul. I do wish to take issue however with your view on Michael Clarke. First you say it was a 'dodgy catch' then 'bump ball catch'. The first is in doubt, the second seems definitive. The camerawork is unclear on Clarke's catch. You cannot be sure it was not a fair catch and OK to claim it. He can't know that the video will be inconclusive. You, and many others, assume he cheated but have no evidence for it. The video of Dhoni's claimed catch of Pietersen is conclusive - where is your 'slippery' name-calling of Dhoni - or he is permitted to be in error? Clarke looked foolish standing his ground but no less so than Harbhajan when clean bowled by Pietersen. So can Harbhajan be trusted? I also fail to understand why stnading your ground off a big nick is worse than standing your ground off a fine nick. At least you will be given out. Somehow Clarke is 'slippery' but a batsman 'standing his ground' on a fine nick is merely a non-walker exercising his right to an umpire's decision

gook one mukul ... i guess the australian media is yet to read the full transcript of the judgement or just too cocky / arrogant (as usual) to accept the truth ...they did not see this coming in their wildest dreams...and if this sickening mental degradation goes away from the game, it will be a boon ... and cricket will be the ultimate winner.
Australian system may be good in producing good cricketers....but first they need to teach them to be good humans.... i like their cricketing skills...but i have absolutely no respect for any of them ... and that is a shame

Yet another article which draws more issues into account to deflect the single issue raised. We should not be arguing if we like the way Ponting and his men go about playing cricket, the quality of the umpires, or accusing players of being unreliable, or cheats or liars. We should not be judging Harbhajan character based on previous indiscretions. We should not be worried about who runs world cricket, or the motives of the BCCI or CA. The single issue is simply do we accept racism or racist comments? Many will agree that Harbhajan most likely called Symonds a monkey. Many will agree calling Symonds a monkey is a racist comment. Yet few seem to think that the comment was unacceptable. Symonds and the rest of the Australian team are vilified for trying to abide by the laws of the game and stamp out racism. Meanwhile Harbhajans actions are justified. Sadly all this has shown to me is that we, the world cricket community are not ready to say no to racism.

Thanks, that helped me get inside the Indian mindset without making the Indian mindset sound absolutely unequivocally correct. I think I agree with most of what you said, although I think you don't find the Indian brinkmanship repulsive enough, and I feel the Indian/world view of Aussie sledging is only half true. But its perception that counts. The Aussies need to clean up their act, I am particularly disappointed with Andrew Symonds, previously a favourite of mine. Hopefully this decision is the end of the matter.

For the most part a fair and evenly balanced piece. To be so uncharitable to Procter is in my opinion over the top. Surely Pakistan for example knew they were likely to forfeit the Oval match last year when they refused to return to the ground. Likewise it seems almost certain that Harbijan did use the monkey slur as suggested, and maybe if the Indian team want to take the moral high ground on the issues of the Sydney test he should come clean. Never mind a bit of sledging, are we to believe that a few words on the field are somehow a greater issue in the game then bringing 2 right hand gloves out to bat? or throwing a tantrum and threatening to go home if we don't get our way. I would also ad that if what you say is true and the BCCI caved into player demands for no reason but money then cricket is in greater trouble then your saying. If every time an Indian is upset the BCCI acts as it has, regardless of truth or the potential damage caused, then God help Cricket.

Have been wondering for a long time why no one in the media played on the looks of Ponting and Bush. Certainly, they resemble each other in more than one way. However, it should be noted that Ponting is one of best in his profession. To mention about Bush, I may need to borrow from the vocabulary of Aussie cricketers.

Sensible and impartial, kiran.. are you kidding? I love how the author glossed over some of the disgraceful and hypocritical behaviour of the Indian team in the tests after Sydney. What a joke.

Stick to writing fiction, Mukul, because fact is not your forte.

It's interesting that you have no trouble convicting Clarke of being 'slippery' (by which I read 'having intentionally done the wrong thing') on the basis of your own opinion and yet you are not willing to convict Harbhajan on the same basis.

J. Hansen's judgement makes interesting reading. In it, contrary to what you've written here, it states that neither in criminal law nor in sports tribunals is independent corroborating evidence strictly necessary in order to form a guilty verdict. Procter was perfectly entitled to convict based on the evidence presented to him if he felt the burden of proof had been satisfied. He's a decent man who works hard and it is sad to see him continually denigrated here. Believe it or not, he is not part of some anglo conspiracy to ruin your lives. There isn't one.

It was Sharad Pawar who threatened to call the team home to India if Harbhajan wasn't found not guilty.

Can we all please forget Sydney now? All this anger from all sides is a waste.

The Aus/Eng used their positions to beat the westindies by bringing in the 2 bouncer rule and to let their players get away with bad behaviour. And to call reverse swing as cheating since they didn't understand and now the same guys are expert commentators on reverse swing. Not one apology to the Pak bowlers. Now India is using their money. Neither is fair. Like we say to Australia, if you want to give it, be ready to take it. One can only use the weapons they have.

Good article. I hear that australians are fuming over this verdict. Pray why? It was symmonds word against harbhajan. And tendulkar's word against hayden,ponting,symonds,clarke. The former has a cleaner image then all the 4 combined(ask any non indian even about this. No one likes the aussies)
So without proof indicting harbhajan on charges of racism is plain horrible.
Now the second part - when aussies use the m**f, bastard etc why do they assume these words are not as bad as a racial slur. Who gave them the right to decide what is sledging and what is not.
They started a war with guns and are now complaining that the opposition has come in with tanks. They should not be tolerated. Either you shut up and play the gentlemens game or play like men and take back what the opposition dishes out(which is what i like in a mens game).

What a complete load of rubbish. This Indian team has been nothing short of a disgrace. They whigne and complain at every opportunity and will tell the world that they have the strongest batting line up in the histroy of cricket, yet have not achieved anywhere near the results of the Austrailian TEAM. It is a sad day that the ACB caved in to the cries of a bunch of sook's. You say that the cricketing establishment is agianst the Indian team and that umpiring is bad. Answer this, How many Indian umpires are on the elite panel. Answer 0. They are not good enough and this current Indian team is not good enough.

interesting read, although the comparisons between Ricky Ponting and George Bush were a bit much, unsubstantiated and unjustified as were the implications that the Iraq war influenced Indians opinions and views of Australian cricketers. And it was apparently in that "charged context" that the current series controversies evolved, I don't believe it totally undermines the article by any means but shows that emotions were running high in the author and looking to exaggerate the prior feelings that Australia and India had before the current series.

1. Hansen: "I hope international cricketers don;t share your opinion" to Symonds when he gave that stupid reason for starting the slanging match. Very good.

2. He really mucked Clarke as you say. Excellent.

Both these were a result of carrying the mythical "mateship" of Australia to an extreme. Ponting has in the past said he knows "Symonds needs to belong" - so it can be said that its not Bhajji, but Symonds that has a history("stand up fo rmy mate"). And being the only colored player on the Oz team, obviosuly, he is precious to his "mates".

Frankly, we are sick of this OZ myth about mateship - as also "mental distintegration", "baggy green". Its time they also stopped all that crap talk about "spirit of cricket agreement made by Steve Waugh" - its just plain spin (much like the matehisp myth).

Oh, and about Bhajji giving a sendoff to Ponting in 1998 (or whenever), I do remember seeing Ponting giving a big shove to Bhajji - nobody talks about it. Kangaroo courts as you say

W O W !!
Beautifully written.

I have read almost all recent articles published about Australian Cricket and Harbhajan episode. But what Mukul written here is the most suitable conclusion of the whole matter. Thanks Mukul, we expect more such articles in future

Superb perspective on the Shift in World Cricket. Thank you.
I am concerned about the character of the Australian Cricket Team. Led by a captain who has been caught out lying about serious issues (eg: covering up for Symonds drunken omission against Bangladesh), the team is caught in a horrifying whirlpool of deceit. Excessive and aggressive appeals are deplorable in their own right; but when the shrieking is coupled to an obvious "not-out" appeal, then the integrity of the team is tarnished. LBW appeals from short square leg??? Cover point calls for a snick behind??? However, with each successful immoral appeal and immoral decision not to walk, Australian cricketers trade integrity for success. Once forfeited, it will be hard to regain.
It is a great sadness to see the retirement of Adam Gilchrist. A model of integrity to generations of young Australians. Yet he was scorned by his team mates for his attitude. Long live Gilly.

I had read an earlier blog by you that said, "If Harbhajan said it, ban him for life". I hope you have read Judge Hanson's judgement that said that even if Harbhajan said it, he would not have been able to punish him because of the provocation.

I hope you realize where you were wrong and where the judge was right. It is a subtle point that many people were just not getting and thanks to the judge for putting it so succinctly.

Mukul's article it is a very Indian centric piece of writing. While I do not condone some of the actions of the Australian cricketers, the Indian cricketers are not blameless. There were Indian players not walking straight away when they were clearly out, plus I believe that they also did their share of sledging.
After the debacle of the Harbajan appeal it is clear that the ICC do not run world cricket, it is run by the BCCI contrary to what Mukul would have us believe. The BCCI is interested in only one thing - MONEY and will use their muscle to achieve their own ends with no thought about the game of cricket.
Over the years teams from the sub-continent have endeavoured to get their own way. Umpires have been hung out to dry by India, Pakistan & Sri Lanka. I refer to Emmerson, Hair & Bucknor because they tried to apply the rules. Pity that India's bluff was not called. A good sportsman does not threaten to go home if he doesn't get his way. India is not a good sportsman.

Your naivety when it comes to world-class sport betrays the fact that, as a sub-continental, you are unaware of what goes on in the modern professional arena. Though you profess a certain dislike of the english rule of cricket, you want to uphold the 19th century english amateur ethos. Why in excess of 1 billion sub-continentals can be consistently outperformed by 20 million Australians at olympics after olympics is testament to the fact that australia has an effective, efficent sporting program, India far less so. Rather than admit we live in the 21st century and adopt a realistic approach to professional sport, you espouse Victorian age ideals. India will continue to be a diletante sporting nation when it should be a powerhouse if you people continue thinking this way. Professional sportspeople perform for the public for a living, it's their job. Sub-continental cricketers have a poor work ethic. It's that simple (and it shows in your fielding). Wake up India!

A well written article that makes some good points. As an Aussie, interesting to read a thoughtful Indian take on the situation.

However, I disagree with your comments about the Indian board (and players). I think the conduct of the BCCI and the Indian players in threatening to pull out was disgraceful and compromised the fair carriage of justice. The right decision seems to have been made in the end, no thanks to the petulant display of the Indian board and players. I think your last paragraph is erroneous in its conclusions and an equally good outcome could well have been arrived at without childish threats to call off the tour.

Nevertheless, hopefully all countries (not just Australia and India) can learn from this episode and improve their conduct in the future. I know many Aussies are sick of some of the antics of their team, and frankly cricket would be better off with less sledgers and more gentlemen.

Nice one... a big post made simple and interesting with its content. Hope Team India continues its dominance off field and surpasses Australia's dominance on field.

"leaving the Indian team in a state of thin-skinned rage at being robbed" The Indian team is always thin-skinned. Did you see Symonds or Hussey say a single word about being given out incorrectly in Perth ? Did Australia say a word about India appealing when Clarke hadn't hit it in Adelaide, they were quick to claim that Gilchrist could tell Dravid hadn't hit it in Sydney. And then proceed to spit verbally at Clarke and the umpire Bowden after he gave the correct decision Its cricket, what goes around comes around, India need to grow up and realise this.
I'm also amazed at the general public, cricket players,offcials and media that can't tell the difference between sledging and racism.
Heres a quick lesson
"Its a bat not a fishing rod" = sledging
"big monkey" = racism
Imagine if an Australian player called Singh a monkey!!! Imagine if an Australian bowler celebrated like Singh did when he got Ponting out!! "fielder had confidently claimed a bump ball catch"=your opinion=wrong

please find a way to get this into an australian newspaper. good stuff.

So the fact that he said Harbi probably did racially vilify Symonds is OK
So the fact that the Indian team carried on like small children and threatened to boycott the tour because of poor umpiring is OK. As for the rubbish about the disputed catch by Clarke i am yet to see an angle that proves it was a bump ball, and if you want to see a much worse example look on youtube at Dhoni claiming a catch off Peterson bounced about 40 cm in front and he claimed it. (Ponting had completed the catch when the ball was grounded and never lost control of it.) I also did not see this level of rubbish occuring when India got the rub of the decisions in the Lords test last year
The bizzare whitewashing of the indian teams behaviour is unbeleivable, where was the outcry when Yuvraj did not walk in the first test, or how about Dhoni calling catch every time a spinner bowled a ball
The question that should be asked is if the situations had been reversed would the discussions be the same.I think not

This is of a piece with all the biased reporting and commentating seen and heard on both sides of the firing line.

Granted the Indians were diddled out of the Sydney Test. Granted that Mike Procter is an ass. (His comment "I know all about racism being South African" is like Adolf Eichmann being an expert on anti-semitism) and that his conduct and decision at the initial hearing were inept andincompetent at best and biased and racist at worst. Granted that visiting teams get the worst of all officiating Down Under. You still can't stage a sit down strike and declare to the world that you won't move unless there is an acquittal. The verdict was given, an appeal was lodged and that's it. Wait for the appellate hearing and put your case as strongly and forcefully as possible. Kumble & Sachin are fine players and gentlemen and tremendous role models. However, in this instance they have fallen short of their own high standards.

to be contd.

This is of a piece with all the biased reporting and commentating seen and heard on both sides of the firing line.

Granted the Indians were diddled out of the Sydney Test. Granted that Mike Procter is an ass. (His comment "I know all about racism being South African" is like Adolf Eichmann being an expert on anti-semitism) and that his conduct and decision at the initial hearing were inept andincompetent at best and biased and racist at worst. Granted that visiting teams get the worst of all officiating Down Under. You still can't stage a sit down strike and declare to the world that you won't move unless there is an acquittal. The verdict was given, an appeal was lodged and that's it. Wait for the appellate hearing and put your case as strongly and forcefully as possible. Kumble & Sachin are fine players and gentlemen and tremendous role models. However, in this instance they have fallen short of their own high standards.

to be contd.

well done, you have got the truth right. The Aussies should read this.

I think this whole tour has turned in to a war between the Australian and Indian media, with both sides fanning the flames then trying to out do each each in expressions of moral outrage. I would be much happier to have the scores reported. If I want opinion on the game, I'll find a mate and a beer. Personally I will be much happier when this tour is over. It may have been better had India just gone home for there is very little positive left in this farce

Sorry but this is not the best take on the matter or an impartial analysis. Far from it.

In this long drawn out tirade against the australian team (although they deserve it), you fail to mention that whether Harbhajan said "teri maa ki" or monkey - he was also sledging! And Sreesanth is worse. You can't put all the blame of sledging on the Australians, the Indian team is also guilty of this - 2nd only to the Australians.

So even though the charges have been rightfully dropped, I wouldnt celebrate it as a moral victory.

Amazingly written. Should be a mandated read for all Australian and Indian players and officials involved.

A wonderful post. A very balanced and clear take on the whole saga down under. I like the way you use the phrase "old firm of Kumble & Tendulkar". Kind of adds to their statesmanesque presence in he team. Also a brilliant last paragraph - The 3rd and 4th tests saw civility - a refreshing change for the game on the whole. Keep writing.....

Well done. You are spot on, on the whole issue.

Amazingly written. Should be a mandated read for all Australian and Indian players and officials involved.

Great article. A very balanced view of the whole saga.

it was worth reading it.

What a relief to read something that is closer to the truth than anything that has been said and written so far about this whole affair! I have been following cricket news closely and here's what I think started the whole thing rolling. Andrew Symonds made a comment when Australia toured India in the recent 7 one day series. This is what he said about India's celebration after winning the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup. "Something has been sparked inside of me, watching them carry on over the last few days," Symonds told AAP. "We have had a very successful side and I think watching how we celebrate and how they celebrate, I think we have been pretty humble in the way we have gone about it"

This sure sparked something in the Indian fans...

Let us concentrate on Harbhajan's behaviour on field alone. What he did was utter nonsense not in line with a national player's behaviour. Taking a few hundreds of wickets or a few thousands of runs will never make a good player.
You are playing under the tri color for a great nation and has to uphold values above all.

By becoming a party in the ugly incident Sachin also lost some glitter, I should add.

I cant believe this stuff gets published. Why don't you blame the Australian Cricket Team for the troubles in Kashmir while your at it. Big picture boys is that the ICC is scared to lose the cash cow that is Asian Cricket and would rather sully the good names of reputable people like Mike Proctor, Steve Bucknor and a dozen Australian Cricket players and umpires along the way. Bad decisions in Australian pale into insignificance compared to decisions that were made in Asia during years gone by. There is a reason Nuetral umpires were brought into the game and it had nothing to do with Australian decision making. So when pointing the fingers at the people who have been bringing the game into disrepute, look in your own back yard first.

A well written article. Congrats for explaining a few things. Hope this will be read by the australians and even Peter roebok who was hurt immediately when his former countryman Procter was touched

Well written ! By the way, Clarke is being seen as the next Australian captain. The legacy seems to be going into worser hands.

Well, I am at least glad to see that you are not naive or arrogant enough to think that Harbhajan never used a racial slur. But I am sorry, the sad thing here - almost as sad as the racist comment - is that the Indian team and the BCCI were unwilling to abide by their governing body's decision - the ICC. That's anarchy. Shame on you BCCI. Isn't this going to be fun from now on? Why shouldn't any other team complain to get umpires removed when they don't like the calls? For that matter, we'll just run home like crying babies when we disagree with the ICC. Pathetic. I need to just watch cricket on the field and shut myself off to all the shenanigans off the field. The only thing I am pleased with is that from now on Harbhajan will go down tainted like Barry Bonds - a great player with an asterix. In Harbhajan's case: *racist

I have to say, the comments I'm reading seem to miss the point. Sure, the aussies got it stuck up 'em. Woo. Those last two matches, Perth and Adelaide, were good for the state of the game. But Harbhajan... well, if he made a racist slur against Symonds, he should have been strung up and made an example for those in the game that think this is acceptable. The ICC have caved on this one, the Australians have caved and it is despicable of both of them to allow the continuance of the tour to outweigh the need to enforce racial vilification rules. It's a great tragedy we need them at all, but there are some bad eggs, and they are everywhere (in all teams) and they should be made an example of, not get off on a soft plea deal. This isn't about Australian Hegemony vs. Indian Power, this is about racism and the day the powers that be showed us that money was worth more than decent human behaviour.

What utter drivel but i see the Indian bloggers surprisingly agree with you. Why dont you mention the fact that Ganguly has come out and said the Clarke catch carried but he stood to wait for the umpires decision or does saying it was a bump ball make better reading in India. How would you or anyone else that wasn't within 10 metres of that ball know that it was a bump ball are you seriously paid to write this.
Face facts you lost a test because a part time bowler took 3 wickets in the last over of a game so go and cry somewhere else.

Perfect Analysis, Mukul.
The Australians would have learnt their lesson and Cricket will get better.

Younger players should watch the Youtube video of Dravid and Slater to learn how to respond to unwarranted abuse and invective instead of retaliating. Report every instance to the umpire and see how long the habitual offenders maintain clean rap sheets. I heard Gautam Gambhir on Tv and read an interview with Robin Uthappa that they were prepared to give it back. There's no future in competing with the Aussies for title of Worst Behaved Team. Bhajji replied in kind to Symonds and look what happened. He's the bad guy. It doesn't matter if he was acquitted of racial abuse, he was still punished for offensive behaviour.

If Harbhajan said those words he should have got harder punishment, but there is no proof what so ever (the witnesses are not trustworthy). But Australia and its supporters have records of open racism. I mean one should have some shame. Your filth smell from miles and you are telling it smells bad.

Very Objective.

Australian cricket teams have been behaving badly for years. The Sri Lankan teams who have toured here have been treated even worse than the Indian cricket team. At that time most of the Australian media found no fault with this bad behaviour and even encouraged this as winning was all that mattered to keep everyone relaxed and comfortable( remember John Howard' catch phrase). At that time the media demonised cricketers like Arjuma Ranatunga who had the guts(pun intended)to stand up to the Aussie bullies. It is high time that everyone realized that bad behavior by pack animals is just not tolerable on the field or off it. In this scenario every dog will have his day and worms shall turn.
All the incidents I can remember during the last 20 years is always when their are 11 Aussie fieldsman and 2 opposing batsmen who have the potential to change the game. Is there more selfishness, arrogance and cowardice than this. All cricket fans, commentators and reasonable human beings take note.

Your article is good. It would have been perfect had you addressed why symmonds got let off from the judge. Ideally that clarke should have got punished and what about the match referee..??

Very well articulated, insightful and thought provoking. Good Job my friend.

I still don't get the Sydney test though....

1. No penalty for Mr. MaanKi although he provoked Bhajji.

2. Where is the 5 match ban Mr. Proctor for Punter and Puppy? They both claimed (and in one instance successfully claimed Sourav) grounded catches.

What about the exessive appealing in the last few overs in Sydney?

What happens to Mr. Benson? He was a partner in crime with buckeyed Bucky....

Your views please?

Okay !! I will go with what Mukul has said. But few questions still remain unanswered.
1-Since when are cricket accusations handled in a normal court of law???? didnt even happen for the Oval incident. why now? If this is true, cant Bhaji sue Symonds for defamation? surely his image was harmed in all this? that wud be that normal reaction.
2-A chartered plane was ready to the indians home? is that true?
3-ODI players being sent to another city? what was that all about?

I'm not on either side. If the Aussies are famous for sledging, Indians have their share of sledgers with sreeshant as their leader. There is no point is pointing fingers at the aussies. And since when is a 2-1 drubbing in a series a success???
Please.. for the sake of the game.. wake up !!!!

Very well articulated, insightful and thought provoking. Good Job my friend.

I still don't get the Sydney test though....

1. No penalty for Mr. MaanKi although he provoked Bhajji.

2. Where is the 5 match ban Mr. Proctor for Punter and Puppy? They both claimed (and in one instance successfully claimed Sourav) grounded catches.

What about the exessive appealing in the last few overs in Sydney?

What happens to Mr. Benson? He was a partner in crime with buckeyed Bucky....

Your views please?

It's that simple (and it shows in your fielding). Wake up India!
..........

I wonder which team's wicket keeper decided to retire after putting down n number of catches..look who's talking about poor fielding!!

mukul - you are wrong when you say that clarke was a bump ball - there is no evidence to support that clear cuit view - clarke believes he caught it , uindians believe he may not - but there is no clear evidnece- go back and check your videos
these questions need to be answered :
1.why did habhajan and tendulkar clearly change
their position - initially they denied anything was said, and then perhaps miraculously , a week later, they both remembered that harbajhan had said maa ki - which happens to sound like monkey conveniently -
2. wht did harbhajan say " he started it if he said nothing - or a punjabi term?
3. does tendulkar speak punjabi - or does he just know the filth ?
4.why did kumble try and apologise?
5.why would you believe tendulkar who has been convicted of ball tampering aka cheating - ahead of symonds, hayden and clarke- who was accused of not walking
the joke is really on the indians who believe that they are in the right and that racism has not occurred

An article well written, a series of events really well summorised yet incomplete. I feel a point missing, and that is who suffers the brute of the controversy in the end. The Sub-continental teams go out to play cricket in the spirit of the game itself, a phrase very foreign in nature, yet we practice it though none of the creators of it do. I mean to say its cricket,we play, we play to win. Not to stage a drama with unwanted twists and turns of controversy and finally a verdict resulting in loss. That's right!losing, something every competitive team hates,and after all said and done there are no changes in that, Pakistan lost the series in England and India lost one downunder. Well Pakistan had already lost it in England before the controversy but India lost it here with all the playing cards in hand. Let the tides be turned and the end result of all controversies should atleast be once resulting in a Sub-continent side winning!!!

Ah...the sound of aussie breast beating...that alone was worth the read!

With great power comes great responsibility. India has a great opportunity to become a leader in world cricket, and need to behave like one this includes but is not limited to:

1) Not forcing ICC decisions with hysterical reactions culminating with the entire Indian team effectively waiting on the tarmac with their bat and ball ready to go home

2) Blindly defending Singh's behaviour when there seems to be little doubt that he actually said the word monkey.

3) Burning effigies of anyone and everyone who displeases you.

4) Covering up embarrassing losses by blaming umpires

5) Attributing bad umpiring to some sort of insidious Australian plot

6) Assuming that all actions by "white" nations are motivated at "keeping the brown man down".

FYI - Cricket Australia decided to downgrade the charge, not the players, they feel betrayed and let down. That's not my opinion, that is straight from a few players I have spoken to.

biased much?!?

You don't think the rules and regulations of the game should be respected? you don't see a problem in the Indian team (or the board) basically blackmailing cricket australia with the threat of boycott if the decision was not reversed?

Bhaji had the right of appeal and it seems that he may well have been found innocent by Judge Hansen but the fact that the India team would not have faith in the appeal process and the Indian board and the ICC would tolerate a threat to abandon the tour because of an appeal outcome is unacceptable and threatens the stability of our game.

In a real court of law no-one can say that "oh if i'm found guilty i'm going home". I have lost all respect for the indian team. Real men should face up to what they have done and accept the consequences and play the game under the laws laid down. Trying to mix the issue in with the past and the Aussie's attitude is just smoke screens, where is the respect for the rules and regulations of the game.

Mukul,

I've been drawing parallels between Dubya and Punter both in their looks and actions and was pleasantly surprised to see you say the same. Excellent article btw...

Prabu

Just reading some of the comments. Seems like the Aussies in here lack common sense.. you just cant please them unless you say bhaji was guilty.

Keep up the good word.

Why Mr. Symonds not punished for starting the abusive language during the match and Mr. Proctor (Match referee)for his based dicision and all the fuss created by his unbelievable decision, is he blind, if not he is base and not fit to be referee, to believe charactor like M Clark, R Ponting, and not accepting witness like Sachin.

It's worth reading Mukul, no matter how strong is the Australian team on the ground yet they need to show respect unto others and should be ready to face to the music otherwise.
But I think the remarks from Ponting on this judgement still show glimpses of the stubborness and hegemony of the Aussies,

Above all, ICC's acceptance of the blame to provide insufficent material towards the case is just an attempt to pacify the Aussies, Instead ICC should have been ready to accept the blame on the whole, as to how they dealt with all this and a simple issue was made complicated by them.

I must say whatever the case may be , at the end of the day Harbhajan has been proved not to be guilty and it does count above all.

Interesting article! One wonders why people allow emotions to rule the roost all the time. This is another article of that nature. Both sides were at fault. India has just as bad a name in world cricket as Australia, if you look closely. But for different reasons. Neither can claim the high ground that is talked about!

The sad thing in all of this is the ICC. Where has it been hiding? Didn't do anything about Gavaskar. Didn't do anything to help Proctor. Didn't supply the judge will all hte history needed. Why? It comes back to politics and that is what is ruining cricket internationally more than Australia winning or any team's attitude. The inept workings of the ICC are unbelieveable. They don't care about anything except money. It rules the roost as far as their decisions are concerned. Until that changes cricket is in for a rocky road ahead.

So is it all history now. Unfortunately not. The "bad" blood will continue to live within, whether that be in Australians or Indians. Sad!

Wonderfully summed up the whole controversy between India and Australia. Kudos to you Mukul for giving us a deeper insight into the whole drama.

Well said Mukul, its a lessen to all the aussie players and supporters. Now they will have the tail in between their legs and try to concentrate on cricket.

My previous post was repeated instead of the continuation.

Young Indian players should watch the YouTube video of Dravid and Slater and learn how to deal with sledging and abuse in a dignified manner. Retaliating in kind as some of the youngsters like gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa have promised to do is not the answer. The players have two better options:
a) Report every abuse to the umps. Let's see how long they maintain a clean rap sheet.
b) Better still do what Shwag and partydid to Brad Hogg. Their handling of him has probably resulted in a lifetime ban from test cricket rather than the paltry fine he would have copped from the Match Referee.

well said Mukul! I still believe that these 4 Aussies planned everything in the dressing room.

Indians are the masters of spin, having been cultivating it for centuries, so they think they see it in everyone else. Australians are loudmouths, unsubtle and straightforward. They didn't spin anything. They were simply out-manipulated by a race who value saving face above everything else. This article simply reinforces that.

This is in response to the post by carl Jackson
"Australia is rapidly moving toward leaving the ICC and forming a new body with other nations that respect the umpires, officials and the rules of the game. India will not be invited to join"
What a lot of rubbish. Australia will have to play with themselves and perhaps the umpires. Carl Jackson does not seem to know that majority of Cricket playing nations abhor the Aussies and their antics on the field!

It may seem balanced, but all it is doing is throwing in a line about the future at the end meant to gloss over the fact this is yet another black and white article, where one side is completely at fault. The Indian spinners have appealled almost Warne-like through the entire series, culminating in a disgraceful appeal by Harbhajan vs Michael Clarke in the last test, which led to an even more disgraceful episode from Dhoni and Kartick. You would think they would not carry on like that after the pillaring in the press Australia got after Sydney. Yet here they were, and not a word about it. When Kartick spat at Clarke's feet as they were walking off, I was amazed. Is he that stupid I thought? I am surprised Clarke didn't do something stupid such was the rude and downright ugly performance by Kartick. How about Ganguls not walking when he was so clearly caught in that last test? Not a word! Australia were silent in the last 2 tests, yet India maintained the rage. Look at your own as well.

Except you forgot one thing....Ganguly s the one who said Clarke didn't take the catch yet you neglected to mention he also stood his ground after being obviously caught by Hussey in the last test. He surely knew that was not a bump ball!

why is it , after all thats happened during these tests between australia and india . nothing has been said about dinesh kartick behaviour during the 4th test in adelaide, when a close in catch appeal was turned down . dinesh pointed his finger at the umpire and proceded to verbally abuse the batsman clarke while walking off for the tea break.. when he finally stoped his abuse, he spat at clarkes feet. the replay of course showed not out , close but good decision umpire. now that sort of thing is most definatly not in the spirit of the game.. down right disgusting, but not a word from anyone.. not even clarke if that tantrum came from an australian, they would be banned by the icc , acb and condemed by the media and rightfully so.

That was absolutely fantanstic Mukul. Very well written :-)

What happened shows the emergence of a new India, we will not take things lying down. It is evident in our cricket and elsewhere in the country. It is about time that the Australians realize that their attitude is not acceptable. Hats off to Harbhajan for taking them head on. Just as you try and score the target set by the opposing side, you also need to give back their on field behaviour.

Mukul there's one thing you always to do - elicit extreme reactions from readers.

There's one aspect, however, that has been well highlighted in your blog. That of Michael Clark being labelled unreliable by the Judge, and 'slippery' by you.

It is a true reflection of the traditional Aussie way of boorish thinking that this same slippery, spitting-in-his-palm character has been chosen to succeed Ponting! How I wish Hussey was the heir apparent...

Really accurate depiction. This is one of the best articles I have come across.

I think this is a classic example of the difference between Australian and Indian culture. When Darren Lehman says "black c**t" as he is walking back to the Australian dressing room in a game against Sri Lanka he admits he made a mistake, publicly apologizes, and rightfully receives match bans. When an Indian calls Symonds a monkey, they deny they made a mistake, blame everyone else, rejoice that they got one back over the Australians. As for Pontings "unlovely habit of spitting into his palms", it just goes to what a load of tosh the article is!

One thing not about cricket, that I also think Ricky Ponting look like Bush's younger brother.

Really accurate depiction. This is one of the best articles I have come across.

Astoundingly well written article but not fully balanced - though a very good attempt to be balanced.

I think the article is excellent, but along with the two posts made by "Dean" who had "some concerns about the balance of it, or lack thereof, specificially in relation to the 2nd test". With those clarifications, overall brilliant.

The only thing I dont think is mentioned enough, where was the sensational 'we're outta abandoning this tour if we dont see better umpires' carry on from Steve Waugh after S K Basnal in Kolcata 2001? Or from Mark Taylor in 1998? In 2001, shocking umpiring throughout the game but especially in on the last day cost Australia a test match draw and a drawn series. The same happened to India in 2008. Is there any hope left for the belief that these things do even out over time?

Perhaps - but I still insist, as most would, that two wrongs dont make a right.

Jonesy and others - I'm Indian. My disagreement with what Sachin and Anil did is that though they were the aggrieved party the total mishandling of the affair has resulted in their copping all the flak and being perceived as the villains.

Sledging and foul mouthed abuse is unacceptable. If the Aussies think that it's hard but fair, hard cheese. It's still a violation of the ICC Code of Conduct. Forget about "what's said on the field stays on the field" tripe. You say it you get reported. Then let's see how the ICC deals with the problem.
Indian Captains please take note. Warn your boys (as Dhoni has apparently done) to comply with the Code implicitly and tell your counterpart that you will report every violation. No private agreements to dodge the rules - take the fielder's word, we won't verbally interact.

Play hard and fair (within the rules and the code). Don't walk and don't expect others to do so. Let the umpire decide.

BCCI - Voice any objections to umps NOW. Oxenford.

Very pathetic. How can you defend the actions of the indians crying like children because of a few poor decisions it happens in every game and to every team what makes you so special? The bottom line is you fear micheal clarkes bowling and that you lost the series 2-1 and you should be thanking him as micheal saved you from a 3-1 result dropping Sehwag on 2 late on day 4 in the last test if he had held on too it, it would've been over before lunch day 5. But then India would've made up some sort of an excuse for losing once again to Australia. In terms of cricket you are many years off from competing with the Aussies. Stick with playing against minnows before you think about playing against the big boys.

Not ONE mention of Harijhan's FIVE convictions! Not one! Just a diatribe against Australia from a blind ignorant Nationalist. No mention of the decisions that went India's way, such as Tendulkar LBW in the 30's in Sydney that even Hashe Bogle couldn't understand or Sehwag plumb on Day 4 in Adelaide that cost Australia the match. But by then crickets' greatest whingers and self pitying brats India had intimidated the umpires to the point they refused to give even plumb decisions! And it might inform you to know spitting on one's hands in preparation for physical effort is not something unique to Ponting and it may be repulsive to some regarding shaking hands but it's nowhere near as repulsive as shaking hands with someone who uses their hand to wipe their backside! We are tired of the constant abuse from those who simply aren't good enough, and it seems no matter where India go they create problems!

Australian teams have never behaved as badly as this spoilt Indian team threatening to go home.

My take on this whole issue is the following
1. Symonds was abusive and provoked Harbhajan
2. Harbhajan reacted and said something abusive
3. Symonds claimed that Harbhajan called him a monkey.
4. Sachin who according to Justice Hansen was the closest person to the fracas said Harbhajan did not say monkey.
5. Clarke and Hayden who were not as close as Sachin said that Harbhajan said monkey and that Symonds said nothing (contradicting Symonds).
6. Mike Procter after hearing all of the above made a decision against Harbhajan.
I am not a great fan of the BCCI as I think they are the biggest thing wrong with Indian cricket but in this case I have to support them. They did the right thing. Tarring Harbhajan with the racist tag without evidence is unacceptable. Further, Symonds should consider himself lucky that he has not been fined for abusive language like Harbhajan has. I have no clue why the Aussies are angry at the decision. They got what they deserved. Move on, India has.

EXCELLENT, excellent, balanced article. BCCI is a bunch of nincompoops who look good because Kumble (God bless him) and others took a stand. About tim ethe Aussies, and th ebullying Western referees got their comeuppance. Great article - keep up the good work !

Sorry... I believe if Sachin says harbhajan did not why you do not trust him.. seems like you had more trust in what wrong harbhajan can do versus someone like sachin who lead by example for 18 years....

Why do some of these Aussies bring up one or two instances from the past when someone from the other team did not walk or claimed a catch? What does that got to do with the current issues of this series?

No team is perfect but some are far better than others. Basically the Aussies are saying that unless everyone is perfect the Aussies should be allowed to cheat as much as they want, behave whatever way they want and get away with it.

A very well composed piece of journalistic analysis. Australia is just not able to stomach the fact that India has been constantly getting better and challenging them in every series played between the two teams. They couldn't even digest and appreciate the T20 win recently and made public comments about how the Indian celebration was exaggerated. Indian players are matching the aussies in skills as well as sledging which is getting to the aussie player's nerves. Aussie players mouth an awful lot but can't handle it when given back to them in the same token. Gone are the days when Indian players used to meekly take whatever was thrown at them by these arrogant and rude aussies - there are innumerable instances when aussies crossed the line. Looking forward to an electrifying ODI series. Go India, get 'em. All the best !

Mukul - many good points, but some important and relevant stuff ignored. The BCCI has accepted that 'monkey' IS a racist term when used against someone with Symond's ethnicity. Tendulkar has affirmed that Harbhajan used words that sounded, to an ear untrained in Sikh, remarkably similar to 'monkey'. The Australian players have accepted that they could have misheard what Harbhajan said; the fact that Harbhajan used the term 'Maa Kii' (if that is the correct spelling) was NOT put forward to Procter thus allowing him to consider the possibility of a misapprehension on the part of the Australian players; the evidence put before Hansen supports the likelihood of a genuine but incorrect BELIEF on the part of the Australian players that 'monkey' was what was said. Harbhajan considers the Australian team to be 'vulgar? Go to YouTube and enter 'Harbhajan Pietersen'. Neither HS nor Symonds are exactly Miss Manners, let's not be hypocritical. No BCCI pressure? Why the chartered Jet?

Its more interesting to read the comments than the article. Mukul, and the rest of the media, be it Indian or Australian have simply shown how bias they are toward their country of origin irrespective of facts. Now, I had presumed that the general public was somewhat smarter than this. Shame on me. The tripe that is being carried on with about making Australians learn their lesson is rubbish. We sure did learn a lesson. And we learnt it in Perth, not Sydney. We were stung when the COWARDLY BCCI threatened to pull out. We were just plain hurt when we found out it was initiated by Tendulkar, who we treat with more respect than most of our own.

This is not to say the Aussies were not at fault either. Clarke standing his ground was a disgrace and Pontings attitude immediately after the game was disappointing.

As for the rest of it, Indians would do well to remember that Cricket is only a game. The gods don't perform in front of us, they are merely cricket players.

Harbhajan - the gutless RACIST!
If he apologized, then at least he accepts he made a mistake. I could respect him for that. But now, I'll only remember him as a gutless racist.
End of argument.

Wow!! You certainly managed to leave out an enormous number of facts in order to present Australia in the worst possible light and India as the poor long-suffering victims. I can sum this up better. India are racist. India can't admit they're racist. This whole affair started in India when Symonds was continuously and viciously racially abused by the spectators and a number of players. All teams have umpires judgments go against them but it's only whined about if Australia receives the benefit of it. India behaved worse than the Aussies on the field. Racism is NOT sledging - it's discrimination on the basis of someones race. Symonds has now been officially told he can't complain about being racially abused because he is 1. a black guy in a predominantly white team and 2. an UPPITY black guy who therefore DESERVES to be racially abused.
I see only one "victim" in all this and one side acting abusively. Symonds is the former, India the latter.

Great post! The Australian media, as usual, is an embarrassment, as will the next Australian captain be if Clarke is appointed.

Great article.
Ponting and Bush comparisons are funny, but I am sure will not be well taken in the context of this article. This comic depiction, reduces the credibility of this article.
I have a point on racism. People seem to consider something as very holy because they are told to consider that in such a fashion. As an Indian, if I am caleed a MF or a b***d by some idiot, it is likely to hurt me much much more than being called a brown guy or a black guy or a nigger. But the rule book says racism is bad, but anything else said to demean others worse is acceptable, because the book does not say otherwise.
I would not rule out the fact that Ponting being a great strategist would have planned for this altercation and instigated Bhajji to make him say things he should not have said. Bhajji, a hot headed immature passionate guy, fell for it. Ponting, the smart one was happy!! But he did not expect the turn of events, I love the talented Aussie cricket team but have no respect for them.

reply to NT
Ranatunga was the biggest cheat to come out of Sri Lanka. He would pretend to be injured so he could have a runner....but it was because he was so FAT and UNFIT. and that is cheating!!! Actually Aussies really like the Sri Lankan team...but not Ranatunga!!

My two pennies worth on the incident --
a) if you say sledging is fine, then really you have to be ready for whatever is dished back at you.i personally am not a fan of Bhajjis on field behaviour and i believe his and most of Aussie team behaviour is against the spirit of the game. But the shocker is the cry babies aussies are turning out to be.In our culture Bastard is a worse word than monkey. so if you say one is good enough how can the other word not be and since when is sledging supposed to be "politically correct"??
2) Pathetic umpring almost ruined one of the all time great series. But i dont for one moment believe it was biased. Just pure incompetence.We should still have been good enough to draw in Sydney even with thoe decisions.
3) for those up in arms on bhajis let off hould also pay attention to the judge's admonishing of Symonds.You cant selectively use parts of judgements
4) Aussies are the best team in the world. But ponting is poor ambassador for the game

Absolutely spot on.I was just wondering why the indian journalists are just sitting and reading what the australian papers are saying , and when we know at the bottom of our heart that we dint do anything wrong.I think , Ponting should read this and I am happy that you are the first journo who wrote this article brilliantly.congratulations and well done.We are proud of you.

Post by GlaCial. Good for you. You are right. Cricket and otehr sporst give lip service to the issue of racism. They ask players to report it and everyone goes crazy when they do. It is about politically correct policies not a real effort to reduce racist behaviour, which is separate from other abusive (but also terrible) behaviour. As for the post by Gibbowr - are you kidding? You list the various sins of appealing and of not walking and seem to belive this is only Australians. watch some cricket. name me a 'walker' in all circumstances otehr than Gilchrist - in any team. Did you see the rubbish from the Indians in Adelaide appealing for a bat-pad from Clarke? and guess what - they weree wrong - miles from the bat. Kartik was disgusting. His traeement of Clarkeas they walked off for the break was a shocker - all smiles whennbthey came back out - nice joke. Lucky Bowden sw it right.All the things you list are done by all teams - so let's be honest about that and address it in all teams

File this rubbish under "F" for "Fiction"

I think that the moralising is all a waste of time. If Singh did call Symonds a monkey, Symonds should have offered to sort it out after the game man on man. After all Viv Richards (who all Indians attest to loving) challenged Allan Border after an altercation on the field, and no Aussie ever sledged him again...

With all due respect wat is rubbing people off is the whole notion that Indians are saint and aussies the hoodlums. Indians have never done anything wrong and tbat racism is beyond India psyche.
Thats the whole point, If u gonna crucify aussies in name of journalism then be fair and point out the glaring faults and misbehavior of Indian team as well. No team in teh world claim that they play like saints and have never violated the spirit of game or conduct of game.
So plz spare me if I dun buy it. Witness Mr. Kumble unprovoked verbal assault on M. Yousef in India V Pak 3rd match to get him out,
But when India does it its brilliant and big boy game. U accuse aussies of samme thing that u do urself.
I hate hypocricy and Indian team has been shown as hypocrite.
As for racism row, U believe like many Bhajji did say :monkey: then watever the provocation might be, racism shouldnt be allowed. If provocation can be justified for racism then dun compalaint when its directed toward India.

By so far the BEST of the articles written on this Harbhajjan Saga. Not like the one written by Mr.Roebuck, who first says Indians were right in suspending the tour after the sydney test and then reversing that wen bhajji was found not guilty.. I 'm really happy for Clarke, for he really deserves every bit of criticism directed at him..

The Aussies blaming BCCI is a joke. What did Cricket Australia do? Offer a compromise? Surely a bit of money is not important when it comes to fighting the big bad evil of racism?

Yes Mukul,a fine piece. From an Indian perspective

1. A BCCI, run like most public institutions in India. Clueless, classless and plain stupid. Drifting along all the time with no synergy or anticipation of the game or its nuances. Totally reactionary, and only when the chairs of its incumbent morons are shaken by an outpouring of public sentiment or player revolt. The BCCI attitude, damn the game, players or the country. I come first, and last.

Cricket Australia
2. A well oiled sleazeball, committed to winning at all costs. Caught with their pants down this time, its pathetic to see them try to wiggle their way out inspite of mounting public opinion in their own country, as well as a Judges clear and concise rejection of their position. Yet they still allow their players and press to hawk their brand of snake oil. Gentlemen in the hallowed halls of the MCG and Lords, the game is up.
Its over, hasta la vista, gutten nacht.
Keep your reputations at least.

It is no coincidence that, since most Indians have only recently have access to television, that there has been a massive change in the attitude of the Indian public and officials. The huge amount of revenue from billions more viewers and the subsequent frenzy of gambling in the sub continent, has consequences, (such as the crowd behaviour in India recently).
Andrew Symonds has had a long road to make the top team, and has behaved well, on and off the field.
With the hectic schedule of flights, hotels, training, injury treatments, media and charity committments, I find it hard to believe that Symonds would invent allegations, that would result in investigations interrupting the limited time available to prepare for the next match.
I wish I had some of Andrew Symonds' genetics,and I think there may be some Indians, who think the same.

Posted by: Liam 32 minutes ago
"So the fact that he said Harbi probably did racially vilify Symonds is OK"

Liam - a classic dichotomy, the same as the small ingredient missing from the entire Australian media diet,"fact" and "probably" are key operators that effectively render your argument useless.
In other words, there is no fact with respect to hearsay.
Pretty much sums up the entire Australian mood, hang him because he *might* have said it. Period!
Well welcome down, luckily there are impartial white judges who dont think or act that way.
Why dont you Australians take the time and dissect Hansen's judgement and see where the fallacies in it are rather that shooting of hyperbole after after hyperbole spruced with red herrings.
a)Burden of proof
b)Symonds needless instigation
c)Insofar Australians are utterly unable to hold Symonds culpable for starting the whole fracas by abusing Singh, totally uncalled for.You only hear deafening silence when asked why.

One thing's for sure. Anyone will think twice before abusing an opposition player on the field of play for fear of being dragged to the courts. If this unsavoury incident can rid the game of abusive sledging then we will have achieved something a lot more substantial than the game's administrators have managed to in a long time. Left to their own devices, you'd sooner than later have seen a physical assault on the field of play as a result of these insults.

Great article, Mukul, very balanced and incisive. Although the comparison to Bush was probably over the top!

A lot is being made of the racism part - Calling someone a monkey (or bandar) is NOT a racist comment in India. While calling someone a motherf****r or bastard is an insult that can only be replied to by spilling blood. So, it is okay for the aussies to call an Indian player a bastard, (for which the Indian team was gracious enough to withdraw its complaint) but an Indian player should not call an aussie a monkey .... and that too after being the subject of abuse .....oooooh, who's the crybaby here? More power to Bhaji and the new Indian Team, which will not take it lying down, like the old Indian teams.

Hi Mukul

I was waiting for this post as I was pretty sure you would put your comments on this series in a consolidated effort. Nicely summed up and except for the George Bush angle which was a bit way off

Another thing i found interesting is the number of stories that came from the indian camp
First: Harbi had said nothing
Second: Monkey is actually a term of veneration
Third: He actually used a hindi phrase instead

Surely he must have known what was said

Dear Mukul,

Judge Hansen's report spared nobody. Nobody came off the hearing smelling like roses. His observations were correct.
Symmonds had no business to interfere in what was a very friendly exchange between Lee and Harbajan.
Bad decisions by neutral umpires are not Aussies problem. ICC has to bring in a system that would proactively rate umpires.
It is sad that Gilly's farewell party getting overshadowed by these events. A great cricketer and a fine gentleman. We need more of those. It is here I find Ishant Sharma's gestures so refreshing. I think there is much for Harbajan and Sreesanth to learn from this teenager.

Play it hard and tough but without tantrums and sledging please. We do need any McEnroe's here. Sledging is legalized abuse. Period!
Remember what the great Don said? "I would give one warning to a sledging player and the next time he will not play in my team".
Sachin, Brett Lee, Gilly, VVS, Dravid - Great names, no games.
India and Aussies, Rock on!

Now that Hansen's report clearly proves that Symonds abused Harbhajan and he was the one who started it without provocation, can the Indian Team complain against Symonds?

haha this whole issue is nothing else but ricky ponting's valiant effort to push the limelight to bhajji instead of his failure in the series and Australia's not being able to secure 18 consecutive wins. No body is talking about how Australia's batting failed or they are no more the champions .......having lost in Perth....but just talking about did bhajji said monkey or maaki. I am sure neither symonds or rest of aussie team cares wut bhajji said ....as if they understand his accent....i am sure half of bhajji's word go over the top of aussie's players head.... so guys be real and dont buy into any of this nonsense....just continue on with the cricket and stop this mindless crap.....

From the responses here it appears to me that the majority of Indian cricket fans strongly support the condemnation of Australian cricket and everything it stands for and has stood for in the past. Therefore, why not take this stance to its logical conclusion and cease playing cricket against Australia.

Astonishingly comprehensive, balanced and thoughtful. I think MK is absolutely right in his conjecture that it was Sachin and Kumble who decided the course of action, and the BCCI was led by the nose into the action. For me, the best part was reading Judge Hansen putting Symonds in his place as well as Clarke. As for those of you who think Clarke's catch off Ganguly was clean, I really don't know what to say. Truth, like beauty, seems to lie entirely in the eyes of the beholder. If ever a catch was scooped off the turf, it was that one. If the upshot of this whole ugly mess is that sledging (what a stupid euphemism for utterly unsporting and immature behavior!) is greatly reduced, it will have still all been worth it.

The phrase “Ugly Aussie” can now easily be changed to “Hypocrite Aussie”.
After decades of constant “gutter” language and abuse…..which includes McGrath enquiring of Sarwan about the edible nature of Lara’s private parts to Lehman calling Jayasuriya a “black ….”(to name just a couple of instances), Australia now has the disgusting audacity to take the moral high ground?

Its simple ….if you cant take it, don’t dish it out.
McGrath and co. have never even been reprimanded for their gutter behaviour, never mind banned from games.
Now when an opposing player supposedly retorts with a “monkey” after clearly being instigated, the Indians are supposed to just let him hang…
While an entire generation of “Ugly Aussies” get away scot free for their gutter behaviour.

Aussie journalists are living in glass houses ,so they should be just that much more careful before they even attempt to take the moral high ground.

The aggression needs to be directed in the acitivities of the play; rather than influencing the atmoshphere. Aussies have developed that trick to baffle the competing teams by sledging which is not cricket. Is n't this a workaround to overcome some weakness of the art of the cricketing skills? They certainly won by baffling the team, intimidating the umpire. Even their media starts whirling around the other teams, why? Why are they so afraid of a loss - and if they can't take a loss; they wouldn't improve in the very skills; and induldge more in extraneous skills like sledging. Please stop this !

Much Ado about nothing.....

Australians are rude and boorish and still/will indulge in sledging..Indians try to imitate them by mouthing 4 letter words and think they are cool.

Mike Proctor is the biggest racist among all involved. Time and again, he has tried his best to put sub-continental teams at their place.

Appalling thing that surfaced out of this ruckus is that professional cricketers will go unimagined lengths pushing for a victory/gaining a slight edge by adopting mental disintegration techniques , blatantly claiming a catch of a bump ball or standing ground after obviously nicking the ball..

ENOUGH!!!

Mukul,I am disappointed at what your article sums up despite having agreements to a few in between. The bottomline is both the teams are to be blamed, I am convinced. I am an Indian and yes I do feel disappointed at some of those contentious decisions going against the Indian team in the Sydney test, but then I do not condone behavior demonstrated by Harbhajan or for that matter Sreeshanth. If we are good we can prove it on the field by doing what actually matters, do we have to ape the others and match them verbally to stake a claim to our strength? I for one respect the Australians as a champion side. Yes, what they do outside the perview of the game is sometimes debateable and unacceptable, but then so do we. Why point the fingers at others all the time. I have no grudges against Ricky for doing what anyone under the law would have done by reporting Bhajji, however I would have respected him more had he resolved it amongst the players. Now pls. let this already stretched case rest.

Absolutely spot on! You have been able to isolate each and every issue really well and analyse it in the right context there after, unlike other Indian publications who just messed it up into one huge ball of 'insult' to our nation. There was absolutely no 'national interests' on the part of the Referee or the umpires or the Aussie players for that matter. It was plain Australian hegemony and the challenge BCCI put to it by flexing its muscle. In classic Bollywood style the 'bad' had been brought to end using another 'bad'. Even the great Shri Krishna had to resort to 'below the belt' hits in the great Mahabharata and He justified it saying 'A bad thing done for the betterment & upliftment of the society and to eradicate evil is always fine!' Thats how I see it. Australian hegemony had to be challenged and brought to an end. BCCI, although using unethical methods(spurred by Tendulkar, Kumble et al)nevertheless ended this evil and they should be congratulated for this at least

Can you imagine the response if i went into the street in Australia and burned effigies of Indian players officials or umpires

And for those of you that think monkey is not a racist term have a google of the english premier league and the trouble they have had with that term

@CF
India beat Australia hands down even when they were a better team than this, that is back in 2001, when the Aussies had McGrath, Warne, Gillespie, the Waugh brothers, Ponting, Hayden , Langer and Gilchrist. And we didn't have our main bowler Anil Kumble in that series. So I think you can shut up about the ability of this Indian side.

Furthermore, I love how Ponting's acting all disappointed about the judgment. What about Kumble? Isn't he entitled to be disappointed when Yuvraj gets reported for dissent but neither Ponting nor Symonds (who both showed their bats to umpires after being given out) gets pulled up by the umpire? Isn't he entitled to be disappointed when Michael Clarke claims a grounded catch despite there having been a clear agreement before the series regarding it, and then doesn't get called in by the same referee who banned Rashid Latif for a similar infraction some years ago? What sort of justice is that?

what a rubbish,the author so biased given a chance it will be blame Oz for all problems in india, i request cricinfo not to publish this kind of rubbish article.

Ah! Greatly put! Facts!
Now it dawns on me why Australia has not given captaincy to real worthy players like Gilchrist and give it to players of (lets say) questionable moral cricket spirit like Ponting and Clake!
And what a mess Ponting + Proctor made with the appeal and judgmement - this will change the dirty aussie tactics forever... and that great for cricket!
-Amen

Well written. I am sure Australian will ignore it and not reprint in the newspapers here. I remember Australian behaviour even as far back as Dennis Lillee and the incident with Javed Miandad when Javed threatened to hit Lillee with the bat. May be things will change with the arrival of India. The Indian players including Harbhajan Singh and Sreeshant will give them back as good as they receive. That is what Australia needs.

well said mate well said

A more parochial article has rarely been written. If the Indians feel that the Australian/English power of the past was unfair, why do they emulate it? The worst I have heard about the time the Aussie/Pom had power was of blinkered and patronizing 'for the good of the game' manner. Not good, but immeasurably better than the despicably self-interested approach of the BCCI.
And how about Tendulkar. Apparently in the hearing with Proctor he didn't hear anything, and the first I heard of the teri maki was as a suggestion by a lawyer days after the initial hearing. Now Tendulkar's story changes and he heard Harbhajan say 'teri maki', while even this one-eyed 'journalist' accepts that Harbhajan most likely said monkey. Combine this with the reported text message that inflamed the whole affair and his saintly image has to take one hell of a hit.

Indians are known world wide of complaining until they get there own way, and this gentlemans argument dissuades me none in this opinion. The only difference in cricket they have the money.

Take a look at the fourth test karthik is a disgrace, spitting at michael clark. Get over your self righteous attitude and take a good look at how your team of angels play, more than twice the amount of sanctions than any other team.

Oh yeah thats right its a white mans conspiracy that makes indian players so dirty.

grow up

Brilliant piece of cricket writing. I won't say anything more as the comments made before mine say a lot

Mr. Dean - you said - The facts are that the Australians have been reported much less than most other teams in the last few years, whereas India is one of the worst. Attempting to justify or ignore this fact by categorising what is ok and what is not ok is clearly not your job. It is for the ICC to determine what is ok, and what is not, and based on their rules the Australians have not transgressed at all in the last year -- BIG EXAMPLE OF ICC BIAS - McGrath - Sarwan issue -- nothing happend to pigeon !! :)

THe aussies have always had a tradition of bad behaviour. When the chappels will comment aggressively at the windies batsmen.Just because this bunch of cricketers wouldnt have seen doesnt mean that no body is aware of all those.

Now coming to the present sydney match, after all the hype by waugh and others that this team is a great team that can win 30consequitive wins ( probably they (symonds..) would have betted also) they were under pressure and feared their chain may get brocken (which really happened at Perth) and hence when bhajji made a friendly gesture, they got provoked. It was very visible the way the reactions were going on and ponting persuading the umpire to talk in their favor( very indecent for Ponting). On the otherhand, innocent Indians were playing to save their face and they succeded in doing so with sachin and bhajji and thinking that it will be taken sportingly. All of a sudden when a friendly gesture is returned with hostility they were taken aback.

Well I liked the article, yet I do feel that 3 things have to be mentioned
1. Harbhajan did sledge!
2. The Australian way of cricket is good, their antics are not!
3. There is no such thing as racist in language, it’s the behavior that says it all.

In India monkeys are given GOD status. Indians use words like monkey or donkey with out a second thought. It is just like the F*** or B******. Harbhajan’s T*** M** K* is the same - though in my opinion I would have preferred he said mon***, than the other word.

Australian comments like it p***** me off sure stinks of racism. They have all the time sledged but know the right way of doing it - others will learn soon. That is going to be hard to swallow for them. It is best they play cricket their own way and show the rest of the world how it should be played right! Please spare us the antics!

Behavior is all that matters in the gentleman’s game. I liked the way Gilly played and I still do Sachin.

Harbhajan may say "MAAKI" that is a common word agresively used in India.Australia might listened it as Monkey.Anyway MAKI MONKEY IS Common word used in India and BASTARD is a common word used in Australia.We all know which is Abusive.

I think Paul McGuiness is right. India should not play Australia any more and Australian players should be banned from IPL. That should fix the Australian players and Cricket Australia.

While every Indian fan is still jumping up and down about the Sydney test yes Australia would probably have won the Third test but for bodgie decisions against Hussey and Symonds - it was only a 72 run margin. I happen to agree that Australia for whatever reason with both home town and neutral umpires has traditionally been advantaged in decisions - witness Tendulkar lbw to a bouncer! However the standard of Indian home umpiring was worse for years - some of the lbw decisions handed to Gilchrist in India even made his jaw drop. Australia has been the best team in world cricket for over a decade, and probably the best ever - witness two 16 consecutive winning test runs included. That cannot be taken away despite the meaner politics of international cricket and the maniacal rantings of cricket observers worldwide. Australia has had a tendency to ease off after a trophy has been regained. As for the other side - if you can't win on the field, resort to plan B - character assassination!

Maybe if the Australians want to be loved like the West Indies they should charge the umpire like Colin Croft or kick down the stumps like Michael holding or throw a brick into the crowd like Sylvester Clarke.

Here’s to rose tinted glasses and a lack of facts.

Maybe if the Australians want to be loved like the West Indies they should charge the umpire like Colin Croft or kick down the stumps like Michael holding or throw a brick into the crowd like Sylvester Clarke.

Here’s to rose tinted glasses and a lack of facts.

Good article. The fact that Michael Clark is now the vice captain further demonstrates the fact that CA wants to push a player who is a proven cheater ahead of someone like a Michael Hussey. Ricky Ponting for all his negetive qualities is a proven world class performer and a match winner. The new breed of aussie cricketers have not faced too many defeats and as a result are too arrogant without too many worthwhile contributions in the middle. I have full faith in the fact that cricket being a great leveller would sort out these pretenders. The only indian batsmen to cross 50 in this series have been those who have toured here before. What we will see in the upcoming one dayer is more of indian aggression and less of quality and the same can be said of the aussie team as well.

Wonderfully well written!!!
Your comparison of Ponting to Bush was the most striking...to be honest i have often felt the same about the way they talk, even before reading your article. Thanku.

Successful teams have always pressed the line in trying to achieve ultimate success - take NZ's multi hull in the Americas Cup, drugs in sport or space technology in the Luge. As cricket, at the highest level is played 80% in the mind why shouldnt this be tested?
What's lost here is the fact that the article focuses on why the Australians deserve to lose this fight, what is avoided is that a player racially abuses another and then can get his team mates and governing body to circle around him in a protective circle. In no other walk of life or sport would we try and condone racism in any way, however your article has conveniently side stepped this issue by bringing focus upon others involved. Either write an article on racism in cricket or one on the mind games of the Australians or the ineptitude of the ICC to counter the power of the Asian block but dont insult us by mixing the three to condone the actions of a racism.

I think the disgruntled Aussies who are complaining about Harbhajan's let-off should read the complete report by Judge Hansen. He has stopped short of calling Hayden and Clarke liars and explained why he thought that they were unreliable witnesses. Apparently, all they could remember about the whole altercation was that Harbhajan called Symonds a "big monkey". They couldn't remember having heard anything else, not even what Symonds said (even though he was speaking in English the entire time). Please read what Judge Hansen had to say about Symonds.

Very very well written Mukul, thanks for such a deep and detailed insight into the entire issue. What i feel here id that the Australians were just not prepared to see Bhajji score runs against them and the entire episode rattled them totally. This is probably the most indecent, rude and evious Australian side ever seen. Hope they learn from this episode and behave !!!

RE: Paul McGuiness

The real issue is that the Aussies can dish it out but they can not take it when they are at the receiving end. And, this is even more so when they are not winning. Having lost consistently to India in one form of cricket (20-20), they are so insecure of doing so in test cricket as well, that this time they ran crying to the umpires.

Why should we stop playing the Aussies? They will be dust beneath our chariot wheels the next time we meet ..... it is the Aussies who should be concerned about whether they want to play India.

HA!

Good article Mukul. I just pity Symonds. I am very much convinced that Harbajan would have said "Teri Maa Ki" and Symonds took it as "Monkey". To me the what Bajji said is far worse than what Symonds took. Still not sure whether Symonds understands what "Teri Maa Ki " mean. The biggest confusion for me is for the people who use words like 'bastard' in a friedly gesture how come a word called 'monkey' become racial abuse.

Mukul, you forgot to mention the Australian TV umpire who gave his Queensland mate Symonds not out. The Australians squeezed everything out of the Sydney test. No stone left unturned to screw the Indians.

symonds abuses harbhajan for a friendly gesture to his team-mate. harbhanjan retaliates with choice hindi abuses. at the end of it, harbhajan gets a fine and also his reputation is in tatters. Symonds walks away without any punishment and is portrayed as the victim by the western media.
what a joke!! and the aussies are "disappointed"
I very sincerely hope that bhajji had actually called the foul mouthed jerk a monkey!

symonds abuses harbhajan for a friendly gesture to his team-mate. harbhanjan retaliates with choice hindi abuses. at the end of it, harbhajan gets a fine and also his reputation is in tatters. Symonds walks away without any punishment and is portrayed as the victim by the western media.
what a joke!! and the aussies are "disappointed"
I very sincerely hope that bhajji had actually called the foul mouthed jerk a monkey!

Of course Harbajan called Symonds a monkey. But c'mon - 'monkey'? You get offended at the word monkey?

Leave that rubbish on the field and get on with it.

Hurt the Indians where it matters - on the field. Defeat them, or make a match so one-sided that the only possibility is an Inidan loss and the TV ratings will decline also. Now that would hurt. Monkey? Who cares?

First things first , whether Harbhajan made a racial comment or not can never be substantiated.If he had made a racial comment , he was wrong completely. But in any court of law what cant be proven cannot be judged.

There is no point in Australians hanging their jaws and brooding, like all decisions in cricket some go your way some dont.

Bingo Mukul!
I was impatiently waiting for your piece to appear ever since the conclusion of 4th test...you brilliantly analytical piece is worth the wait. What most respondents ignore is the deeply insightful and crucial socio/political/cultural context you provide for a sport-ing issue! The reaction of Western media and their bloggers is hardly a surprise.....they are seething because they are helpless-the lot of the indian teams not too long ago! Peter Roebuck has written so much on the issue taking positions- overt, covert for india er for Australia-despite his notion of a sage he's become a confused wreck! As I speak he wrote another lengthy piece. Any indian can easily understand that it's not BCCI that flexed muscles/biceps but the truly incensed players! I felt so outraged, watching on Internet in far away USA, by the sydney turn of events it would have been a shock if players involved in the heat of the battle stood silent!

The problem with the Aussie bloggers is that they believe what is shown to them by Channel 9. The fact that Pointing and Clarke grassed the ball never got mentioned at Channel 9 and it was Ian Chappell who brought it up subsequently after he had seen the replays commentating with ESPN. The Media has a habit of making a mess of things with extremely polarized views.

With Harbhajan, I feel that he must have said "monkey" to Symonds which resulted in the ruckus. The fact that he had said it earlier too would have compounded the seriousness with with Australia took it. But then again ... how do you maintain a record of whatever is said on the pitch?

What is Harbhajan says "You bloody monkey" to Symonds on the field some way off from the stump mic?

Also on Harbhajan being provoked, does provocation give you the license to do whatever you feel like, right or wrong?

Interesting people talking about dishing it out and copping it back - when Lehmann was caught calling Jayasuria a "black c***", he admitted it (no respect for Harbijan for lying about it and even less for Sachin lying as well - I used to have him on a pedistal. No more).
Lehmann apologised (the act of a real man), and accepted the punishment. Was there audio of that incident? No. But he admitted he was wrong, apologised and took his medicine.

What did Harbijan and the Indians do? They lied.
The BCCI hijacked world cricket during a dark dark week for our sport.

They chartered planes to reinforce their threats.
They DEMANDED Harbijan be cleared.
What of justice and a fair trial? That's clearly not one of the Indians' strong points. Instead they flex their financial muscle knowing that Australian cricket and the sport itself could ill afford the coming series to be abandoned.

I shudder to think the reaction if the Aussie team went about racially vilifying Indian players.

This was one of the most hideously unbalanced article I've read on this issue. This was a biased opinion article - not journalism. Why is it that when ever an Australian is charged with misconduct they take it on the chin and apologise, but when an Indian player is charged they cry innocence and threaten to boycot games? I'm not vindicating the Australians of provocation - claerly the on-field umpires should be instructed to step in and rectify issues when they arise. They should also be keeping a closer eye on the 'chit chat' before things get out of hand. All this talk of cheating however is rubbish. From which ever biased eye you look at replays you fall on one side or the other, but there was certainly enough of a grey area in all of these decisions. Then ganging up on a great servant of the game such as Bucknor. No respect given for his long and ditinguished career. He was human - perhaps it was time to retire, but a team can't go on strike because of a few bad decisions.

great,great article,100% correct.

What a load of rubbish. This article a totally jinoistic vuew. It can be summarized as "Lndia right, Australia wrong, to hell with the evudence". It is a travesty to call it journalism. Cricinfo shoul be ashamed to publish it.
Both teams have behaved badjy in Sydney and this type of article only aggravates matters. Both Symonds and Singh need to apologise to their opponents and team-mates, and take a hard look at their behaviour. Both Singh and Kartick behaved as badly in Adelaide as any Australian has done in the last 20 years. It's about time the extremists of India and Austraiia looked at the larger picture. Their current attitudes will destroy the game.

Is it cricket, economics or world politics??
Base your comments on the game. The lovely game of cricket is uglied by powerhouses and media pundits. Let cricketers play with their true spirit and authorities handle their responsibilities. Some of you guys are infected with mad cow decease. Get a life man, it's only sport.

Everyone is assuming that bhajji said the racial slur and damning him without proof. Please check Judge Hansen's comments and Tendulkar's recorded statements. Remember Symonds started it. Bringing up Bhajji's previous record, as serial offender is lame for being aggressive and australian.

India has been a poor guest. A carping, whining distant relative who pushes and bullies and leaves nothing but angst and chaos in their wake. A petulant child sulking one moment and breaking the crockery the next. They are passive aggressive and demanding, far beyond their right. Please go home, India. Please. We cannot take any more of this woeful traveling opera. We are weary. Lets just let it be over now before we both say something we will regret. Take your wounded victim face and your petulant bully face, and turn them homewards. You will be happy. We will be happy. There will be peace and all will be well. Blessed peace. Goodbye.

Comments from Indians around the world over the last month or so have been redolent with (often unconscious) rascism. Again today a BCCI official is quoted as saying they could never accept a charge of rascism against an Indian player. Is that because rascism is a white thing - that it is impossible for a black man to be rascist? Delicious irony! Australians have been playing English County cricket for decades. Nobody in Australia cares. Whether they play in India's new domestic competition or not, nobody in Australia will care. By the way, for those Indians who have been throwing the Cronulla riots in our faces, how many people died? None! How many mosques have been burned and Muslims murdered in India in this short century? Hundreds! The sooner Tendulkar and the Indian team gets on their chartered plane and leaves this country the better.

To Mukund Joshi, in one comment you say Australia's behaviour is unacceptable, and in the next you congratulate Bhaji for giving it back and how India needs to. So what is it? You can't have both! It was shown in the last 2 tests when Australia were silent yet India acted outside the spirit of the game. You can't take both stances mate.

Brilliant!!! Absolutely brilliant!! Mukul, u da man!!! The best take on the issue thus far! My favourite line in this story ... "The Indian board has no interest in cricket as such: witness the absurd schedule it framed for the Indian team. Left to itself, the Board would have hung Harbhajan up to dry (as it had sacrificed Bishan Bedi over the 'Vaseline' affair decades ago) and gone on with the tour: "!!! Amazing!! More articles please!!

harbhajan escaped simply because he didnt have the heart to admit it. plain and simple!
but its sad to see a great player like tendulkar came to his rescue and supporting his crap 'teri ma ki' version! what a nonsense!!!

Contd..

Aussies should stop taking pathetic refuge in 'hard but fair'philosophy which is anything but! it beats me that how can anyone abuse/behave so abominably and call it sportmanship! For this reason Australia will not be embraced even if they win 100 tests consecutively. There's obviously something that every team can learn from all conquering West Indies when vanquished teams felt pride even when battered! Teams should compete on the field in their area of expertise and nothing more. nothing less! I fervently wish BCCI realises that all the millions will come to nought when we cannot compete with the best on a sustained basis! Nothing can beat sheer skill/performance on the field as demonstrated by Sachin(his bid for immortality is very much on), indomitable Kumble and the ever special, dear VVS!
India if it chooses to...can indeed dictate....but let's produce players who dictate play on the field much like the trimvirate!

Excellent one mukul.. very refreshing to read the whole saga. Aussies are infact bad losers, and they cant take the fact that India is challenging them in everyway. School boyish stuff from so called World Champions..

Does 'hard but fair' also mean bowing under arm when the opposition requires six off the last ball?
Come on Australia, your cricket may be slick but your cricketers are slimy.
Get rid of the latter and lets have more of the former.

America rules baseball. India rules cricket. End of story.

And as for having a go at Australian's as people, what absolute rot. Sure we have some idiots amongst us (believe me, they live next door to me), but you do also, as evidenced by the Mumbai racism in the crowd with the mankey banners, and the seemingly endless burning of effigies and threats of violence against umpires and cricket players. Is this not boorish and uncivilised behaviour. I just wish once, just once, all fans would look at these players as human, with human strengths and frailties, not based on who they play for, but based on the fact we are all flawed. If the media hadn't been around this would have all blown over in two days and the brushfire would not have taken hold. Ponting I feel sorriest for, he is bearing the brunt of everything for playing hard, and for lacking polish. He was brought up working class, and in the working class, there are no airs and graces. It makes him a great combatant, but not a great statesman. He does not deserve the vitriol for any of this

It seems popular to slam the Australians for the way they play the game. The thing is that much of this seems to be baseless, and some of it culturally based. For example I found Sharma's blatant time wasting in the Sydney test a much worse example of a 'professional foul' than a bit of sledging, but I accept an Indian may feel differently. In any case, the records show, the Aussies over the last few years have been reported for their behavior less than any other country. What's more spend 5 minutes on YouTube and you'll find numerous examples crimes against cricket NOT committed by Aussies.
The Aussies admit to a hard-nosed approach, and are more skilled at approaching the line, but they rarely cross it. Most importantly when the do cross it, they cop their punishment with diplomatic good grace. What's more CA wouldn't accept anything less. They certainly wouldn't try to influence the outcome of a hearing, even in the days when they had a bit more power.

This is addressed to Mukul Kesavan or others that care to read this.Let's just use facts here not some George Bush symmetry.Besides,while we're discussing analogies,I looked up some images of Mukul Kesavanand and well,people in glass houses....
1. The dust had not even settled on the 2nd test before India demanded that Bucknor be dropped. Bucknor was dropped.
2. The Indian team demanded that Harbhajan's case be delayed till after the series when typically an appeal to a decision is usually 7 days. As we all know it was yesterday when this took place some 3 weeks after.
3.The Indian team officials were quoted on Jan 8 as "the tour will continue for the present".
And?
4.The judge you're back slapping?Quoted as saying he'd enforce a more severe penalty had he known Harbhajan's previous infringemnets.
India can't hold the game to ransom.We should have let India go.At the end of the day,India might control the game off the field but Australia will always control the game on the field

Mukul, this could have been a great piece of writing if you had only resisted the temptation to get carried away by the silly comparison of Ponting to Bush in Iraq (I mean come on... if you are going for a 'reasonable' argument that's a bit non-helpful...) and by slandering Clarke's character. Would you now say the same of Ganguly for his failure to leave the crease after clearly edging behind?

All in all not a bad effort though, if only we could all just put our nationalistic vision to one side for a while. Who knows, we might even learn to respect our obvious differences.

A more parochial article has rarely been written. If the Indians feel that the Australian/English power of the past was unfair, why do they emulate it? The worst I have heard about the time the Aussie/Pom had power was of blinkered and patronizing 'for the good of the game' manner. Not good, but immeasurably better than the despicably self-interested approach of the BCCI.
And how about Tendulkar. Apparently in the hearing with Proctor he didn't hear anything, and the first I heard of the teri maki was as a suggestion by a lawyer days after the initial hearing. Now Tendulkar's story changes and he heard Harbhajan say 'teri maki', while even this one-eyed 'journalist' accepts that Harbhajan most likely said monkey. Combine this with the reported text message that inflamed the whole affair and his saintly image has to take one hell of a hit.

Justice Hansen has left the case unfinished. He has not clarified whether monkey is a racist word under any circumstances. Monkies are going to the apex court for calling them Andrew Symonds.

So brinksmanship is okay? So when Kumble agreed that any allegations of racism were to be reported to the umpires so they could deal with it, he was wrong? So the evidence of two people outweighs the evidence of 4 people? So it is legitimate to say "we want an independent umpire, but if WE think he gets it wrong then WE will take our bat and ball and go home?" You think it is acceptable to racially abuse a player? You really think this is good for cricket? Either the rules apply to everyone, or they don't exist. The only people trying to "eyeball" their opponents were the Indians. Ponting was doing exactly what Kumble had agreed that he would do if he was in that situation.

Just imagine if it was the other way round, and Symonds called Harbijan a monkey, and three other Indian players said he did, and Gilly said he didn't. If Australia was to follow the Indian lead, would that be good for cricket? I can't believe I'm reading this kind of shrill nationalism on a global blog.

mukul brilliant work.factually very correct& to the point. I am a indian fan but not awild eyed one.all the anglo journalists are describing the judgement as bcci's bullyishness but forget that judge hansen said that if a player pats a player from the opposite team for good show and his teammate in this case symonds, objects to it and waggs his tounge, needs to be reprimanded and if not done future of cricket is dark. KUDOS to you
for writing such an article

It really doesn't matter what Harbajan said or didn't say. I've long been embarrassed by Australia's antics on the field, but I'm shocked to see so few Indians on feedback columns like this showing a similar reaction to the antics of Harbajan, Kumble, as leader of the squad which threatened to cancel the tour (twice) if things didn't go the way they wanted, and the BCCI, who backed up harbajan and his captain, who thought they were bigger than they game and didn't have to abide by the process that the BCCI itself had a hand in creating. I don't really feel sorry for the Australians; they deserve to get one back in the face more often than they do. What I do feel sorry about is that the BCCI seems to naively believe that it's players are incapable of wrongdoing (just as they embarrassingly claimed that Indian crowds were not chanting 'monkey'), and will make a decision from afar that it will flaunt justice and use it's financial might to bully other cricket associations into submission.

Harbhajan's guilty an idiot can see that(an innoncent man would have been aquitted)he was lucky that the ICC stuffed up and didn't have the previous offences. The Indians behaviour since Sydney has been appalling the BCCI has held the ICC to ransom with their threats and every single demand was met. Poor Steve Bucknor who made 2 mistakes only Symonds and Dravid (you can cry all you like about claimed catches) as both Pontings and Clarkes were both catches, Karticks pathetic claim of a catch in Adelaide was another story yet he carried on like a dickhead and even SPAT at Michael Clarke, what was the suspicious object Laxman put into his pocket in Perth? funnily enough the ball swung alot for the Indians. The Indians are hypocrits to accuse any nation of cheating (they should look in their own backyard) it's not the fault of the opposing team when umpires make mistakes. Harbhajan is a disgrace to India Tendulkar has lost respect over this and the BCCI are now known as dictators.

I think we should see the big picture in what India did.
1. Everyone (even most of the Australians) agree that Australian way of sledging ('mental disintigration' my foot) is a desease and world cricket needs to be cleansed of it.
2. What India has done is to send a strong message that Australian hegemony needs to end.
3. While I don't completely agree with the means, perhaps ends satisfy the means. Just see the change in Australian Cricket Team's behaviour on the field between the first two tests and the next two tests!
Personally I believe Ponting is immature and igoistic. He has over the past shown utter disrespect for a lot of Cricket personalities (remember the incident in World Cup Finals Awards Ceremony?). I sense many cricket fans all over the world have similar feelings.

I guess the problem here is actually the ICC's relucatnce in framing clear cut guidelines on code of conduct. The tendency has always been to allow culture specific bad behavior in the name of bravado on the field. It just doesn't make sense why Andrew Symonds should think he has the right to question Harbhajan on why he can't pat Lee on his back when Lee and the Umpire never had any issues with it. If it really was offensive, Lee would have been the first to protest. This entire thing about mateship on the field and 'standing up for your teammate' is total crap and makes things ambiguous from a code of conduct point of view. In the game of football, South Americans are known to consider 'diving' and 'faking injuries' to earn freekicks as a done thing and something to be proud of. However in the international stage they get reprimanded for such behavior and I have neever seen them protesting against that. In the same lines, sledging should be stopped, even if it's ok to the Australians

One other point is the timing of Symonds' provocation. Till then the series had been well played (according to ponting himself), mainly because Indians were struggling to put a fight. The first signs of Indian resistance start, Symonds cannot tolerate that, he starts provoking Harbhajan. Isnt this proof enough that that the australians will do anything to win and that they are poor losers ?

Symonds, may be, thought that if he provokes, Harbhajan would get pissed off and get out (just like in Lagaan :-)). Harbhajan gave it back and Symonds started weeping like a ummm,...well, baby :-).

Ummm .... so no one finds Harbijan telling Symonds that he has sexual intercourse with his mother far worse than Monkey or Bastard ? What a strange, lopsided world we live in ...

As a Sri Lankan watching this series between India and Australia, I am appalled by the conduct of both sides. Australia, have been sledging and racially abusing other teams for several decades, eg. when Arjuna walked out, he was called far worse things than "monkey" by the Australian players. It seems when the Aussies get it back, they cant cope with it. It is sad that one of the very few gallant sportsman, Adam Gilchrist is retiring, he is a great example of what Cricket is about, All Australian and other criket players should take a leaf from his book. The Indians have no right no to ask for umpire Bucknor to be removed. Yes he had a bad game, but so do so many others. It is sad that the "whiteness" of one team and "financial reigns" of another team seem to shape the current series.

The biggest load of dribble I have read in a while, have a look at H.Singh refusing to walk after being clean bowled in a ODI recently against England and MS Dhoni claiming a catch off Pieterson in the recent test series in England. The fact is Australia are #1, India were outclasses again and to be perfectly honest most Australians would rather go back to the good old days when India didn't tour here for eight years. Bring on the Ashes...

Spot on Mukul ! I wish some Australian journalists would learn from this.

Poor form Mukul, and all those who think this is an excellent piece. Some valid points which we already knew, but the ridiculous comparison of Ponting to George Bush and the general character assassination of the Australian captain (what does his onfield habits such as spitting on his hands have to do with anything?) shows where your biases lie. Please Mukul, as an Indian I'm begging you to stop dwelling on this issue and swallow your pride and move on. I have and the real supporters have. You and your effigy burning companions need to get your thinking into the 21st century and not along the lines of an Anglo/Asian division which seems etched in your minds.

What a great piece man. I am overawed by your literary skill and analysis. Wish I could write like this. Simply the best analysis of the lot. I have to bookmark it for my life.
Coming back to the incident, though as an India, you have got valid points to prove the growing change in world cricker, a few remarks like comparison of Bush and Ponting, his spitting on the palms were over the top. Nevertheless your mentioning of solidarity of Indian team, read Tendulkar and senior co. was top class. You hit the nail on its head. Give this peace to Messrs Roebuck, Craddock etc. Finally, I hope India does well in the coming one-dayers, because perrformance is what matters at the end of day.

It is amazing to see how our Aussie friends here take their players' word for some kind of a gospel truth. Aussie after Aussie is accusing Bhajji of lying and Sachin of supporting a liar. My friends, you ought to remember the men who accused him: Symonds, Ponting, Clarke and Hayden: none of them are exactly saints. That is why the accusation stood a snowball's chance in hell of making it. You saw the results, didn't you? And those crying that it was the BCCI's money power that did the trick: it is just a case of sour grapes.

Its funny how the same people who were telling us that umpires and referess decisions are final and should be respected are now going on about how Harbhajan should have been punished. The downgrading of charge was at the instance of the australian team lawyer who felt that a level 3 charge could not be sustained due to lack of evidence. It had nothing to do with the flying saucer waiting at the Melbourne airport.

I'd hardly call this article balanced - basically it says the Australians are liars and cheats. It’s given "Aussie haters" another forum to vent. I wonder if people would be so critical of the Australians if they weren't winning. I'm disappointed that cricinfo permits such poor journalism. If this is the future of cricket and cricket journalism I'll be watching other sports.

When Sangakkara was wrongly given out in Hobart last year, he walked without complaint. There were certainly no requests to remove the match's Test status because of a few bad decisions which MIGHT have changed the game. And had one of them been reported, the humble Sri Lankans certainly would not have threatened to boycott the one-day series. There is a proper example of how an increasingly powerful subcontinental team should conduct itself - rather than crying racism and doing ANYTHING to get their own way.

One of the better articles I've read in the past couple of days as opposed to the biased BS thrown at us by Roebuck and his ilk!

What everyone seems to be missing here is what Bhajji actually said as opposed to what the Aussies claim he said. According to the judge's report, all he said was 'Teri Maa Ki' ..... a very common profanity in Punjab (the state that Bhajji hails from .....abt. 2 in a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being very offensive).

Now, in the heat of the battle, Symonds could have easily misinterpreted that as 'monkey'. Add the element of a non-local (to Symonds atleast) accent to the mix, and the probability that Symonds misheard Bhajji increases significantly!!!

One last point. Symonds claims that the reason he went up to Bhajji in the first place is because he patted Brett Lee on the back! Fine...however stupid it may sound...no touching...point taken. Then, what about Brett Lee tapping Sachin on his helmet later in the tour?!? Aussies gotta practice what they preach!!

As an Indian-Australian i am ashamed of the actions of the Indian team and it's defensive attitude of serial offender harbajhan.We as indians can't take the high moral ground after the behaviour of our crowds on the recent australian tour.....Mumbai was a disgrace.We see ourselves as having a WELCOMING culture but a whole crowd chanting"Aussies Suck"made me ashamed to be Indian.

The trouble with the Indians is that they are a treated like gods in their own country therefore they act like spoilt brats, the BCCI are thugs who now rule cricket all because of the mighty $$. Sad sorry state cricket is in when the Indians can get everything they want just by threatening to take their bat and ball and go home. I call that great sportsmanship, the way they went on trying to blame everyone and everything on their Sydney Test loss was a bad case of sour grapes sure Bucknor made a couple of errors but c'mon Tendulkar and Laxman were out plum LBW early in their innings and both made centuries, and who loses 3 wickets in 5 balls to a part time bowler with only minutes remaining and lost an unlosable match because of poor cricket not poor umpiring. India can't pick and chose when to whinge and complain, when the decisions go their way not a word said, the problem with Indian is they need to learn the umpires make the decisions and they have to accept it right or wrong.

I normally enjoy Mukul's articles, but his likening of Ricky Ponmting to George Bush is as vile a piece of journalism as I have read in a while, and there has been plenty of competition recently.

The actions of the BCCI, in threating to take their team home unless they get what the want, have been reprehensible, but not surprising comsidering the amateur, ramshakle way that organisation is structured. Nothing seems to have changed since the last walk-out threat in South Africa in 2001. Power doesn't yet equal responsibility or leadership in the BCCI's case.

As for the general level of whining by Indian supporters about the behaviour of the Australian team, I'm afraid that looks like sour grapes when the same level of criticism is not directed against Karthik and Dhoni for their absurd appeals and complaints against Clarke for caught bat/pad at Adelaide (which was not even close), against Dhoni's half-volley appeal against Pietersen in England, etc.

From Steven:
Heres a quick lesson
"Its a bat not a fishing rod" = sledging.

Desar Steven - I am sure Symonds was not talking of fishing rods, but Harbhajan's sexual propensity.

Imagine if an Australian bowler celebrated like Singh did when he got Ponting out!!

Dear Steven: We also remember how Monty celebrated when he got Sachin - we did not complain. It only clearly showed how much Sachin's wicket means to Monty (or anyone for that matter).

So stop complaining "mate".

Spot on, Mukul! Symmetry is the prevailing characteristic of nature; if the Northern Hemisphere has the Ugly American, then the Southern Hemisphere has the Ugly Australian. What else can one expect from the dregs of the erstwhile British empire?

The tragedy of Australian cricket over the last 25 years or so is that it has had to stoop to sledging and depend on dubious umpiring to win matches. And now Mr Ponting justifies that attitude by labelling it as 'professionalism'. In doing so, he seems to acknowledge that Australia wouldn't be able to continue winning if its cricketers were to play like gentlemen. Let us be charitable and accept that gentlemanliness is too high a standard for such Australian cricketers to achieve. Perhaps his followers should abandon cricket and take up professional wrestling ...

If Australia were to have the guts to leave the ICC and start its own 'Coalition of the Willing', it would be interesting to see which other country would follow. The USA, perhaps?

This is addressed to Mukul Kesavan or others that care to read this.Let's just use facts here not some George Bush symmetry.Besides,while we're discussing analogies,I looked up some images of Mukul Kesavanand and well,people in glass houses....
1. The dust had not even settled on the 2nd test before India demanded that Bucknor be dropped. Bucknor was dropped.
2. The Indian team demanded that Harbhajan's case be delayed till after the series when typically an appeal to a decision is usually 7 days. As we all know it was yesterday when this took place some 3 weeks after.
3.The Indian team officials were quoted on Jan 8 as "the tour will continue for the present".
And?
4.The judge you're back slapping?Quoted as saying he'd enforce a more severe penalty had he known Harbhajan's previous infringemnets.
India can't hold the game to ransom.We should have let India go.At the end of the day,India might control the game off the field but Australia will always control the game on the field

Well written.I am at a loss to understand why nobody is asking for symonds suspension if the incident was started by him.Judge Hansen was proudly stating Symonds called Harbajan F*** and he was only responding.
Symonds is the real culprit & everyone is looking to book Bhaji.

Very nicely put. I hope that from now on the umpiring is much better. I cannot understand those who are against technology. The MSN Radio team kept saying that if you take out subjective decisions, we might as well have robots. I ask, why not? Definitely we do NOT go to cricket matches to watch umpires- we want to watch the cricket. I hope our cricket team keeps its focus and makes sure we thrash the Aussies in all the tests when they go to India. Frankly, man to man our team is far superior to this Aussie team- we should be more ruthless. We won a few series 1-0 when we could have won 2-0 or even 3-0 like in the West Indies. Kumble is a great statesman and a fine human being, but on the field I don't think he's aggressive in his captaincy. Also, he is not an automatic choice in the side. I wish the selectots choose spinners who beat batters in the air-I really am sorry for Murali Kartik. He's the best spinner in India. Lastly, ignore all the Aussie losers who email all their rubbish!

Casting the petulant actions of spoiled and pampered kids as being somehow symbolic of a great battle of forces is going a bit far. The Aussie cricketers are spoiled through too long a period of success - they now consider it their birthright. The Indians are equally spoiled through their godlike status in India and through the power their BCCI wields - a power that has just been reinforced by this whole fiasco. India should be ashamed at the treatment of Bucknor, the repeated threats to cancel the tour unless a judicial decision went their way (i.e. independent of the truth, should it be found the other way) and of harbouring a hothead who can't stop himself from racial slurs (twice.) Australia has nothing new to be ashamed about - but they have the ongoing shame of what their attitude over the years has done to world cricket.

I fail to understand why are Australian players and media crying foul over BCCI flexing its financial muscle power.
Do they forget that USA flexes its muscle power by attacking Afghanistan, Iraq and possibly Iran (any day) and no one including Australians stands up and tells them ‘Hey George Bush, you are flexing your muscle power. Instead Australians support all the actions taken by George Bush’.
So what is wrong in BCCI flexing its financial muscle power if they can accept George Bush why not BCCI. It is necessary that Australians are reminded that Power House has shifted and they should accept it rather than complain.
They also need to be reminded that if Australians sledge it is ‘mental disintegration’ but if any one else does it is ‘racial abuse’. If they have dished out rubbish all these years then they should be ready to accept it for some time and that too gracefully.
Ponting needs to be reminded that even on honesty Australians have two different yard stick.

1.Umpires and match refrees have been instructed by the ICC to be tough on sub continental players.
2.Bullying of sub continental players by the Australias is a racist act.
3.Now that it has been established that Symonds started it all,and was abusive,why was he not punished?
4.Proctor was forced to give a guilty verdict by the ICC,especially after he went 'soft'on Yuvraj.
5.If Tendulkar/Kumble had not put their foot down,and the BCCI had not threatened to pull out,CA and ICC would not have reconsidered.
6.As Ajay Jadeja said on TV,Kumble was naive to enter into an agreement with Ponting,as the Aussies cannot be trusted on the cricket field.
7.Aussies are terrible losers.This particular problem started when India began a fight back.
8.Who went crying to the Umpires?
9.Of course,this ia a very Indian point of view.
10.The fact that Indian think like this should make the Arrogant Aussies introspect.

This was the most insightful article on this subject. Others have not bothered to look below the surface of all the rumblings.

Why would a friendly pat on the back for Lee from Harbhajan offend Symonds? Is he that possessive about Lee? Probably Harbhajan should have asked Symonds about the nature of his relationship with Lee on the field. No wonder they call each other 'mates'.

We cannot forget that the Australian cricket side is still number one in the world. WE have to work harder at our game to match this supurb team.

Dave, to add to your comment

"Maybe if the Australians want to be loved like the West Indies they should charge the umpire like Colin Croft or kick down the stumps like Michael holding or throw a brick into the crowd like Sylvester Clarke"

Perhaps they should charge at an umpire and intimidate him until he changes his decision like the great Sir Vivian Richards?
Ah yes, those West Indians, so well loved. Makes you wonder if the people making these comments were even around in the 1980s.

To Amit, who wrote"haha this whole issue is nothing else but ricky ponting's valiant effort to push the limelight to bhajji instead of his failure in the series and Australia's not being able to secure 18 consecutive wins. No body is talking about how Australia's batting failed or they are no more the champions"
You are joking, aren't you? Have you forgotten who won this series? Have you forgotten who is ranked No.1? Have you forgotten India haven't beaten Australia since 2001? Grow up.

Hear the Auatralian Bias for thier team.
When Lehman called the SriLankans Black C**** no one objected
When The Great GlenMcgrath called Sanath Jayasurya a Black Monkey no one objected
Since when is being called a bastard better than being called a Monkey (if called) --wake up
After all this bullshit yet the great Aussie players will make a beeline for the ICL tournament in India-- where self respect -- sell your soul
Where were you when GlenMcgrath abused batsman who had the skill to hit him for a four or two in his overs
Where are you when the Aussie sledge from the corner of their mouths to escape punishment
where are you all when all Australian bowlers intimidate refrees with chorused appeals even when they know the batsman is not out
Most importantly ask any cricket Fan in the world who sledges and abuses the most-- IT IS THE UGLY AUSSIE WHO HATES TO LOOSE!!!

RE: Nick - How do you know Bhajji lied and Sachin lied???? Were you there on the pitch. Even the great Symonds and Hayden admit that Bhajji *might* have said it .... what you said was libel.

Isn't this the great Aussie dictum: "what happens on the field, stays on the field". So, how is it that Ponting and Co went crying to the umpires - couldn't they take the heat when it was their turn?

And, given that Ponting had been Bhajji's bunny through the series, and given that Mike "Racist" Proctor relied on one set of hearsay and not another, it sure looked like a conspiracy to us Indians .... to get Bhajji out of the series.

So, we sent the marines in .... tough luck, cry baby aussies.

Can Aussies play a game and win without sledging, influencing umpires, taking help from Media - should be the prime question.

No surprise that the king of hypocrisy should post another lot of bilge that does nothing more than highlight the stupidity of the average Indian cricket supporter, a fact borne out by the majority of the subsequent comments.

If aussies find "monkey" racist and prefer to be politically correct, they should stop using phrases such as "you're such an ass", "Bugger off!", "Ol' bastard" and others of a similar vein, in daily life.

I wonder if calling McGrath "Pigeon" is also tantamount to racism.

To the monkey (sic) who is alluding to the Lehmann incident, there was substantial evidence there. There is no evidence here that shows that Harbhajan used the word "monkey". It has also be shown by the Hansen report that Sachin was well within earshot and has stated that Harbhajan said something along the lines of "Teri maa ki" (a hindi idiom translated to "Your mother's ..." - something which is highly offensive in India and doesn't seem to have been picked up ) which would very likely have been misheard as "monkey" by an unfamiliar and ... sensitive ear.

In other words, while there is definitely an issue of vulgarity here, the entire structure of Australia's racism complaint has been built on a shaky foundation.

Very well written. Whatever the motivations, finally the BCCI did a favor to world cricket as well as racial equality. The point of the whole sledging concept was always Australians systematically abusing other teams, especially asian teams. And that is not an accident but a pattern. Not only among Australian players, but cricket officials including CA and umpires (the best example being now disgraced and exposed Darel Hair). I would go even a bit further and conjecture this: It is not an accident that lots of umpiring mis-decisions that happen in Australia go against the visitng team. It is a pattern and it is done by Australian umpires because they are utterly unprofessional, arrogant and self-centered, while visitng umpires do that becuase they are intimidated by Australian aggressiveness on one hand and misled by the need to somehow fit-into "Australian way" by believing ugly Australian sportsmanship is the correct way.

I don't like the way my team are behaving i think the bcci have did a bad thing with the hole bhaji thing. I was ashamed when team India said we are going to go home if bhaji is not let off that was very wrong. I hope bhaji shuts up in the games he gets in to much troble, my friends say we get bad name now with team India.

LOL@ the aussies here on this blog. I live here in Sydney and sadly most Aussies are a condescending, isolated bunch. This is their worst nighmare come true. The coloured man having some power and actually using it. The Indians and other sub-continent nations have endured alot-the colonial powers in their arrogance never imagined the wheels of power would shift to the East and now they are shellshocked and helpless.

I say this-get used to it. Money talks-BS walks. If the Aussie players are such moral beacons tell them to sever all ties to Indian money-simple.
This is a brilliant article Mukul-it covers the historical and social aspect to cricket which is paramount and always seems to be lost on western minds (or maybe they are just in denial).

Apparently Ponting is "furious" - what crap.

He should be happy Symonds got away with just a censure from Hansen. Its actually this precious kid Symonds that should have got a fine for starting a needless fracas.

Dave, to add to your comment

"Maybe if the Australians want to be loved like the West Indies they should charge the umpire like Colin Croft or kick down the stumps like Michael holding or throw a brick into the crowd like Sylvester Clarke"

Perhaps they should charge at an umpire and intimidate him until he changes his decision like the great Sir Vivian Richards?
Ah yes, those West Indians, so well loved. Makes you wonder if the people making these comments were even around in the 1980s.

To Amit, who wrote"haha this whole issue is nothing else but ricky ponting's valiant effort to push the limelight to bhajji instead of his failure in the series and Australia's not being able to secure 18 consecutive wins. No body is talking about how Australia's batting failed or they are no more the champions"
You are joking, aren't you? Have you forgotten who won this series? Have you forgotten who is ranked No.1? Have you forgotten India haven't beaten Australia since 2001? Grow up.

great article makul.
i see a lot of australians replying negatively for this article. Its time they wake up & change their one dimensional thinking. To help them out, they should remember the way former & current australian palyers have been conducting themselves on the field for past so many years. Their behaviour has been nothing but ridiculous. Its time the australian players learn from their indian counterparts about how to play the game hard & remain within the spirit of the game.

The most impartial article on the recent contorversy. Though i m an Australian, but i still believe that Australian control over cricketting world becoz of their capability is definitely diminishing.

I think Australia has lost this series 1-2. This thing even Ponting knows form the core of his heart (after appealing for grounded catches).

This aspect i think he should amicably accept. He should openely come out that without sledging he and his team can not defeat this well balanced Indian Team.

I think to accept one's weakness is the first step in taking corrective actions to overcome it.

So Mr. Ponting plz declare that in fact you have lost test series 1-2 and that is why i had no other alternative but to resort to such dirty tactics. Mr. Ponting try to concentrate in your batting more otherwise you can not surpass the great Tendulkar ( which i wish you do it).

Can somebody tell me what punishment is given to Symond for it was he who started and provoked the whole incident? How come four letter word "Fuck" as used by Symond is not offensive at all and word monkey is? Judge Hansen has ruled that monkey is not racially abusive word and it was Symond who started the unprovoked conversation. Then how come it is claimed by Australian media that Harbajan got off lightly? It is Symond and Brad who got off Scot free though they are the repeat offenders.

Why India withdrew its complaint against Brad Hogg for calling Kumble a Bastard? Why he is not banned for racial abuse? Probably he is belongs to elite class who are untouchable and they can get away with murder?They are protected by their mates in ICC like Malcolm Speed. India withdrew charges to restore harmony but did Australian responded to that kindness? Off course not because fairplay and dignified behavior is not in the vocabulary of Aussie’s?

I am interested that in puerile and disgraceful aftermath of the Sydney test no Indian selectors were burned in effigy. They are the ones who didnt pick Sehwag and subsequently cost India the match.

Mukulji, why whine like the Indians. Ask both the teams to shut their mouths and play cricket, we are paying for everything that is being done in the ground. Neither of the teams have the rights to do what they have done now. This is a huge thamasha. We are made fools and good money wasted is definitely fueling to the fire. Yup Indian do have the habit of leaving people in the lurch, this is due to Politic involvement, is thi shapening to Hockey? Everything about Oz tour has been bad, right from the departure. Why single out and waste time. CA & BCCI should be more mature, now the game has ceased its importance, it is money which is playing in the grounds. Power of shots is calculated with the power of money. The game is being dumped, soon it will vanish. I am happy we still have chances of seeing good games like Tennis etc., In no time viewers will dump cricket, this is now turning out to be like one of the soap operas. How bolly or hollywoodish and cinematic thriller.

To sum up this long blog:
Australian cricketers are liars and cheats.
Independant umpires are liars and cheats and biased against India.

Which pretty much covers the world view of your average Indian cricket fan - tilted by the massive chip on their shoulders. The only addition from reading comments by readers is the further viewpoint that having money is reason to distort justice and manipulate the law.

Now for an interesting fact:
Of the four players in the current Indian Test side that hold or have held the captaincy, Anil Kumble is the only one that hasn't been convicted of a cheating offence in the role.

I'm sick of these passive-aggressives who distort truth. The fabric of the game is most protected and respected by the Australian side - long may they rule o'er the ladders of the game.

Bring on the typically doctored pitches in the return series later this year.

Yet more tripe from Mukul. What a complete joke. Exactly what about this article is unbias and balanced. It amuses me to see Indians Whinge yet again about the Australian media when their own media is just as if not more guilty of rediculous bias. Indian players on numerous times in the past year been guilty more than once of everything the Indians despise about the Aussies. Even Tendulkar did not walk when caught behind in the one dayers in October. Why is it that every series India plays there are problems. eg England, South Africa, Australia. Could it be that they are a pack of Whingers who only see one side of the story. Utter pathetic journalism on Mukuls behalf, but that is nothing new. Why is it that the umpires only make errors against the Indians. Could it be that they don't, The other nations just don't whinge like Indians. If they only had a competant team we wouldn't be in this mess. Reserve graders could see out two overs against part time bowlers

Excellent Column Mukul..

A perfect piece of writing Mukul. Congrats on how succinctly you have put the issue in a blog. Well on the way of becoming for India what Peter Roebuck is for Australia! Keep the flag flying.
One complaint overall though. Please hold your horses (pen) when you are angry, otherwise you will have another post coming on like the one where you had recommended that 'Harbhajan must be sacked'. Harbhajan should not have been sacked even if he had called Symonds a 'monkey'. But i doubt he had even said that. In the heat of the battle, upon being provoked by a non-concerned party - Symonds - A sardar might have said "abey bandar teri..." if so, so what. In any event this is acceptable. Remember Javed doing a monkey jump on our respectable Mr. More in the world cup? These things happen. Australians wanted to take the moral high ground, instead have come a cropper. There integrity is definitely in question, not Sachin or Kumble's. The game will move on as we have had bigger shockers in the past

Dear Mukhul, Dissapointing would be an understatement for that article. Not only IS IT COMPLETLEY biased and quiet profoundly arrogant and offensive but it was wrong as well. Your media and your cricket officicals are fast turning the game into one that i and most of my cricket fans do not want to be part of. i love India and do a lot of work there and you should be very careful that this sort of article and carry on does not effect what should be a great sporting rivalry. Your team has been treated so far by the Australian public with great respect, you should no that if this continual biased and inflamitory writing continues then this will not last and the damage to cricket and further relations between the two countries could become severe. Both parties are at fault art this and this sort of character assasination is not fair or warranted - particularly your childish and quiet pathetic referrences to Ponting, grow up!!Very dissapointed in your journalism Indian replies to this blog

You Indians are pathetic only accepting decisions when they favour you. Harbhajan has a history he was found guilty we all new he was guilty - both Tendulkar and Harbhajan denied it all at first only to then say it was punjabi after they had time to get their stories straight PLEASE. Harbhajan only got off because the BCCI blackmailed the ICC and used some pathetic excuses (if the guy was innocent he would have got off scott free) Harbhajan is a proven offender and a proven liar he is a disgrace to cricket. How's the form of the BCCI who had a plane on standby if I were the ICC I would have personally drove the Indian team to the plane and told them in no uncertain terms we won't be dictated to. They denied any racial abuse happened in India as well until footage of bad crowd behaviour surfaced no wonder Indian crowds have to remain behind cages. The BCCI are bullies and the world has no respect someone should tell the Indians bullying is unnacceptable behaviour just like racism.

There’s the story of the rich lady who decided to migrate to Australia.
At immigration she was asked “Do you have a criminal record?”
“Oh,” she replied “is that still a requirement?”

Just about sums up the scumbag, hypocrite Aussie cricketers.
Bring our boys back home from that lousy country!

Actually, re-reading this piece one realises that it is not at all the great piece that it first seems. The author has made a few astute observations but like so many others in this overblown debate then succumbs to the usual one-sidedness. Think about it... If you closed your eyes and had someone read this piece to you you'd have no trouble figuring out which side of the Indian Ocean it came from.

What is needed (for a bit of relief!) is some truly objective and emotion-free analysis. Writers like Mukul just can't seem to help themselves in rising above their baser instincts.

I mean, is it just me or does it seem as though we could all go on like this forever? Fanning the flames (like Mukul does here, albeit ever so elegantly) of cultural misunderstanding and suspicion?

Why don't we all stop listening to and reading all these nationalistic generalisations and get on with focusing on the positives.

Life's too short to keep chewing over the bitterness.

Nick:
when Lehmann was caught calling Jayasuria a "black c***", he admitted it.

real brave - and what was the provocation from Jayasurya for it (did he abuse Lehmann)?
Oh, but the color of his skin was wrong of course, silly me!

Bottom Line: 'Innocent until proven guilty'. This applies to all!

Brilliant article, will frame it and refer to the contents when we look at 2001, 2008 and the next meeting in Australia in 201X. I am certain there will be a lot of similarity in the brilliance associated with both these series. Cheers mate!

Cricket Australia Sux.
Australian team and fans do not understand a single point that they can't always be on the winning side. Even after dominating test and ODI cricket for a decade, they are not respected because they just wanna do anything to win. Winning is not everything, respect the game and opponents. Australians boast of being mentally tuffer than other international players but they shud have realized after the test series ,they are vulnerable too. Ppl like Gilchrist n Tait quit cricket after a tough series like this one clearly mentions the pressure the whole australian team had through out the series.
Sub-continent teams always had poor decisions when they toured Australia, It's not just India but Srilanka and Pakistan as well. Wasim Akram and Arjuna Ranatunga were really happy the way Indian team fought as a unit against ponting's cry baby tactics. Australians should be trained and taught how to play with right spirit and how to respect opponents and how 2 digest a defeat

Mukul, Bravo! Great to see an Indian not mincing his words. I strongly feel that this is much more then just a cricket issue. India and China are the rissing powerhouses and unfortunetly the western world, Australia included are strongly resenting (as expected), the beuty of this world is that everything goes in cycles, and now the time is coming for ASIA to control worldly direction. Its a change the world will need to accept and if the Australian players reaction is a gauge to go by the wester world is not happy, but what is due will happen.

Well written Mukul! A very good representation of what really happened. Except for the comparison between Ponting and Bush everything about the incident was well written. Though I personally believe that Bhajji did not use the word monkey. Because if he did, a man of Tendulkar's stature will never come in support of him. Secondly in India the word monkey is not racial. In India we even have "monkey gods". I think he used the word "teri maa-ki" (abusing one's mom). Tendulkar understood it and thats why he defended his mate. Australians didn't understand it and so this is for the OZs. So its sledging and not racial abuse. And so the verdict is correct. Novertheless Ponting's complaint to the match-referee was really applling. He looked like a scool-boy complaining to the head-master. When you sledge, you should be prepared to take some of it. Aussies were getting a taste of their own medicine. But they managed to create a big issue out of it and took the spotlight away from how the won.

I think the various comments being put up make for far more interesting reading than the article itself!!

A perfect piece of writing Mukul. Congrats on how succinctly you have put the issue in a blog. Well on the way of becoming for India what Peter Roebuck is for Australia! Keep the flag flying.
One complaint overall though. Please hold your horses (pen) when you are angry, otherwise you will have another post coming on like the one where you had recommended that 'Harbhajan must be sacked'. Harbhajan should not have been sacked even if he had called Symonds a 'monkey'. But i doubt he had even said that. In the heat of the battle, upon being provoked by a non-concerned party - Symonds - A sardar might have said "abey bandar teri..." if so, so what. In any event this is acceptable. Remember Javed doing a monkey jump on our respectable Mr. More in the world cup? These things happen. Australians wanted to take the moral high ground, instead have come a cropper. There integrity is definitely in question, not Sachin or Kumble's. The game will move on as we have had bigger shockers in the past.

While Bucknor's removal and the entire Bhajji-Symmo controversy are a sad affair, it can't be denied that Aussie cricketers are little better than a bunch of rowdy hooligans. Their on field behaviour leaves a lot to be desired as expressed by a number of former test players and other Aussie sport personalities.
'Hard but fair' might be ok when you are in a domestic league match but if you are intent on applying the same policy to a bunch of foreigners who may or may not share your views then I feel Aussies lose the right to moan and complain and should be prepared to taste some of their own medicine!
And as far as financial clout of Asian lobby goes, I can only mention a phrase that my boss mentioned to me on a bad day at work - "Life is unfair, deal with it or shut up!"

The game has changed since 1920-30-40-50-60-70-80-90.
It is now full time professional, these are tradesmen we watch. It's the only thing they do. "It's just not cricket" is a relic of the past. Times have changed whether we like it or not. Winning a test series and performing well keeps players in the team, well paid, will stand in the record books.
Let's face it. You don't play and perform well and you are dropped from the team. End of income.Time shave changed

All I can say is THE you are the BEST !

A good article which has covered most of the events...
I wouldn't blame BCCI completely for threatening to call the trip off...i feel they adapted the same strategy of Ponting's "WIN by hook or by crook". On the funnier side
I feel the one who are deeply hurt out of this controversy are the Monkey's

Petulant Sooks.

We'd all have rathered you went home.

Every series that India play in is marred in controversy.

But I'll leave you safe in the knowledge that we beat you once again.

1 billion people and you still can't find 11 who can knock us off.

Unlucky.

Hey Mukul,

Where's the contribution I made to this blog over an hour ago? Nothing offensive in it so I'm wondering why it's not up there.

This is probably the best article I have read on this whole sordid mess..and it rings so true...

The simple fact of the matter is that Aussies are just so SO unloved by every cricket fan outside oz its amazing....
I remember the time when it used to be actually hard to root against the west indians even when they were playing against my own country...such was the love for the type of cricket they played....they were the best and they knew it...they didnt need to act like trailer park trash to prove how tough they were..

the fact of the matter is that the aussies just cannot handle it when someone...especially the brown man takes the gloves off...why wasnt SYmonds obvious provocation taken into account? what did he say to set off Harbhajan like that....its a two way street this...
and Mike proctor should have been fired after the Oval fiasco..master class of how NOT to referee a cricket match!
stop crying aussies...

Mukul, I just have one word for your article - 'Beautiful'!. This si your masterpiece. Very well explained.

Some of the stuff in this article is ridiculous. You yourself admitted Harbhajan more than likely said these comments. He should be punished to nth degree for comments like that. He should also take it on the chin instead of lying to the world in order to save face.

If a white man had said this kind of thing, it would not matter whether or not it had been caught on tape. He would have been punished to the maximum possible degree.

Are we saying that if you are not white, it is alright to racially abuse someone of a different colour. This is an extremely bad impression for any children starting the game to get.

The issue here is why would Symonds make something like this up. He should have been punished and Indian cricket is ruining the game.

So a few bad decisions occurred on the pitch. This happens all over the world and you never here test nations complaining apart from a couple. Human error is part of the game and why we love it. Umpires should not be villified for this!

I am indian living in Australia and I have to admit I think our team behaved very badly. Aussies play hard and everyone who comes here knows that, but racism here is a big no-no. And when they see on the tv us at home burning the effigies they think we are crazy. We must concentrate on trying to beat them on the field. They are the best and we are trying to beat them just like everybody. All the rest of this argument is just because we can't beat them.

To J S Clark:
Is that the most Anglo sounding name you could think of? Australians wouldn't refer to Ricky Ponting as "Mr Ponting". Nice try!

for all aussies out there...I believe it was an American General who once magnificently understated that "The trouble with war is that the other person tends to shoot back." ...

The funniest stuff on here are those that write they are Australian, and then either type messages in broken English, or accidentally say we when referring to India. So funny

Dear Carl,
If India is not invited to join in the so called new cricket organization, the cricketing world would go bankrupt!

absolutely spot on... the aussies were like George Costanza of sienfeld fame.."if you believe then it is not a lie"...

Clarke and Gilchrist believed it so much that they thought the lie was the truth...

yes, I know people will crucify me to using the work lie...Hang on the didn;t hansen say Clarke is an unreliable witness...

Fact 1: Australian cricket is in deep mess.
Fact 2: Clarke can make runs if and only he is given a second chance when the umpire screws up.
Fact 3: Australian cricketers are the most arrogant.
Fact 4: SMS text's are circulating within rabid australian supporters circle to give the INdian supporters a hard time.
Fact 5: Australian cricketers don't know how to play cricket, but know how to sledge opponents.

It is amazing how no one has mentioned the bad behavior of the Indian 12th man spitting at Clarke for not walking when he did not hit the ball. (No apology for that...?) No one has mentioned the constant Indian over-appealing in the 3rd test when they were desperate for a wicket and the bowling attack was not good enough. And who was fined for his bad conduct? The Indian "holier that thou" attitude has quite a tinge of the spoiled child throwing a tantrum at the super market when it has not recived its sweets. The Ponting/Bush comparison is also shows your limited grasp of the importance of cricket in the scheme of the world. In prior days Harbajan would have been politely invited behind the sheds to repeat the words and bear the resulting response. Time for India to take a look at its own attitudes and stop rioting when things do not go your own way. Get over yourselves!!!!!

I am indian living in Australia and I have to admit I think our team behaved very badly. Aussies play hard and everyone who comes here knows that, but racism here is a big no-no. And when they see on the tv us at home burning the effigies they think we are crazy. We must concentrate on trying to beat them on the field. They are the best and we are trying to beat them just like everybody. All the rest of this argument is just because we can't beat them.

Can someone tell me why the Australians were not fined for their slow over-rate in the Adelaide Test
Sivasubramaniam from Singapore

J S Clark, if you are an Aussie every English teacher you have ever had should be sacked.

P - you are an ignorant fool if youc annot see why monkey is racist and the word fuck isn't.

All this article has done has further highlighted the inability of Indian fans to understand clear logic. OK so the appeal was successful. Why? Your ideas that the BCCI were not behind it are ludicrous. Has anybody ever claimed that Australia do no sledge? No. But there is a difference between sledging and racial abuse, although as scenes from last years ODI series showed, Indian cricket fans are not the ones to be asked to clarify this. Pathetic. The BCCI is slowly destroying cricket. And "J S Clark", you may state that you are an Aussie but your use of SMS words such as 'plz' and 'becoz' and your lack of grammer gives you away.

You're not serious are you. Surely you jest! Had a great laugh reading this fantasy.......please tell me you're not serious.

All parties especially the journalists on both sides need to take a step back and let things cool down instead of trying to increase newspaper sales with wild innuendo.
One little aside - I was on a holiday last year in Australia with my wife and 10 year old daughter. In every airport - Melbourne, Sidney and Brisbane I was called aside at security for "special attention", this with my 10 year old daughter standing next to me. Finally in Brisbane I lost it and asked the lady frisking me what profile did I meet for a suicide bomber? My wife and daughter with me? Or was it my Asian complexion? She went kind of pale, stuttered something regarding Australians not being racists and then asked me to move on - WITHOUT the additional checks.
Aussies for the most part are a decent bunch, but hey quit the holier than the thou attitude. Deep down many of you do and say things which have racial overtones.
No excuses for poor behaviour, it reflects on your upbringing and lack of Class.

Can Aussies play a game and win without sledging, influencing umpires, taking help from Media - should be the prime question.

i think whtever happened..mostly depends on the players attitude on the pitch.In the one-day series in india(australia vs india) lot of players showed wierd reaction over every match in which it was Harbajan also to emotional i guess which heated up things after that especially andrew symonds which he was in good nick against india tht series ..so whenever they clash things always do get heat up so players i think should respect each other for that ..and moreover i think.its natural when one team (Australia) is ruling cricket over 12 years 3 world cups straight is not an easy thing so ofcourse other teams do get fed up so one small victory over aussies ..say like is the end of the era for ausies. i think all players in all team should respect each other. aggression doesnt mean using abusive language this incident is popping too much infact worst happend was between (McGarth and Sarwan)when westdies chased and set world record win in westindies. so players do need some counciling always

Mukul, this is one great article to read. Calling spade a spade. Aussies are born sledgers and the whole world knows it. Because they were about to lose the sydney test match, they bribed the umpires to help them and then put 'sledging charge on indians' this was a simple trap setup so that at the end of sydney test match, they didn't want the press to discuss about bribed-umpires but something else and harbajan was this 'something else'.....what a shame indians/bcci fell for this. we should have called the bluff and said sydney match should be declared with india as winners or the match should be null & void. This was the core issue. This was not a case of 'bad-umpiring' this was a case of 'biased-paid-umpiring'. The umpires bucknor & benson should have been fined one year of their annual salary and unceremoniously dismissed from their service.

Again we see the BCCI exerting their influence! I am ashamed at the behaviour of both the Indian team and the Indian management/board. Both teams have done wrong this series, but India have been embrassing to their country. It is nearly like this whole fracas was set up to excuse losing the series and allow the players to come home as 'winners' even thought they were the second best team in a two team contest. Put blame on Australia to hide the fact the Indian team were good, but not as good. Very media organised by the BCCI once the first test was lost - and sad to see it happen. it will be very interesting to see how the BCCi gets out of the next test series loss. What Bollywood stories will they spin next time? They will eventually run out of excuses why the team has lost a series.

P - you are an ignorant fool if youc annot see why monkey is racist and the word fuck isn't.

All this article has done has further highlighted the inability of Indian fans to understand clear logic. OK so the appeal was successful. Why? Your ideas that the BCCI were not behind it are ludicrous. Has anybody ever claimed that Australia do no sledge? No. But there is a difference between sledging and racial abuse, although as scenes from last years ODI series showed, Indian cricket fans are not the ones to be asked to clarify this. Pathetic. The BCCI is slowly destroying cricket. And "J S Clark", you may state that you are an Aussie but your use of SMS words such as 'plz' and 'becoz' and your lack of grammer gives you away.

So most people, including Mukul Kesavan, believe that Harbhajan very lilkey called Symonds a monkey. However, you fail to see (because of your obvious agenda) that this means he LIED to the ICC, his team mates, his family and his country! And for that the Indian community rejoices. This is not the community I know or am proud of.

1. Harbhajan patted Lee on the back in a friendly manner
2. Symnonds gets offended. ( Why he should be offended is beyond my comprehension )
3. Harbajan, supposedly, calls symonds a monkey ( Note - No evidence )
4. Case is referred to ICC
All of you can see very well that Symonds was the one who started the spat. Harbhajan was quiet till he was provoked.
Why was symonds angry ? because bhajji did not pat his back ? Hansen has rightly reprimanded Symonds. Bhajji should be careful of what he says. Symonds should act gracefully henceforth.
If symonds is angry at being heckled by Indians during the recent trip to India, pray, what does he think about his own countrymen who feel that its their birthright to heckle all subcontinent teams ( example -> murali )
You reap what you sow. Australian crowds sowed the seeds of hate and heckling in cricket and now are reaping its "benefits" when their cricketers get it in return.

As an Indian I am sad at the on-field behaviour of some of our players. Bhajji's intemperance has sucked the team, BCCI and the country in unwanted controversy. I am relieved at having missed Karthick's unacceptable antics. The latest comments by Dhoni do not inspire much confidence of correct behaviour. We seem to have forgotten Vijay Merchant's motto to PLAY THE GAME.

The world of sports has generally been unfair when dealing with such incidents. The world cup final, when zidane was provoked by the italian player, zidane butted him with his head,he got pulled out, but the italian player went on to play and later on the italian player admitted to having pulled at zidanes shirt and also speak bad stuff about zidanes sister! Similarly, Symonds admits provoking Harbhajan, and he goes scot free and harbajan gets fined! Where is the fairness? And Mr. Symonds the neanderthal, has the temerity to say that he saw harbhajan pat brett lees back and he wouldnt tolerate such stuff! Since when did he become body guard / moral keeper for Brett Lee? Why isnt the guys who are screaming that mukul wrote a typical subcontinental piece aren't pondering on these issues! Also it is Mr. Symonds take that he was shown the monkey chants while there is no clear concrete evidence to show that the monkey chants were directed at him!

Well written wrap-up of an event that has festered for 4 weeks. Harbhajan does not emerge with any credit and his behaviour is an insult to all Indians, Symonds was obviously put up to the whole thing by his craftier team-mates notably Hulk hayden and Cherub Clarke. But i am afraid our young team is going to cop an awful lot of abuse from Aussie spectators stoked by the free-flowing booze.

Kesavan has the same "England-Australian" hangover which the majority of our countrymen have. Though being an expert, even of the 'spectatorial" type, he couldn't see Clarke's "edge" going off the glove. He thus repeats the same arguments that Gavaskar put forward to question Clarke's credibility. And in the same breath he also feels that Harbhajan could well have called Symonds "monkey", but he cannot accept Clarke's statement since the Aussie had not "walked" when he "edged". Kesavan being a historian should also know about the "slew of bad umpiring" decisions that Indian umpires handed out to visting teams in the 60s, 70s, 80s etc. This is no speciality of the Aussies. In any case, we had "neutral" umpires in Sydney. Sitting in Delhi, Kesavan also seems to know more about what had happened in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide with regard to chartered planes etc more than the journalists on the spot. A more balanced view would have been expected from a writer of Kesavan's standing.

Well i live in Sydney..
many of my Aussie people feel tht win in Sydney ws improper and they hate Ponting and company.
Aussie people r racist thmselves..
I've been treated like shit here because i'm an Indian over here...so they can't talk about racism..and r thy d one to define d defenition of racism..??...how cm monkey is a racist word??
After so many things and Asian people's suffering Indian Board has to show his power so no complaint bout it...
Coz Aussie players deserve such kind of power. Then only thy will b down to the earth..

Good dissection of the whole affair though many Australians won't agree with this. Becuase they have never faced this severe criticism before. It can be seen here many oz readers are unabashedly defending the characters like Ponting, Clarke and Symonds. The more astonishing fact is that they are not ready to accept the mistakes(claiming grounded catches and directing umpires)which were there to see for the whole world during sydney test. And as far as captaincy is concerned Mr.Ponting is not a captaincy material.The captain of a national side should have grace and mature enough to understand the intricacies of internatinal relationships. And their future captain is still worse; he has already shown the whole world that what material he is made of. God save oz cricket!. Don't they have a single graceful and honest player(like gilly) to lead their side?. I think "THE SIDNEY WHINERS" is an apt phrase for Ponting and his men.

1. The definitive article on this topic has just been written, but by Justice Hansen not Mr Kesavan. Justice Hansen's efforts were balanced, fact-based and sprinkled liberally with common sense. More than I can say for Mr Kesavan and most entries in support above! Dean's accounts of what actually happened in Sydney are well worth a read, however.

2. My own view is the Indians have been astonishingly hypocritical. Their behaviour in the series was often appalling, for example: Yuvraj not walking for when given out in Melbourne, Harbajhan's boorish celebration in Sydney, Dinesh Karthik's finger-wagging at the umpire in Adelaide (for a claimed catch that was plainly not out, not that it matters), the whingeing about the umpiring (contrast the silence from the Aussies after Perth), the two threats of boycotts, and the massive dummy-spit after losing in Sydney.

3. India deserved to lose the series 2-1, and as in 2004, as they did. Let's see what happens in September.

all i can say to this article is some good points and some rubbish, 1st i think what harby done was racist he should be banned stamp this racicist crap out ,if this was a an australian who made these remarks he would be turfed out of the game for ever. But the powers that be who are jealous that out of a population nearing 1 billion cant put together a side to beat a country of 20 million, let alone make it into a world cup semi final.i do agree australian players can be a bit heavy on the sledging, and i also so think sub continent players are a bit sensitive to it, they are a bit childish looking for mummy a bit to much. Plus india and the likes have to much to lose when they lose the fans at home take it to seriously lighten up its only a game.cricket used to be a joy to watch it still is if u dont listen to it. proud cricket fan

Well said Mukul.

WOW a bipartisan debate!! both sides equally convinced of their innocence and the opponents guilt. One thing lets have a consensus on facts. Tendulkar is the GOLD standard in terms of cricketing gentlemen. His integrity is undoubtable. So no point telling me that he lied. He understands hindi which is similar to punjabi. He was within audible distance, id say closest to the scene as was found out in the court by video evidence. It was Sachin who asked the BCCI to back Harbajan at all costs becuase he was not guilty of racial vilification.
Anyone who knows Indian politicians knows that they are irrational and do things without consulting the players. Just because the BCCI sent a plane to Australia putting on a show of withdrawing from the series doesnt mean that the Indian team wholly agrees and would have withdrawn from the series. Besides the plane was there to drop the ODI and T20 players.

I am amazed how much criticism has been levelled at the players of both sides compared to the Indian board who presumably scheduled this tour. Why did they play only one 3 day warm up game against Victoria? Then the Boxing day test straight after, & they're one nil down. Go straight to Sydney I think after 3 days break, & they can't bat for 2 1/3 sessons to save a game. Say what you will about the umpiring, but I reckon with just one more warm up match before this, then India bat out the day 5 down, & we go to Perth with the series 0-1 instead of 0-2 & effectively over. Further I think the view that one team (whether India or Aus)in this is noble & honest, & the other team is completely in the wrong is naive & inflamatory. Amongst other things,I think ts pretty rich criticising Clarke for not walking when the Indian no. 11 hit the ball to slip at the end in Sydney, & quite rightly hung around for the umpires decision. No one criticised Sharma for this & so he shouldn't be criticised.

Excellent article. I wonder why Kumble does not get more credit for his statesman behaviour. He deserves more accolades

= This is really a great write-up.

= ICC has become a fully-owned subsidiary of BCCI.

= Bhajji is a Sardar.

= Malcolm Speed is the biggest culprit in bringing ICC to where it is today.

= ICC (Malcolm Speed) removed Steve Bucknor from Third Test, to justify his actions of reluctantly removing Darrel Hair after Oval Saga, besides his attempt to spoil the gradually improving relations of West Indies Cricket Board with the Asian Cricket Maafia (India, Pakistan & Sri Lanka), which was evident when West Indies Board voted against Darrel Hair on Oval issue.

= Cricket Australia was under threat to be sued by the sponsors, in the event of ODI series being cancelled.

= As per estimates, Cricket Australia would have lost as much as US$: 60.00 Million if India went back without playing ODIs, and it would have taken CA ten years to cover these losses.

= Symonds ...... poor guy.

I can see the Indians disappointment. They have 1 billion people - we have 20 million and they still cant beat us fair and square.

Losing graciously obviously isn't an Indian trait judging by this article and subsequent replies.

Looking at the article from a neutral angle, one would say that the game of cricket has taken a real beating by the end of it all. Although I am an Indian, I am sorry to say that the new breed of cricketers are not at all a good sign of the way Indian cricket is heading. The Dravids & Tendulkars are the ones to emulate not the Harbhajans or the Shreeshants since the former have won many a game for us by being cool. Our test victory at Kolkata in 2001 when we had our backs against the wall, the victory in Adelaide are all examples of this. The level-headed are not intimididated by the opposition or the situation and they are the ones who perform. Remember Kapil's Devils have won a famous world cup against a really good West Indian side by just going out there and performing.Its high time ths fans of "CRICKET" get their moneys worth of onfield entertainment rather than a bollywood potboiler of controversies....

Great article - one that puts things into perspective. Wonder what happened with the Brad Hogg case though. It is also surprising that the cricket journos have hardly covered the stimulus for the Harbhajan incident. Symond's claim of "stiking up for his mate" sounds laughably ridiculous as does "test cricket is no place for friends". Did a pat on Lee's back warrant such a response from him? Surely, Lee didn't have a problem. It would have been more apt if both Harbhajan and Symonds were punished. Did Symonds escape punishment because India didn't lodge a complaint? India's threat of a pull-out has set a bad precedent but I hope it has put an end to the nonsense called sledging.

Being of Chinese background, I have to admit I don't watch much cricket but after watching and reading what has been going on in the cricketing world, it has struck a similar chord in the sense that it is quite similar to what China has faced and is facing in the real world...a growing economic and military superpower challenging the west who got so used to dominating most of the world's affairs for more than a century. In cricket, power used to lie with England and Australia. Suddenly you have this growing enonomic powerhouse from the subcontinent challenging the traditional powerbase. As far as the ruling is concerned and based on the facts available to the judge, a correct judgement has been made. I also can see more problems/divisions cropping up in the future between the anglo cricketing teams & the subcontinent ones. But, I hope common sense prevails and cricket wins. In my book, both Symonds and Harbhajan are guilty.

Wow! What an article! There is intellect showing in every word you say Mukul(which is a disadvantage these days). Looking at the wider picture, I am sure one would agree that there is a pattern emerging in the backdrop of the ineptitude and incompetence that the so called governing body has. The pattern is that of trying to cause as much damage to the image of Asian teams and believe me, it is all orchestrated. The first thing that the Asian block should do is to try and break away from the ICC and have their own governance systems which should be 'state of the art' in terms of use of technology, law, ethics and fairness and then the world would know what they have missed all along.

Keep up your work Mukul and do respond if you have time(to my email).

Please dont let your fair views to be edited by some thugs who cant take much when it comes to pointing out the obvious - stay as you are and Good Luck

what said on the field, should be left on the field.
sledging is part of cricket its been happening for a long time now and why should it stop??? however i think indian management took it to far when it was said if Harbhajans suspension was not withdrawn they were going home. well come how old are these guys??? and the burning images in india well ill just say im never going to india grow up and act like adults, bloody cry babies.....

hai OZS stop crying
we are the power house and we will rule the cricket world, dont try to question us

Having lived in this country, Australia, for the last 7 years and experienced racism in every walks of life, I am not surprised by the behaviour of Aussie cricketers. The one that I liked was the punishing reply by the BCCI and the one that I don't like is why do we have to put up with this shit?

continuation..
BCCI has exerted influence and forced the issue into a court of law. Listening to Mike Procter's judgement would eb akin to taking Ponting's word on the Clarke's claimed catch...where as the BCCI's much hated financial power forced the debate to a third umpire (a court of law) where it is evident that it was a bump ball and/or an incomplete catch. Id say case closed.
Lets not get into the character of Indian and Australian players because that is a battle that will never be won by either side. Both teams have their gentlemen, Australia have Gilly and Hussey and India have Kumble, Sachin, Dravid, Laxman and Sehwag. Lets stop at that.

There are a lot of Aussies commenting on this Blog claiming Australians are champions and they are winners and that they beat India.
My only question is that Who is a real winner and a champion. in our Indian Culture we are taught that a real winner is one who is assosiated with being liked and admired. Unfortunetly the whole world (that has cricket interest) and a lot of decent aussies barring some of the idots on this blog do not even LIKE ,let alone LOVE and RESPECT the Australian Cricket teams of past and now. If a team is hated and not liked then how can you call them a champion team or a winning team. To be a champion you have to win the hearts of the public that watches you. They may take more wickets and score more runs but they are also lack "INTERGRITY", they lie , they abuse , their past champion players send abusive and vulgar text messages to other women behind their wives back, they push senior citizens off the stage without disregard. Hail Aussies !Indeed you are champs

Someone far wiser than me said "let he who is innocent throw the first stone". Clearly this theory went out the window once articles like this were written.
Firstly, let me go on the record and confirm that Harbhajan had to be cleared. There was no conclusive evidence. But if the Aussies thought they heard it, they had every right to report it, and similarly if the Indians disputed it, they had every right to appeal.
End of story.
So Australia has Ponting/Clarke/Symonds/etc behaving badly regarding catches, provocation, not walking, aggressive appealing, emotional theatrics, sledging. Geepers, that sounds like every side in world cricket.
India has Ganguly (WC claiming half-volley catch), Dhoni (England claiming half-volley catch), Harbhajan (track record of swearing/dissent, not walking when CLEAN BOWLED), Karthik (spitting towards umpire and batsman after Bowden correctly refused appeal).
Funny how we all see things from only one perspective, isn't it?

Excellent article..but I am not convinced that the BCCI didn't resist their temptation to wield power..more like Sachin Tendulkar's staunch support of Harbhajan provided a trigger...but power for a just cause, unlike in the case of Shane Bond, in which the power-abuse was more subtle and devious. Apparently, Ponting is upset that the quantum of punishment for Harbhajan could have been higher....what about the punishment that Symonds DIDN'T get, mate..he too has a "record" to boot.

And, dear Radakrishnan, when the ball hits the glove and it is then caught by a fielder or the keeper, it's OUT in cricket. Have a good day!!

It is unfortunate that some comments by themselves are racist. take "Aisch' for example who claims that another alleged writer can not be an Aussie because "his lack of grammer (sic)" gives him away as an Indian. Since when were Aussies considered good grammarians, "Aisch' can't even spell the word correctly.

I'm with Woppa. This is the 21st century and the game has inexorably changed, as do all other sports which are totally professional. It's all about money these days and any player will try and get away with anything to ensure that a win at any cost is achieved. No win, no sponsorship, no support, no income. If that means having to sledge, well so be it and the Indian cricketers are becoming as adept at this as the Australians, thanks to Greg Chappell no doubt.

Harbhajan got off scott free: there is a huge difference bewteen racism and sledging and I think we all know that Harbhajan made racist remarks.

At the end of the day the winner in all this is the BCCI - they ambushed the ICC and Cricket Australia. And why - because it's all about money and control. No win, no sponsorship, no support, no income, no control.

But all the conspiracy theories - Bucknor, Benson and Proctor's decisions as well as the Ponting, Bush comparison leaves Mukul's article lacking credibility.

All I can say to all the Aussies who are spewing invective at India and Indians is " Make sure no Australian player, retired or active, plays in the IPL"; after all, you guys are such noble hardy souls and don't care a jot for the money do you ??

I am an Indian and i find Harbajan to be little more than a mediocre off spinner with a hot head that has had little training in refinement.
Like many people i feel the Aussies had it coming for some time now and i applaud the aggression that some Indian players are employing as part of their on-field strategy. However they have to learn to be more subtle with the sledging and should learn from the masters themselves. Instead they now find themselves in trouble for being crude and lewd.

I honestly feel that it is very likely that Harbajan did call Symmonds a monkey and not anything in Hindi that sounded like it. Us Indians are very capable of doing such things!

If indeed that were the case then I am rather ashamed that this man has not been dropped from the team and sent on a behavioural therapy course along with Sreesanth perhaps.

Just two points:

1. "Monkey" is not considered a racist term in India. Why is it so hard to understand? It is just another mock-abusive word, like "jackass". Father call their sons monkey, kids call each other monkey, no one connects it to racism until political correctness comes along and Indians are told to view the world through Western lenses (though Westerners are not told to show the same sensitivity to Indians, and are therefore free to call them "bastards".)

2. It is a bit rich for Australians of all people to be suddenly so sensitive to issues of race and color... remember the Benson & Hedges Finals in Sydney in 1985? India was playing Pakistan, and there was a big banner held up in one of the stands that read "Bus Drivers vs Tram Conductors". If that is not racism, then nothing is. Of course back then the Indians and Pakistanis were too polite to make a big fuss about it. Imagine if that had happened today!

This is no great piece of writing despite what some people are saying. Just another piece of justification for beliefs from one side of the fence in this never-ending argument. Only slighly more elegantly written. Although comparing Ponting to Bush is pretty juvenile.

Seriously guys, can't we all get beyond this and start appreciating the cricket? I'm looking forward to some good hard action in the 20/20 match tomorrow night.

My prediction (much as I hate to say it) is that India will come up trumps.

But in the ODI's the team that didn't even make it to the knockout stage of the world cup will fold once again...

"... most Aussies are a condescending, isolated bunch. This is their worst nighmare come true"

Er, I think Australian supporters would be having far more nightmares were "team India" to actually beat Australia in a series. As it currently stands, all the Indian behaviour (threatening to return home, burning effegies, blaming umpires for defeats, taking of conspiracies, etc) is doing is reinforcing steareotypes that Indians should be keen to rid themselves of.

The BCCI would do much more for the benefit of Indian cricket were it to schedule a decent itinerary for their national team and develop their junior players, not to mention provide decent facilities for spectators, rather than the grandstanding that has gone on in recent weeks. Threating to go home every time something goes against you (as in this instance and South Africa 2001) doesn't smack of a mature or well-run organisation.

100% kosher Sir. I congratulate you on a well balanced and most excellent article.The issues that remain now are whether Clarke will go on to captain OZ and Proctor's future with the ICC. I for one will keep an eye open to both developments.

Well, what made more interesting than rading my fav cricket writers are comments on it, clearly showing Indian and Australian divide. One has to look at this incident holistically and unfortunately only two writers have done that, one is you Mukul and second Harsha Bhogle, both Indians. Now lets look first at the allegations, Australians believed it was racial in nature, may be it was. Harbhajan is no saint, as we all agree, but behind every act of crime, there is a motive, and no act should be taken out of the context and assessed for verdict. If Symonds believd that test match field is no place to be friendly than Harbhajan has all the right to tell Mr. Symonds how savage he is, and it won't be unfair. As for Mr. Ponting, we all have been in school and colleges and even at home where teacher asks us to report every mischief a mate commits. But do we go and report it all, we don;t because there is life beyond such incident and there is relation to tend. continue...

I suppose that is about as impartial and objective as we can expect to get an Indian journalist on an article involving Indian cricket, which is good to see.

Many of the Indian supporter's comments sound more like Cardinals responding to criticism of the Pope and are quite insane. But hey, you already have your narrative set, Australia are the Nazis or Imperial Japanese of world cricket and India are the shining beacons of freedom or something. Pfft.

I love cricket. And I love good cricket. As an Englishman, I do not care if it is played by India, Australia or England, so long as it is good. The Australian and Indian spat makes me so angry because these two nations seem to have forgotten that they are the guardians of the sport - not politicans whose petty squabbles need to be broadcasted. Australia's gracelessness, arrogance and uncouthness is unpleasant. Michael Clarke's bump ball catch was painful to watch - because he must have known it was not out. Further, unless it can be proved that Harbajan said what the Aussies claim, then he did not. I think Indians are right to feel aggrieved. However, Indians must remember that they are not necessarily beyond reproach either - I am thoroughly sick of hearing that the umpires are biased, that India should have won and Kartik's spitting is as shameful as the Aussies behaviour. If only the whole Indian team behaved as responsibly as Tendulkar, Kumble and Dravid.

what said on the field, should be left on the field.
sledging is part of cricket its been happening for a long time now and why should it stop??? however i think indian management took it to far when it was said if Harbhajans suspension was not withdrawn they were going home. well come how old are these guys??? and the burning images in india well ill just say im never going to india grow up and act like adults, bloody cry babies.....

Well done to everyone for your comments from both sides of the crease. I have no idea of what it must feel like to be an Indian cricket fan. But i am learning fast. The pride for your team is growing due to thier success & with great players such as Tendulker, Kumble & the up and coming Pathan, you feel like you have to protect them.

This sounds very familiar. I have great respect for the Indian team. They have proven over the last 6 years that they are up to the task.

Being an Aussie, I love a good competition more than anything. But what i have a problem with is the media taking a simple game that normal people play(not super heroes)and drag it & the people who love it through the mud.

Who ever wrote this rubbish must have had their brains blown to bits by indian curry - everyone knows that indian honesty is dodgy, try getting anything done by their public service with out rubbing someone's palm with dough - their cricket team and administration is no different. The only reason the racist Harbajan got off was cause the ICC is incompetent

Hey

Whats going on, sledging/slashing/commenting/profusing/stripping/staring/bumping and all possible "ings" except the word cricket.
I heard monkey, he heard teri maaki. They heard bastard he patted, some spat in his palms fopr shining the ball. Licking, tampering, someone said black crow another was sacked for boozing and a legend for smoking ganja.

Nice this far from what Wordsworth wrote of Ranjitsinji. What the world admires the Don. he was also an Oz. Lets not get out to be mokeying/butting or bullying the situation.

I will want India to honour Bucknor, show him true Gandhism. Indians please do not be the dirty side of Cricket, this will go into HISTORY. I do not want any Indian to be a part of this.

Get out of this crap gentlmen, allow the grace to continue.

First article in thousands which I have read over last 5-10 years on cricinfo which prompted me to put an response. Amaszing analysis. Well done Kesavan.

It really does give me a good laugh each day reading these articles from the Indian media... :) :) Cry, cry, you pack of sooks!!!!! :) :)

Lets defeat Aussies by 3-0 when they come to india...coz this team will be weakest team toured in recent past. And we can also go for our kind for wicket prepartion.

I used to think we (australian's) are world leader in cricket but now my opinion has changed.

"The Indian board has no interest in cricket as such:" -- LOL!!! So very true! That has to be the statement of the century!

"Any sort of character assassination on Andrew Symonds would be completely unfair," Ponting said. "He's someone who doesn't want this stuff happening, it's the second time with what he had to go through in India as well, and it's the last thing in the world he wants."
if he did not want this stuff happening symonds should have kept his mouth shut, what you sow you reap!! maybe ponting doubts the integrity of the judge, should the judge leave the room mr.ponting??

One thing is clear namely barring certain honourable exceptions, no Indian respondent seems to see the fault in the Indian behaviour,as, for example, threatening to quit if the decision went against them and most Australian respondents seem to harp on the bad(?) history of Indian behaviour whuile supporting the Australian players. The divide is too wide and perhaps a cooling off period gfor a few years qwith no bilateral series with Australia will do more good than anything else

Hah!

I think there was a fair colouring of Indian bias in this piece, no doubt a product of the death threats Mukul received after his first piece villifying Harbhajan. That alone says quite alot about India - it's a country where you can be deified one day - killed by a crowd with machetes the next.

Having said that, this article is intelligent and funny and deserves to be widely read. I agree that there is more than a bit of George W. Bush in Ricky Ponting, and truly Ponting is the one guy in this whole affair who like Harbhajan, really does look like a simian.

But Indians still remember the astonishing way Ponting single handedly destroyed them in the 2003 World Cup, an innings that has only been equaled by Gilchrist's slaughter of Sri Lanka last year.

India won the moral victory in this Test series, and with the addition of Sehwag and Sharma, and with the subtraction of Hayden - proved that they are now atleast as good as Australia.

The next set of matches should be dynamite.

Well-written! The Australians have been getting away with murder all these years in the name of 'playing hard' (whatever that means). Now when they are getting a taste of their own medicine, they are crying and going to mama..Ponting and his team are such a bunch of pathetic specimens..It is great that India reacted the way they did. All the sub-continental teams (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) should decide to endlessly harass the Australian team whenever they play against them. At the end of the day, Australia is just an insignificant part of the world economy, and it is time the country is shown its place.

Mr dwblurb this is start of great debacle...take it this way...r aussies satisfied with the result? and if they r, then yes it is start of demise of aussie empire..

after reading comments from all my fellow men from Australia, it is clear that they have accepted :

1. to have lost series 1-2 to India (since matches can not be won for claiming ground catches)
2. they will get back the same thing they throw on others.
3. their supremacy is now over (In cricket if not in English)
4. "Ma Ki .." is acceptable rather than "monkey".

Some other animal (may be Donkey) and not "Monkey is their ancestors.

GREAT SIDNEY WINNERS (you may feel proud of above)

BRAVO!

Mukul call it what it is!. We all saw on TV during the 20/20 series how well adjusted Indians are with rascism. We all know its another cover up. Proffesional Australian sportman of all codes are very successful because they are fitter, train harder, mentally tuffer and understand the difference between rascism sledging. Indians cricketers should work harder at their shortcomings and start acting like proffessionals rather than bollywood stars.

Mukul,I am an Indian and an avid cricket follower who stayed up all night here in the UK to watch each and every ball of the four tests-therefore as passionate as a cricket fan gets!Whilst I agree that at Sydney "we was robbed", that in no manner absolves India of the brinkmanship that followed.Whether HS called Sym a monkey or not is something that only HS and Sym know,but if HS did,he should be punished & I wouldnt defend him just because he was Indian.What was depressing was the manner in which BCCI sought to put pressure on a judicial process-that was unneccesary given the evidence and childish.But then I have come to believe that the Indian sensationalist media (see star news-thank you Mr. Murdoch-ironically an Aussie) controls and it was no surprise that BCCI's actions were sensationalist and playing to the gallary.You comparing Ponting to Bush-despicable & not on-shows absolute lack of culture.Finally,Ponting&co-if sledging is mental disintegration,using money power is as well.

Mukul, just when I begin to see evidence of "balance" in your blog you come up with a heap of sensational flag-waving anti-Aussie tub-thumping. Your description of Ponting is the most hateful harmful piece of writing I have read during this entire sorry saga. The spitting on the hands thing is a very Australian blue-collar "lets go to work" habit, one that is entirely in tune with Ponting's approach to cricket and life in general. Imagine the uproar if an Aussie cricket journo suggested that Harbajhan was somehow lesser because he sits on the floor and eats with his hands. I'm afraid you only draw attention to your own limited knowledge and bias. By the way the most blatant "cheating" non-catch in recent times belongs to Dhoni (Pietersen in England '07). Surely not an Indian? You say the Aussies are "universally unloved". My response is that Aussies love Kumble & the famous 4 and will be sad if we don't see them again. They bring great credit to India. Today, I'm afraid, you do not.

To all the Indians living in Australia who can do nothing but denigrate their host Country I would ask "Why the hell are you here and not in India?" If Australia's so bad get on a bloody plane back there and stop bludging on us! Ungrateful parasites!

...continued
Unfortunately, Mr. Ponting didn't have the vision to realize it. I always believed that captainship in cricket is synonymous with leadership; Mr. ponting had put a doubt to that. A leader has to has this vision, a clarity of thought, which Ponting didn't have. There was a saying in spiderman movie that "great power brings great responsibility", Ponting failed miserably to understand this repsonsibility. Agreed, its a responsibility for a leader to stand up for its team mate, but he failed to understand the game of cricket is worth much more than self invited offense of a savage beast(disclosure:- this use of term is generic and not racial). Now again, by showing his resentment on the decision, which is factual, rational and more legitimate, he has shown a total lack of leadership skill. Knowing where to field his man is great art, but to know when, why and how to field one thoughts is greater.
Mr.Procter also had his share of involvement in this sorry saga. continue...

Mr. Seano, There is a difference between Mr. Michael clark, a senior cricketer with lots of test experience and Ishant Sharma, a novice with just under four tests experience. May be he was emulating the rich precedence set up by the illlustrious clark. Also I find that the aussie writing seems to be hell bent of terming Harbhajan racist and one Mr. justin crawford says that if any aussy had indulged in racist remark, he would have been turfed for ever! Well what happened to Mr. Glen Mcgrath, Mr. Dean Jones? And to top it all we have mr. Ian chappell waxing eloquent about the ground manners and behaviour when he had no shame in pulling down his zipper to the umpire on ground! Indians are no whiners, and let australia win one game with out sledging anybody and we will accept them as a great team! Post Sydney their standards were no where the standards they had before - reason - Public attention on their sledging, so the great boys couldnt get their adrelin pumped up with choicest @$@%

Many here have accused Indian team for throwing tantrums or holding the series for ransome, yes they did, but i feel it was better than quietly seeing yourself being cheated and just actig like gentlemen even when your opponents are not.
But then these are just my views.

Some of my other views are
The article was good, but the 'Iraq War' part was out of context.
Ricky Ponting is not least similar to Bush in behaviour or attitude, but i do think he looks a bit like him.
Umpiring standards need to be raised.
I totally agree with the Australians that sledging is ok until not racist and giving decisions is umpire's work and respecting them is that of players

And at last, really most of the Indians don't know that monkey is a racist word, though i think those spectators doing mokey chants in India knew what they were doing.

And one final thing to add - what worries me is how is the Indian mob of 100k in the smaller cities of India, provoked by the media, react when the Aussies tour India in Oct. BCCI better ensure that there is no racial chanting, etc. then and culprits are thrown out summarily.
To the intellectual in this forum who claims that monkey is more offensive than f£$k or b"$5ard, it depends on which side of the fence you are mate!I would rather be called a monkey than a b"$£ard - calling me sub-human (I am brown by the way)and linking me to my ancestors (yrs as well I guess) is fine - informing me that I was conceived out of wedlock and with someone other than the man I call dad is not! May be some people prefer otherwise but then to each man his own!

Firslty. To compare Ponting to someone who is responsible for hundreds of people dying everyday. Thats just not cricket.
Secondly. Neither country is bigger than the game.
Thirdly, has there ever been so many great players on the field at once.
Imagine this team:
Hayden, Sehwag, Ponting, Tendulkar, Hussey, Symmonds, Gilchrist, Kumble, Lee, Pathan, Clarke
And finally, Being a racist is very un-Australian.
I too get searched when at the airport.

The issue is simple; would one accept the word of Symonds, Ponting and Hayden or that of Tendulkar. In my view there is no contest.

This is a fitting response to some of the ridiculous headlines in the Aussie media.
I believe BCCI should now insist on Symonds being charged for hurling "invective laden attack" at Bhajji. He does not deserve any good will from Indians. According to the judge, even if Bhajji used the monkey word, Symonds has no reason to be upset because he started the whole thing. I don't know what is Ponting & co unhappy about; that the judge exposed the real culprit, or he has revealed that his mate first broke the pledge made in Mumbai or he found one of his mates to be unreliable. We have to ask Malcom Speed, who maintains that he retains the right to charge players even if not charged by match officials, whether he would charge Symonds for bringing the game to disrepute. BCCI is right in using what ever means it has to protect it's players from unfair treatment. Ponting & CA should be happy that his players are getting away with nothing for bringing false charges.

All the Aussies responding here are like anyother Aussie. Amazing. Their self importance, their wonderful bloated opinion of themselves, their respect for Ponting, Symonds amd Clarke, their dis regard for one of cricket's greatest blunders-the Caught behind decision of Dravid, their sledging as mark of toughness, India's forgiving of Aussies for the B word and Aussies ingratitude towards that gesture,their inability to receive criticism in dignity make me think that Down under is really DOWN under as far as culture is concerned. India should not ape these values, come what may.

It's so simple - WHY do so many Indian supporters not understand the difference between sledging and racism? A real example: Symonds was not punished because he sledged BUT did not break any ICC rules or conduct codes. Harbhajan was cited because he was heard using a RACIST epithet! Ponting was OBLIGED to report him - any other course of action would have been a reprehensible backdown in the face of racism.

Now, we already knew that Harbhajan was a racist, and now we know that he is a liar as well, and so is Tendulkar. Why? Because no mention of "Teri Maa Ki" was made at the original hearing! Why not? If they'd mentioned it then, Harbhajan would never have been charged with racism!

So why did "Teri Maa Ki" suddenly surface at the appeal? Because the Indians realised they could avoid the charge that way. The Indian batsmen lied either at the original hearing or at the appeal - no other conclusion can be drawn.

And there is only one cricket nation that flouts the match referees!

continued...
He was the clear evident why Indians and other players from subcontinent have been on the wrong side of law. He refused to see the arguement and context, and we all have to go through this sorry saga. He said, being in south africa he understands what raical slurr is, we can't deny that but, what he could not see was the preceeding incidents and faile to envison suceeding ones. We all should agree that he was inept and raises a question about integrity and aptitudes of match referee. He was no more than Ponting in disguise, taking words of few selected men as they were written laws. If one looks at the history, the most disgusting scenes in the field of cricket has mostly been involving Australians. Incident involving Glenn McGrath and Ramnaresh Sarwan is still fresh in the mind. No. of years Glenn Mcgrath went on to play after that is a representation of where true power lied. Australians must accept this changing time. continue...

An incredibly biased and flawed article. Indian cricket fans are pretty much the most parochial and unsporting in the cricketing world. Think about torching stadiums and burning effigies. Sure the Aussie cricket team have MANY flaws... but the Australian media and the general public are not backward in calling them out.
All we get from Indian fans is excuses and accusations... it really takes away from some of the very good cricket that the team played.
Face it - you know Bhaji probably said Monkey AND you know it is a racist term. Imagine if Ponting had called RP or someone a Monkey? Harbhajan should have been man enough to admit what he said and wouldn't have had to drag Sachin into this mess. Minus Harbhajan's comment and you have a very strong performance and the moral high ground. Now with the carry on and articles like this I dont know what to think.

Dear keithoz,
"Didn't do anything to help Proctor" - If you can't see things clearing please refer to his statements after Sarawan incident and when he banned Rashid Latif for 5 test matches and turned a blind eye when Ponting did the same in this match.
Rohit

I think Mukul got most of it right. About the transgression Aussie media keeps throwing at us regarding Indian team being the worst is exactly what infuriates the cricket fans. They see the Australian teams getting away with murder while the Indian and Subcontinent team getting dinged for everything. There is no consistency in how the decisions were made. The overappealing was the perfet ewxample. Sehwag gets punished but Ponting and team don't. What justice!!!

Dean, about the Harbhajan bowled situatuion, let me explain how I saw it. He got bowled, no doubt about that as far as you and I are concerned. But as far as Bhajji was concerned he never looked back to see its bowled. He thought he was stumped. And guess what, the umpire wasn't sure about it. If he had seen its bowled and not walked then he should be castigated.

About the catching agreement, why the hell do that when you know sometimes there is doubt in a catch even if the fielder is sure? Better refer it upstairs.

If Ponting = Bush, then what does that make Ganguly/Kumble? Osama bin Laden??

No-one came out of this untarnished. What of the Indians revelling in benefitting from bad decisions in the Perth Test? If they are going to criticise Australia for that sort of behaviour, they would do well to refrain from using it themselves...

What of Kartik's disgusting behaviour in Adelaide, blatant dissent in the face of a correct umpiring decision. Could you imagine the uproar if the roles had been reversed? Clarke appealing for a bad decision, sledging during play afterwards, and spitting at Kartik as he walked off the field. If that had happened, Clarke would have been strung up, but because it was Kartik, we are supposed to act like everything is OK.

To every Indian who says Aussies dish it out but can't take it, I say this: DON'T criticise the behaviour of the Australians if the Indian team is slavishly intent on copying that behaviour down to the very last detail!

Hope there will be strong personalities in the Indian team post Kumble and Tendulkar who can twist BCCI's arm to ensure that players' reputation is not held hostage by Kangaroo or South African courts.

Hey Carl Jackson.. I hope you're right, and good luck. Cant wait for the sponsors and crowds to roll in to watch Australia v England v New Zealand EVERY SUMMER.. ha ha what a joke..

Hi Mukul,
As a true blue indian cricket fan i would enjoy this post for sure.. but at the same time.. i personally feel that misplaced aggression of the kind that Harbajan and Sreesanth have been showing off late on the cricket field are not worth entertaining or appreciating. we indians are not good at sledging and so should refrain from doing so. If a Manki Aag is misninterpreted as Monkey as reported in the press then a whole lot of Indian abuses could be misinterpreted and land Indian players in trouble. the Aussies know how to sledge and let them do so... its the way they have played their cricket and so be it.
At the same time the reality is that Aussie aggression has reached a stage where the powers that may be should seriously look at the Aussie claim of Playing the game Hard and fair.
We all recollect Macgrath yelling abuses at Ramanaresh Sarwan in West Indies and which was caught by Stump mikes And Slater abusing Dravid. why did ICC not take action against them

To Aussies who dont seem to understand a basic premise---Which the good Judge has clearly pointed out, that the big bully Symonds started this spat. Harbhajan responded not with Monkey but with Maan Ki which is a very solid insult in Hindi. In India if he utters it to an unknown person he would have been beaten. I am ashamed about his behaviour but Symonds also should look at his backside first. Lee Patted Tendulkar on the head after he got out at Adelaide, and it was a friendly gesture, So If the big bully Symonds was an Indian and he was non striker he would take the issue with Lee and abuse him??? Bloody utter bull shit and he got back what he gave from Harbhajan. In India cusswords like bastard, fuck are frowned upon and not accepted as a standard of behaviour. So people use them when they get seriously angry which Harbhajan used when Symonds provoked him. And who the hell this big bully Symonds is to question what we celebrate and what we condemn. It was none of his business

A well written post.After reading The Hon.Hansen's judgement, it is becoming clear as to who is to blame for all this.Harbhajan was targeted by the Aussies since he can not keep his cool.Andrew Symonds not only broke his promise made in Mumbai but abused harbhajan for appreciating Lee's bowling.Michael Clarke's evidence shows he can not be relied upon. Hayden only joined in to support Symonds and to cover up his fault.Channel 9 did not give the relevant video to ensure that Procter does not beleive Sachin's evidence.Ponting complained to the umpires like a cry baby and precipitated the crisis. Procter, a S.African a true one time follower of apartheid did not consider that the Indians could speak the truth.All in all it was a frame up and a good and great judge saw through the plot and unravelled the truth.Thanks to the ICC, Harbhajan escaped with a minimum punishment. In future when ever the Aussies abuse, the Indian Captain should complain to the umpires and put them in the dock.This

India are well on the way to becoming the new Australia: they are certainly losing the respect of the cricketing world at the required rate! Regardless of what we Aussies think of the behaviour of the Australians' behaviour, the Indian have lost a lot of the respect they were previously afforded, with their repeated and petulant threats to abandon the tour, their interference in the assignment of umpires, and most of all for their blatant hypocrisy in whole-heartedly adopting exactly the behavioural standards they complain about in the Australians!

Now, basically all India need to do is get a fair bit better at playing cricket BEFORE the series (and trophy) is stone dead!

Indians! Indians! They say it happens only in india and they are very true. Only in India can you have criminals running the country. Only in India can you remove Ganguly for some overrated and undeserving cricketer. Anything that goes against us, is against the spirit of the game and all decisions whether correct or wrong that are in our favour are a part of the game. How can you have people like Harsha Bhogle who should be commenting neutrally openly criticizing every australian. I think the australians should have kicked the indians out of their country instead of tolerating heir dictatorship. They say sehwag has a very short memory and he forhets about the last, I think thats the case with every indian as they seem to forget the decisions that their umpires had given back in India.

Some clarification perhaps of the contradictions in many comments.
Australians are not upset at the "clearing" of Harbhajan on the racism charge - after all, it was a JOINT submission from Ponting and Tendulkar that brought this about. The issue they are taking (and with which Hansen now agrees) is that they expected a 1 match suspension. Hansen has already confirmed that if the ICC had told him about Harbhajan's numerous past indiscretions, then the penalty would have been very different.

In a nutshell, cleared on racism (which was inevitable and justified given the absence of proof) but a complete mess made of sentencing thanks to the ICC.

As for the BCCI, atrocious. Don't like the umpire - hold game to ransom. Don't like the decision - hold game to ransom.

The Indians had the moral high ground after Sydney, then threw it away quicker than Karthik unjustifiably spitting at Clarke in Adelaide!

Apparently 2 wrongs make a right? As Roebuck said, God help cricket!

The guy above who said India benefited from bad decisions in perth is ignorant. Dhoni and Sachin also got bad decisions aswell.. but you forgot that.. Oh thats right cause ur an aussie.. and Aussies are ignorant.

Get use to it, India will dominate from here on in. Get ready to cry like babies alot more.

Mukul:
Another comment. This may be flogging a dead horse, but if Harbhajan was penalized for using abusive language, why hasn't Symonds been? Judge Hansen concluded that Symonds initiated the exchange and used 'abusive language' - has the outraged Aussie media considered that Symonds may well deserve to be penalized as well?

I can only presume that I must have hit a nerve with Mukul in my previous posts (all three of them) as they don't seem to be getting posted. None of them were abusive, offensive, or transgressed any of the guidelines as far as I can see. So perhaps Mukul or someone might have the decency to tell me why I have been excluded from this discussion?

Beautifully explains why the Australiars were sitting looking so glum, exactly like a bunch of brats in the Principal's office. Arrogant, dishonest, vicious, and now exposed. And their reactions says it all: unless EVERYONE bows to their bullying, they consider it unfair - even the Judge is now being called corrupt, though there is absolutely no reason to think that he blinked at all at anything. The Judge's comments damn Symonds as the violator of the agreement, Clarke as a liar, and Hayden as something far worse - looks like Hayden PLANNED this attack with Symonds.

Good take, Mukul, now please try to get Vaidyanathan and the other dhimmies to read it, or read it to them real s l o w l y...

Cheers

This is in response to GlaCial,
U talked about diff. between India and Australian culture......
do u really want to argue on the point of culture and history ?
Remember what Arjun Ranatunga has said about australia and their culture ?
or should we start again.......

Wow! The amount of people wanting to comment on this and the amount of rubbish alot of them are spouting is unbelievable.
I don't think anybody has come out of this looking good:
Symonds starting the incident was juvenile & stupid & Harbhajans response was similiar & probably vile.
The Indian board,fans & journos have showed immaturity in their response regarding racism.
The BCCI has behaved like bullies with their threats to boycott & chartering of planes.
The ACB has looked weak when it says it supports its players but does a deal to downgrade the charges against their will.
The ICC have been made to look incompetent by not providing the correct records to.
People who post in blogs have been revealed to be biased, ranting, insulting, racist, offensive, illogical, vindictive, dellusional & cospiracy theorists.
Thankfully ther was some fantastic cricket played, particularly by Tendulkar, VVS, Hayden and Lee. We also got to see the emergence of a fantastic new talent in Sharma

Well written brother! I would like to draw everyones attention here to the comments made by Barry Richards about Procter being the beacon of light during the dark days of apartheid! His allegedly legendary struggle against the system(apartheid)alone was responsible for it's demise???? Is anyone aware of his heroic deeds? I understand Indian players reactions quite well in this situation. Over the years an overwhelming number of decisions made by match referees have gone against Asian teams for a fact! I am amazed at how our players retains their cool before such one eyed clowns(referees)! I would also like to suggest Kumble not to shake hand with the unhygienic spit monster ponting! Instead, he should offer him an artificial hand? Just my own thought and definitely not instigated by BCCI! Cheers.

This is ugly nationalism at its worst. Indians are treating a game of sport like it is some kind of colonial struggle against an oppressor. What they are struggling with is not the umpires and Australian team but the massive chip on their own shoulders. Compare the way that China is handling its rising power, with a degree of state craft and restraint that makes India look like a tin pot third world country caught in a post-colonial time warp. Australia has a population that is 2% of India’s and is remote from the major global centres of power, yet succeeds at dozens of sports against the most powerful nations (it came 5th in Olympics after US, China, Russia & Germany as I recall) because we believe we can control our own destiny rather than being a victims of our geography, history (from convict beginnings) and small population. I would like to see India try a similar tactic in football, swimming, cycling, athletics or tennis rather than a parochial game like cricket.

I am ashamed of BCCI’s childish threats of boycotting the rest of the series if the judgment does not go their way. It is quite sickening to see the way they throw their weight around. I hope the guys who run the show in BCCI grow up soon.

Anyone heard the story about pots and kettles?

Perhaps everyone should get a grip and get their own house in order, then seek to criticise others.

If you want to criticise batsmen for not walking - all 11 of your team must walk. Yuvraj anyone?

If you want to criticise a team for overappealing, you must never appeal unnecessarily. Kumble/Harbhajan anyone?

If you want to criticise a team for not respecting the umpires, never show any form of dissent, intimidation or aggression towards any umpire, no matter how bad the decision. Karthik finger pointing and "spitting the dummy"?

If you want to criticise a doubtful claimed catch, never claim a doubtful catch - Ganguly World Cup, Dhoni England anyone?

If you want people to play in the spirit of the game, keep your own over rates up and don't send batsmen out with 2 right gloves.

If a country wants to adopt this position, then I'm happy to listen. Otherwise, everyone's at fault but the game goes on.

Mr. Gurpreet, I am NOT ignorant of the fact that India got bad decisions in Perth. Both teams get them, and both teams deserves them. The point I was making was about HYPOCRISY by the Indians - they accused the Australians of many things after the Sydney Test, and now, at the end of the series, they are guilty of nearly all of those accusations themselves!

Let me say it again: India are perfectly entitled to behave in that fashion (you will notice that the Australians raised no complaint). They are NOT entitled to bleat when the Australians do it.

If the Indians have only just realised the path to success on the cricket field in Australia, then it's about time!

brilliant!!

The article, as was intended, has gone well and will go very well with the Indians dispersed all around the world.
BCCI will flex its financial muscle and the IPL carrot and can get away with anything in future. Don't like the umpire, no problem. Don't like the match referee, no problem. Mr.Lalit Modi will remind players (and others) of IPL contracts once in a while so that everyone will fall in line.
Has any one wondered why one of the most respected of journalists, Peter Roebuck, who got the maximum coverage in Indian media for his scathing article on Ponting and his men, has now written about BCCI and its muscle-flexing. Not very surprisingly, he has no media coverage now.
I expected a more balanced coverage from Mr.Kesavan. Very disappointing.

I am glad you made a reference to Ponting's habit of spitting on his hands and then rubbing them. This disgusting gesture is perhaps the image of Australian cricket today. Roebuck called them wild dogs in the aftermath of Sydney, which was a bit unfair if you consider that there are players like Stuart Clark,Bret Lee and Michael Hussey in the team as well. I have always had the highest regard for the Australian cricket team for their never say die attitude. That said,it is unfortunate that their image has plumetted so low under Ponting despite his great feats with the bat. Cricket Australia needs to take things in hand, heed their own Prime Minister and work towards bringing about an image change. They need someone like Mark Taylor as captain. Not someone like Michael Clark who has been seen in very poor light by the ease with which he has resorted to falsehood to win the day for Australia. As a stop gap arrangement, I think they should bring in Michael Hussey as captain.

Hi Mukul, terrific article. I salute you. You have conveyed the truth in a manner which none could possible have. Absolutely brilliant I must say. From my point of view, the Australian team had been my most favourite team since the times of Kim Hughes, Allan Border, Mark Taylor & Steve Waugh & I not only used to admire their skills but I used to love the way they played the game with such panache & sportsmanship.I was such a great fan of Aussies that I wanted Australia to win when India played against them or maybe a draw. But ever since Ponting took over, I detected a change in the Aussie style when arrogance, bullyism & shameless " hard & fair " attitude took over & all my Aussie charisma disappered & I disliked the way Ponting played his game. Unfortunately the only guy in the Aussie team I have respect & admiration left is only Gilchrist & you could see that he didnt like what went on at Sydney & thought intially that he quit because his conscience didnt approve. Anyway Excellent.

mukul, you are a gala!The most biased piece of so-called journalism I have ever come across. Ponting being likened to George W Bush...give me a break.You actually sound like one of the republicans pr spin doctors.You slag the aussies of for being bullying sledgers on the field??? I don't know how long you've followed cricket,but thats how most international teams have played over the past 30 years(Ian botham played this way,I dare you to start slagging him off!!!)Indian players have have reprimanded more than any other team in the last 3 years(43 times, opposed to 27 from the aussies).AS for teams getting unfair umpiring in OZ,the Aussies refused to play in india for 10 years because of your umpires being cheats.As for darrell hair,He umpires the game to the rule book and gets chased out of the game for it.Your just upset cause your crappy team is still 2nd best to the aussies.Tendulker is a ball tampering cheat by the way.1 billion indians,20million aussies,and u still cant beat us!!!

So let me get it straight:
Symonds calls Bhajji a fu***** H*** - no issues, he was being a mate
Ponting claims a grounded catch - no issues, according to some people that's fine as long as he was supposedly in control of his body (read the rules again)
Clarke claims a grounded catch, ponting gives him out and umpire is apparently bound by the agreement between Ponting/Kumble and not by cricket laws - no issues
Bucknor (and Jenson) give 9 howlers in a single match- no issues on their competence. keep going
Bhajji allegedly calls Symonds a monkey when provoked- and he is a racist??
Well let me tell you something. Someone calls me a f***** h**** and I will not call him a monkey. Trust me, he's gonna have a bloody nose. I am not expected to keep list of backgrounds of all the players to know what might be offensive to whom. It's simple, don't open ur mouth if u can't take it back. Remember Mcgrawth/Sarwan. ozzies are the inventors of 'mental disintegration' so don't be cry babies.

Petulant Sooks.

We'd all have rathered you went home.

Every series that India play in is marred in controversy.

But I'll leave you safe in the knowledge that we beat you once again.

1 billion people and you still can't find 11 who can knock us off.

Unlucky.

Needed to be repeated

Very good stuff Mukul. In explaining this whole business to folks in NYC, I tried developing an analogy involving trash-talking and verbal retaliation here: http://eye-on-cricket.blogspot.com/2008/01/just-small-analogy.html

For my biggest beef in this whole affair has been how lightly Symonds role as Arsonist-Extraordinaire has been ignored by the press (starting from his comments about Indian celebrations after the T20 World Cup).

Good one Mukul. I am vexed of reading the comments of Peter Reobuck who once was surprised that Indian team didnt return after sydney test and said Australians targeted Harbhajan and played on him. Yesterday i see him blaming BCCI very strongly. I ask Australian media, all these distinguished writers, to give me one concrete evidence to prove Harbhajan has uttered that word "Monkey". without knowing that they make conclusions that Indian Powerhouse has won the case only becoz of money. When Harbhajan pats Lee its not on for Symonds, but when Brett lee hurls a ball into Rahul Dravid even though Rahul is in his crease, its a friendly gesture. Ponting wants an excuse from Harbhajan when he touches ponting while fielding, but Symonds collides and pushes Rahul Dravid in Adelaide and nobody cares. In what sense Australia is mighty. Just becoz they appeal more and get away from Referee, celebrate like wild dogs when umpires won them the match.SYdney, perth, Adelaide India dominated. Bottomlin

India's very sporting behaviour in this test series alone, only from when I really began keeping count after the sydney furore.

--------------------------------------------------
Just like kumble over appealing in melbourne

Just like Yuvraj sullenly staying at the crease in melbourne

Just like an indian bowler appealing for an LBW after a stroke, that hit 3 stumps outside off stump in adelaide.

Just like Pathan staring down hayden from very close range after a denied LBW...then chasing the umpire to square leg to harass him with questions in adelaide.

Just like Indian appealed for a Clarke bat-pad that was 8 inches away from the bat in adelaide.

Then, they carried on with the umpire about it!!

Then, Karthik went to the umpire, wagging his finger in the umpire's face.

Then, he went and spat right at the feet of Clarke from short leg.

Ganguly did not walk after he would clearly have felt that the ball cleanly hit his bat before hussey caught it - adelaide.

Sharma taunting hayden with his looks, after bowling him, while hayden walked off staring at the ground all the way from stump to outfield - adelaide
--------------------------------------------------

Indians have to get rid of this "Every Indian is cultured and ethical" and "Every aussie is rough and boorish" attitude.

Each country has every type.

Think it is as yet incolclusive that Clarke's catch of Ganguly was a bump catch. If you still see the replay there is a doubt. But there is no doubt that Dhoni claimed a bump catch of Pietersen at Lord's which was first given out and then not-out.The point is not here that Dhoni & Clarke are cheating. The point is that in the heat of the moment you don't realise and appeal. It is for umpires not to get pressurised and give the corretc decision.Its unfair to blame Dhoni or Clarke. Similarly, if a player is not walking then its umpires duty to ask him to walk if he's out. Yuvraj did the same thing in Melobourne in both the innings (he even stood after being given out by umpire while Clarke waited for the decision). In the 3rd & 4th tests there were lot of decisions which did not go Australia's way. Does that mean Aus ask for removal of umpires and backing out od a test match.

"distance brings perspective"
hardly. what a hypocrite. so michael clarke's slippery? what of habarjan, refusing to walk after being bowled against england. AFTER BEING BOWLED. what of Doni claiming a catch that bounced a foot in front of him in a test match against england. "writers" like you should be ashamed. so should all the nationalists who applaud you.

As always Aussie readers find it hard to digest that a team which dominates world cricket but lacks respect for other team can do any wrong. All their players say is right, rest is all rubbish. Australia and England ran the game which is no longer happening as sub-continent teams are increasingly having more clout. Australians have never been reported for match referees Like Mr Procter have never found any fault with them. If people remember the match which Windies won by chasing world record score, Glen McGrath and co actions were worse than seen during the Sydney test even then no serious action taken.

Aussie readers stop moaning, one reader says they leave or move away from ICC, why? Just because you can't your way now!! Leave if you wish (good riddance)!

I read the article as well as the comments; notwithstanding the underlying emotions of nationality and pride, the fundamental issues are somewhat muddied through some questionable comparisons (Bush and Ponting, for example). The fact remains that code of conduct on a cricket field is not well specified or imposed(compared to soccer, for example). To make matters worse, the umpires are rank amateurs masquerading as professionals. A scoring system that ensures that umpires work in teams and only the best teams get to referee key contests (as in American football) would ensure a degree of professionalism. Lastly,one cannot ignore the brand damage Ponting and his boys may have done to Australian cricket. "Tough but fair" has always been associated the hallmark of Australian cricket. Gilchrist is a universal symbol of this. However, in extending the boundaries of toughness, present day Australian cricketers may have sacrificed fairness, which in sport is all about attitude.

Now then, how come Symmo went scot free without any punishment for triggering the whole saga?

The judge should have meted out some punishment to Symmo too.

If you see the Aussie gang that went against Bhajji, not a single one is trustworthy among them.

Ponting & Michael Clarke both were dishonest by claiming a catch that wasn't a catch at Sydney.
Symmo himself admitted that he was out in Sydney before he went onto score the century.

In some of the photographs, we could see that Gilly too was there in the middle when this argument took place. Then how come he was not among the gang endorsing this racial comment? It only means that Gilly knew what was discussed & it did not definitely have a racial tone in it.
It further proves that Gilly is an honest Aussie player.

I am with Arjuna Ranatunga who said that when Aussies get their own medicine back, they become nervy.

Top-class article. Particularly penetrating comments on Procter and Clarke.

And Rohit - sadly, it's not only in India that criminals can run a country. It happens all over the place.

to carl jacson if austrailia leave icc who will join tell me one country that will join it and not to be rude where will will the money come from you can not cheat and expect o break world records mate

To Pathanjal, watch some European soccer where the crowd make monkey chants at dark-skinned players, mainly those of African descent. Yes, monkey is a racist term directed towards dark skinned people, and is a world wide issue, not an Australian one.

However, even if Bhaji called Symonds a monkey (which I think he did, but obviously can't be sure), I don't regard Bhaji as a racist. After being abused himself, it is understandable for him to respond aggressively at Symonds. So, like most Australians, I have no problem with this incident. However, like many, I am sick of the Indians using this latest furore to throw all sorts of accusations at Australians such as non-walking, over appealing, sledging (few specific examples), without acknowledging that your precious players are guilty of these things as well. International cricketers as a whole need to improve their behaviour, nut just blaming Australians does no service to you usually wonderful Indian cricketing supporters

This is a superb post. I just can't understand why you should sledge. Once you start doing it, things may be out of your control. Majority of the spectators want to watch cricket. How come you scold cricketers mother or wife ...? Sometimes cultural differences between the countries play a bigger part in this type of controversies. Don't say we in Australia, sledge even in schools and so we got used to it. When you are playing international cricket you need to have some moral values, sportiveness and common sense. Australian team need to develop this. Sledging should be banned. ICC should enforce this strictly.

The article is well written,but one finer point is it not the mucle power "the author is referring to the India and BCCI" really played it is the pride of our Players had a greater say,
and he is not mentioning Symonds attitude more aggressively

any how it is ok

Well written Mukul.
I find the word Integriry being mentioned in these posts.
The whole world (through ESPN Start sports) clearly saw that bumb catches were claimed by Ponting and Clarke. But Channel 9 did not show the whole of the motion in these 2 cases. Now where is the integrity in both the Aussie players and media here.

That was one amazing write-up! Perfect, unbiased and gave a complete picture. I agree with the point that Harbhajan could have called Symonds a monkey! I felt that too and you are right that decisions cannot be based on what we think, but what it actually is!

Regards,
Vinayak

In one part of the article its the age old reference to Aussies being masters at sledging. Because everyone just seems to know what the aussies are saying on the field. Maybe its just because they are usually winning that gets people angry rather than what is being said.

Does anyone complain when the losing side sledges. The problem is that the other side can't say "look at the scoreboard..." like the aussies.

Aussies = sledgers. OK we accept that! Indians = Cry babies. Accept it. Next time. Take your bat and go home. Dont just threaten.

What’s a real pity here is that Aussies are damn good at the sport too and that they of all people should not have to resort to verbal volleys to win a game. But by repetitive acts of sledging, they make me question their real skills at the game. A champion doesn’t need to put somebody off their game by talking. They can impose themselves by just playing better. And this Australian team is certainly one of the best collections of players and quite capable of doing that. So either they need to shut up on the ground for the sake of their own credibility, or someone else will find ways to do that for them.
I will not try and defend Harbhajan – if he did say what was alleged then he deserved to be put out of the game till he had learnt the lesson. But if he hadn’t, and this is certainly the result of the appeal, then the world needs to be fair to him. Critics can hate BCCI, it deserves some of it, but this whole mess wasn't created by them. It was the doing of a bully named Roy.

Mukul,

This is right on the money as always.

Ponting could not be described any better. The Aussie concept of hardnosed cricket is a bunch rubbish to hide their lack of crikceting ability and insecurity on the field.

The Aussies need to stop monekying around with the English and start playing cricket the right way. They are sour winners and loosers, the next generation - Ponting's kids would judge him for their Sydney antics.

Symonds cuts a lonely figure in the Australian side, he was overcompensating by pretending to protect B Lee. Australia's racial divide is reflected in the consideration of Michael Clark as their next captain and not Andrew Symonds. Andrew must be feeling inept and inadequate at such a slight.

Something that's been overlooked entirely is that the draw in Adelaide ended India's incredible 1 game winning streak.

Dear mkl,
May be we went without winning the series in Australia. But do you think you are going to win in India the coming October? Get a hold on it, mate.

Verdict from judge Hansen is actually an indictment of the Oz team than Harbhajan.
What conclusions we get from the reasoning:
Andrew Symonds comes across as an aggressive boor.
Ricky Ponting coerced the umpires to report the incident, rushing to judgment with half baked facts..
Stuart Clark comes across as a liar on the witness stand having maintained that Symonds said nothing
Matthew Hayden is an untrustworthy witness having understood nothing but was still very confident of his comprehension of one word only.
Finally in public the most shameful of all: the spirit of Oz team, test matches are no place to have friends from opposite team.

What was Harbhajan’s crime, responding to sever provocation, but most satisfying verdict is that even if he had uttered “Monkey” he would not have been punished.

So, the aussie players wanted to get back at Harbhajan for what happened with him and Symonds in India. They were looking for the right opportunity to sort Bhaji out. The first one they got, Symonds jumps at him and since the whole thing is planned Hayden and Clarke chime in. The whole thing was a charade and a stake out. So, what is Ponting and co crying for. They thought they were smart and now have mud on their faces. They should be happy Symonds didn't get called for punishment as well. The Indians should have asked for it. The Judge (seasoned as he must be) saw through the charade. It is not about India r Aussies or about money. The trick Ponting and co tried to play on Bhaji fell through. That's it. That's like making a monkey out of all of them.

To steven,
"Its a bat not a fishing rod" = sledging
"big monkey" = racism
Imagine if an Australian player called Singh a monkey!!! Imagine if an Australian bowler celebrated like Singh did when he got Ponting out!! "fielder had confidently claimed a bump ball catch"=your opinion=wrong"
Mcgrath did call jayasurya a "black monkey" and got away with it because people from sub continent did not think it was racists except for the word black. ICC has made new rules to suite the culture of the Australians and south Africans and apply it on Asian countries. They seem to be the one deciding what is offensive and what is not. mcgrath has used worse phrases for sledging compared to what is reported by Steven. Symmond has no business to pick up a fight with Bhajji. It was done only with th eintent to create trouble.

"If you want to criticise batsmen for not walking - all 11 of your team must walk. Yuvraj anyone?"

I was thinking more along the lines of Harbhajan not walking after getting bowled by Kevin Pietersen.

To steven,
"Its a bat not a fishing rod" = sledging
"big monkey" = racism
Imagine if an Australian player called Singh a monkey!!! Imagine if an Australian bowler celebrated like Singh did when he got Ponting out!! "fielder had confidently claimed a bump ball catch"=your opinion=wrong"
Mcgrath did call jayasurya a "black monkey" and got away with it because people from sub continent did not think it was racists except for the word black. ICC has made new rules to suite the culture of the Australians and south Africans and apply it on Asian countries. They seem to be the one deciding what is offensive and what is not. mcgrath has used worse phrases for sledging compared to what is reported by Steven. Symmond has no business to pick up a fight with Bhajji. It was done only with th eintent to create trouble.

To John on his "verdict" on catch claimed by Clarke being inconclusive as per TV replays and the catch claimed by Dhoni being conclusively not-out. I don't what TV you were watching , I guess Channel 9. The rest of the world apart from Australia watched ESPN-Start Sports. It was clear in that Clarke had grounded the catch. It was also reported in 'The week' that unlike ESPN-Star SPorts, Channle 9 never really showed the full motion of Clarke and Ponting when they claimed these bumb catches. No wonder they were adamant after the Sydney test that these catches were clean, but the rest of the world saw the truth.

The days of Aussie hegemony are over. If it is ok to sledge your opponenent then it ok for the opponenent to give it back, whether in kind or greater.You sow what you reap.Here's to crushing Australia for ever.If their crowds behave badly let us return the favor. No more holding back.As to the Aussie who said they want to form a new league go right ahead.Let us see who plays with you.

mkl, you are funny. India sends a bunch of old-age home retirees and Australia just about scrapes through with a draw in the last test. You want to talk about 1 billion people? Let's talk about why Australia can barely beat a bunch of pensioners like Kumble and Tendulkar. Do you really want to play the best cricket players in India? The best cricket players in India would wipe the floor with Australia. Australia should thank it's imperialist stars that the BCCI is incompetent and can't figure out who the best Indian players are. As for Australia, maybe it should grow up and play a real sport like soccer and find out what real white countries like Germany would do to Australia, the joke of the white world. Oh, I forgot, the German football REJECTS reduced their beer intake and beat the Australian field hockey team at the World Cup AND the Champions Trophy. Australians are the dregs of the white world. Go back to the outback already ....

------->
Well not anymore. Aussies can enjoy themselves believing Harb is racist and that the BCCI is abusing its power. mkl, dont worry mate, I wish my India went home too, your country smells rotten, we should leave you Aussies to bask in perceived self rightousness. Enjoy your No1. spot. Being top is good...but at what expense?
I'd rather have india drop to 8 by playing fair and square. I really hope India dont retaliate to anything during the ODI series. I dont care about the result. I want India to back up the moral advantage they have. Also, they should never play the Aussies again unless they agree to behave like decent humans.

mkl - i pity you

Aussies have a problem here. They did not even have the courtesy to thank the Indian team for a fantastic gesture of withdrawal of appeal against Brad Hogg (who thinks he can play test cricket at this age). Now they are crying for reasons that they are not aware of. They lack the insight they are worst ones to play under the spirit of the game. I strongly believe that all this was set up against Bhajji to get back at him which left the scene without any evidence. Ultimately, this is always true 'Winners are grinners, looser are weepers'. On cards it may be 2-1 for Oz but world knows who the real winner is.

This is test match cricket we're talking about, not a game of tiddlywinks. This is professional sport. If you want 1950's behaviour, make it an amateur sport & not a business. Stop crying about sledging & be men. Personally, I think Symonds and Harbhajan should be allowed to say whatever they like to each other. Many of the Indian bloggers seem to agree, stating that Harbhajan was justified because Symonds started it. I would like to see it taken a step further. Harbhajan calls Symonds a monkey, so Symonds responds in the time-honoured, gentlemanly manner, by suggesting they meet up behind the grandstand to settle it like men. Do you really think the Aussie players care whether they get sledged or not? (Racism is not sledging) Indians aren't the first to give it back to them. When will one of these cricket teams realise that you don't win a cricket match this way? You win it with the bat and the ball. If India had any guts they would have pushed for a win in Adelaide. Disappointing.

As a cricket lover I support Indis wholeheartedly. I am truly fed up with the bias of decisions towards Australia because they have this appearance of gentlemen who play hard but fair. As a Pakistani fan I recall a document produced by the late Bob Woolmer in regards to decisions against Pakistan which were questionable.
It't not difficult to be number one when you have 15 players on your side.
Great article.

Mkl writes: But I'll leave you safe in the knowledge that we beat you once again.

Mkl, without the help of the umpires, and without your gamesmanship and sledging, you can't beat any good team.

Mukul says that the Sydney test may mark the end of sledging. If that turns out to be true, many teams are going to be able to beat you.

After all this, i seriously think the Aussies should reconsider their decision to play in the IPL. Cause for one, if they land up in India, who will be responsible for their safety with their boorish behaviour onfield? Its time that Australia formed their own club and started playing amongst themselves.

I agree Harbhajan is an idiot and so is Sreesanth or Karthik if they retaliate. Look at Dravid and be gentlemanly unlike Dhoni or these. If you say Monkey is racist it was defined by Westerners,mischevious kids are called little monkeys. SO the mindset is what matters if Australians feel that it is racist then it is. If Harb said it then he is guilty but the statements of Clark, Hayden and Procter that they heard not Sachin clearly it is unacceptable and unjust. They started and created this when India was playing well shows how well planned from Aussies side. Inept umpiring 8 times against India while in remaining test equal towards both teams shows something wrong. Bucknor, Hair always had issues with subcontinent teams why they always come when Aussies tour these or vice versa? I can say a conspiracy will any Aussie agree? Sooks?? U descendent from penal colony learn to be decent. Yes India has clout and westerners leanr that days of white rule is over

Andrew Symonds was the one who started and provoked Harbhajan. Why is he not fined?

The Aussies blaming BCCI is a joke. What did Cricket Australia do? Offer a compromise? Surely a bit of money is not important when it comes to fighting the big bad evil of racism?

well i think this blog has become a fighting blog where people just want to write to prove that their point of view is correct without proper verification of the respective stands taken. If we all want to continue replying on this article by makul - why not discuss & put forward steps that need to be taken by ICC, all cricket boards & all cricket fans alike inorder to prevent such incidents surfacing time and again in world cricket. Please remember cricket as a game is much bigger than an individual.
so here are some of the suggestions from my side which can help prevent such incidents in future:
1)Representatives from ICC,Cricket Boards & Teams (possibly captains) need to formulate a code of conduct clearly indicating the way players need to behave while palying.
2)If there is a code of conduct already present ICC needs to review.
3)Ban sledging - Just not acceptable. Remember there are other sport like badmintion & tennis which are played hard & fair.
plz reply ur take on this.

Well, hopefully the big storm in the tea cup is over. As a 50 year old brown skinned who tried to play cricket in Australia after growing up in Inida I have seen the abuse first hand about 20 years ago. My first pick up practice at one of the most prestigious University where I was a graduate student was the words "Break the brown bastard's head" from the slips and 2 beamers in that over. Moral high ground does not wash with me. I did go on to play club cricket in the city. I was a left handed opener for the next two years with an average of 43. I also do not agree with strong arm tactics to push the game. India has the most revenue but that revenue does not happen if they dont play strong teams. I doubt they will fill the stands against Zimbabwe or Canada or Ireland. Ergo; Australia needs India's money;to the anon Aussie who moaned "money talks"; money also pays the bills. u need the Rupees. To the Indians "you need the aussies to fill the stands". So sit down and figure it out!!!

Mukul- an excellent article. But not of Indians would disagree with me but Harbajan is very unsportsman like character. He taunts lower order batsmen and he has even been left of the indian team due to his behaviour. - Symonds is no devil and defintely Harbhjan is no angel

Australians are known to use vulgar language in their day to day chat on & off the field. I have a first hand info since I was present during the 1972 tour of Australia to the West Indies. Every sentence was smeared with expletives. A well written article, Mukul.A photographer was around taking pictures while I with another doctor was with Mr. Dennis Lillee who had problem with his back at that time. Mr. Lillee used a lot of "F" words in a matter of a couple of minutes while the photographer was taking pictures. All he said was " Ah, Lele treats Lillee"!

What a pile of crap Mukul - umpires always favour home teams, Aussie teams have had shocking runs with umpiring decisions in both 2005 & 2001 which cost them both series. We just take it on the chin and move, India just complain, complain, complain and then threaten to leave. An absolute disgrace and they seriously need to grow up.

Well done for a one-eyed article!

Mukul, This tells it all. Aussies should realise that gone are those days when they were byllying elder brothers. If they spit, they get it back. It was unnecessary for Symonds to provoke in the first instance when the game was played in the real spirit. Australian bunch are feeling that their right of bullying and sledging is taken away by this episode and they are gagged. I am surprised Symonds and ponting got away without warning. God save Australian team if liar Michael Clarke becomes captain.

I have a few issues with this article beyond it's overall tone, first the comparisons with Bush are outrageous. He looks a bit like him?? Even if he did I don't see what it has to do with anything. Comparing "Shock and Awe" to "Hard and Fair" I don't understand either. Yes, a couple of terms with an 'and' between them, very nice. You're trying to link two completely unrelated matters, then inferring that "Shock and Awe" is somehow bad, and so must the Australians be as well.

Also your attacks on Clarke are unfair. You point out a catch that he claimed, which the video doesn't support either way and jump to the conclusion that he's lying about taking it. Right. Then he stands his ground for a whole 4s after edging it, not great but waiting for an umpire to make a decision is completely normal. Harb stood for several mins after being bowled against England while launching a verbal attack against Pietersen. Is he a slippery evil genius hell bent on destroying the opposition as well?

Mukul is the best blogger, columnist down under period. Man, this dude can really write.

Reading all the comments by Indian and Australian fans I can say that Harbhajan-Symonds incident probably has damaged not only cricketing relations but also other kind of relations between India and Australia. So much of vitriol is being spread. Both Symonds and Harbhajan are repsonsible for this and they both need to punished severly. Symonds for instigating harbhajan and Harbhajan for all the shit he spewed.

As an Indian I am ashamed of jingoistic stance that has been taken by most Indians on this issue even though chances of Bhajji having said the monkey word are very high. It doesnot matter whether it can proved or not. I personally dont think monkey to be racist but if some one of offended racially by it then it is plain wrong.

Also the Australian fans have not been impressive either. Imagine a race that exterminated Aborgine population no too long ago now cry foul for a black Carribean player. Hypocrisy!!.

Regards.

Ruchit.

Biased or not, I can't help but crack up at the hilarious paragraph on Ponting. "Indians don't think much of Ponting...."

I feel that the ICC judges player behavior from Western standards. Calling someone a 'monkey' might classify as abuse in Australia or other places where the white-black 'thing' is a sensitive matter, but the same doesnt apply in other places. In India and Pakistan for that matter, calling someone a monkey or elephant or lion or crow is no big deal. Imagine where the Aussies would land if they started getting fined for every expletive they utter? On the footpaths, I assume!

Looking forward to more articles from you in future Mukul!

To all the Aussies who keep talking about their 20 million versus India's 1 billion, I have 2 remarks:

1) Without the Indian techies working in Oz, your lot would be drowning in the amber fluid.

2) Such racially correct guys like you should know exactly how many aborigines your ancestors "ethnically cleansed" and how even the next generation of aboriginal people were basically stripped of their identity. Thank God you have a decent PM in Kevin Rudd now, after years of John Howard, or should we call him "Mr. Cricket" ?

Mukul, Well written. While you tried to balance your views, your focus on the second appears to make it one sided.
The fact that neither CA nor Ponting is willing to take note of Symonds' behavior says a lot about their leadership.
In India, Ozs complained about the celebration of ICC 20-20 victory. What is their problem when other team prides in their achievement? Ozs are indeed bad losers who can not take defeat gracefully nor behave when they are about to lose.
Wish Oz players individual success and many more defeats as a team.
Clarke: Shame on you. I watched the video of Dravid's catch. It is the first thing you learn as a cricketer about bounced catches. What a pity, one day Clarke might lead Ozs.

I am an Indian. I am disgusted by this biased and filthy blog. Don't play dirty politics like Indian politicians with the game of cricket. We Indians are no angels.

First, lets not make it into a personal debate. Most of the Aussies over here seem to be taking this somewhat personally. This is just about Cricket - so lets talk Cricket

Second, Peter Roebuck (probably the most sought after journo in Australia) was equally harsh in critisizing Ponting and the way Aussies have played the game.

Third, I can believe that Ponting and Clarke still believe that they took the catches in question properly (even after viewing the tapes)

Fourth, I have no hesitation in saying that the power in Cricket has shifted and trust me, it was long overdue. I applaud the political moves taken by the BCCI to protect the players who have long been on the receiving end

Fifth, I think Aussies should stop taking shots at BCCI but rather direct their anger to Cricket Australia for they had a major major role to play in this. They feared they were goin to lose lots of money and did wotever it took to set it right

The truth is that australians could not digest that any body challenges their champion authority. from the moment Ind defeated them in 20 world cup, it was obviuous that they will provoke such an issue in near future.So it is not a surprize for most of cricket lovers. Also if they are not friends on field, then what are they?
Are they foe then ? Are games (including cricket) are played to increase enemies? Surely Ricky Ponting and his party are doing this thing to this gentlemen's game. If we observe unbiased, we can conclude that only Lee and Gilchrist have sportsmanship among Aus players. And the sudden announcement of Gilchrist may have roots in this very issue, he may have being to tell lie before judge and favour team activity and surely he denied such involvement. Anything can happen in this world. Sorry for Gilchrist 's retirement.

Jasoos said: "Australia's racial divide is reflected in the consideration of Michael Clark as their next captain and not Andrew Symonds. Andrew must be feeling inept and inadequate at such a slight."

You clearly have no idea what you're talking about. In June Symonds will be the same age as Ponting, by the time Ponting gets on in years and retires...so will Symonds. Clarke is being groomed (I don't think it's been finalised that he'll be the next captain anyways) because he has an eye for the game AND is young at 26. Think before you post and start abusing us all of being racists for thinking about making Clarke the captain in waiting.

Beautiful article Mukul. Spot on.

Mukul, thought provoking stuff, any good cricket india might have played has been over shadowed by your sensational story.
Your not doing India or Indian cricket any international favours by looking for and creating any more excuses. Stick to the facts:

Poor umpiring
Sledging
Rascist taunts
BCCI cover up
Some good cricket
Indian 2-1 loss

If India fielded better, run harder between wickets, focused on being prepared and winning the game.
It might have been close.
Stop playing the blame game.

Shame you couldn't right about how well a player or team performed.

Well written Mukul. We all know - what goes round, comes around. The Australians have been givers for a long time; it is time they become takers and enjoy the taste and this whole saga is about it.
People talk about India flexing her muscle in cricket, only because of the monetary strength. But isn't that happening off the filed always? See the G8 nations, so why cry. Just learn to accept because that's not going to change - I bet.

Mukul, While your logic is good, there are some things that you have not said that needs pointing out.
1. Harbhajan is no angel. Furthermore, his action is suspect. His punishment for having said 'teri maki' should have been much harsher.
2. Symonds is no angel nor is he a victim as Aussies claim. he is the chief instigator and has escaped too easily. He should have been on the mat.
3. Ricky Ponting should be jailed for complaining, withdrawing and whinging all the time. Learn to bat against incoming ball.
4. Except Kumble, Dravid and Sachin, Indians are not exactly well behaved. Indian board, better watch out.
5. Peter Roebuck has said enough about Aussie behaviour. No point adding fuel to the fire.
6. Mark Benson and the idiot Mike Procter should be fired as well, one for incompetence and the other for dishonesty.
Clean up cricket please. Will BCCI, CA and ICC all realise that they are ruining a fairly unique sport?

I respect Mukul's frankness:he thinks Harbhajan probably called Symonds a monkey.Indian contributors seem to broadly agree with the article but nobody seems to care whether Harbhajan called Symonds a monkey or not. Do you think that it wasn't a racist remark? Do you think that even that if it was Symonds deserved it? Do you think Symonds had any reason to feel racially vilified if Harbhajan said it? If he didn't say it he had every right to defend himself, but if he didn't should he have admitted to it? If you beleive he said it (as Mukul does) does Hansen's decision exonerates him? If you think Harbhajan said it do you consider him racist, dishonest for denying it, both, or neither of these?

If you disagree with Mukul that Harbhajan said monkey then all is fine, but if not, or have some doubts, honesty requires you to consider your position towards Harbhajan.It would be hypocritical to condemn the Aussies for falsely claiming catches etc, but condone Harbhajan's conduct.

Reading this article felt almost as good as watching the Perth win. Anil Kumble (probably Tendulkar was the brain behind) played like a grandmaster. Ponting was left aghast as was evident in the last 2 tests. Symonds, Clarke etc. have been humiliated by the findings. The "teri maa ki" twist was absolutely hilarious.

very one sided article. its a shame that indians are uncapable of looking at their own demons and keep on accusing others...this article made some judgments about doubtful decisions and they easily could have been right too....but again this is exactly what i expect from an indian biased writer to write. keep on living in your own world....rest of the world is not blind...and just to calarify...i am not even an australian and not even caucasian.....

Great article. The Aussies had it coming. They were once my favourite team, but now they are just a bunch of arrogant louts who happen to play cricket well. Adam G and perhaps Brett Lee are the only decent guys in the team. Of course we too must introspect and make sure that guys like Harbhajan and Sreeshant focus on cricket and not try and 'ape' the Aussies and make 'monkeys' of themselves.

Let's be honest, Aussies got what they deserve. Acting without civility and constant precedents they have set shows not only their immaturity but the nations aswell. They have no respect for the rule of law, nor are any of them educated enough to realise that hay-days of imperialistic bullying are over. Do they ever wonder, why they are not respected by not only Indians, but most other cricketing nations? Do they believe acting like animals swearing and cussing is tough? They need to take a page out of Clive Llyods book. As far as Harbhajan goes, the burden of proof is on the accuser, without proof, he is innocent. This doesnt mean undue BCCI influence. Maybe Douglas Jardine was right to call Australians 'a bunch of unruly and uneducated mob'. For someone who is educated would not act like they do nor would their nation see it a sporting parcel. Shame on you and the examples you set for your children .

Hi Mukul,
Inspite of being an Aussie, I agree with most of what you say. But I don't see this episode as being "made-up" by the Aussies. Harbhajan may have called Symmo a monkey but as Hansen says, there is no proof.
What is plain hypcrisy is the Aussies complaining about this (by citing a pre-series agreement to report all racist comments)when they have been guilty of much more filth (Srawn-McGrath, Waugh's team, sledging over the last 10 years...) on the field.
Secondly, I see Clarke and Hayden as the big villains here. They are supposed to have heard the monkey call but failed to hear any of the initial dialogue from Symmo. Hmm, thats definitely a case of hearing just what you want. As a captain, Punter should have had a talk to them about how this wont cut with real judges like Hansen like it did with Procter.

@billabong pigeon

The 1 billion vs 20 million comments made by some Aussies is restricted to cricket. Don't bring other nonsense like "Without the Indian techies working in Oz, your lot would be drowning in the amber fluid."in here.

Regards.
Ruchit.

Now that is a sensible no partial post unlike some of the utter crap being dished out. Thank you Mukul K for spending time to clear the crap out. We know the nonsence BCCI would not be part of a good deed, it had to come from other quarters to stand up for its players. Until ICL came along its own low level players were left out in the cold. Take care

Its a good blog mate. For my aussie bros who're upset about balanced journalism - look at the Age, its picture of HS waving an indian flag married to the headline. Yeah that's very balanced....Then to the guy who thinks that Oz will leave the ICC and others will follow...yeah, and that woud be Canada and Zim....Good luck mate..

A lot of you have to just live with the fact - India WILL lead cricket in the 21st century. The unnamed Aussie player who bust a gut ("money talks") obviously plays for the love of the game, and donates all his earnings to a carbo offsetting fund!! If you have a problem with capitalism, cricket is not exactly the stage where this should be debated.

The problem is squarely put -being led by India. What?? Us half naked, slum dwelling, poverty ridden Indians?? Surely not. Wake up and smell the coffee...

One open question. If Harbhajan had called big unit (pea brian Haydo) Monkey, instead of Symo, would that be construed as racial abuse? Why not?

This is an awesome piece of writing! Hard hitting, objective, analytical, and in-your-face (just as the Aussies like to do it but not receive it). Compare this with the weird stuff Roebuck writes (contradicting himself in his last two posts), and you know where truth lies.

Ponting has begun the inexorable slide for the Aussies. With more imminent retirements, I feel sorry for him and the Australian side. Will they go the way of the West Indies?

Mukul, your article seems to comes across as a pro-India sensationalism. While I am uncertain as to what really happened on the field what with microphones developing hearing losses, the fact is that neither side is really blameless. Australia has a history of being particularly unsporting on the field and tend to behave like school-yard bullies, all in the interests of "winning". India, in the recent past, for some obscure reason seems to want to emulate this behaviour (Sreesanth comes to mind). But beyond all this, the BCCI should have taken a more intelligent route and agreed on neutral authorities to make the judgement. Rather they came across as whinging, spoilt brats. As an Indian, I would have loved to have seen Bhajji exonerated without such grandstanding. It simply shifts focus from the bigger issue of a fair game to petty arguments and mud-slinging. Anyway, both sides need to move forward from here and adopt a more professional attitude towards the game.

Please people, enough is enough!

Let's summarise the state of affairs here: the Indian cricket supporters feel aggrieved by the happenings of the last few weeks, as do the Australian supporters. No amount of hysteria or biased argument emanating from either side is going to convince the other to change their mind. End of story. Let's move on and focus our energy on admiring two very good cricket teams slugging it out on the paddock.

Great Article Mukul.!! Kudos to you for capturing & scripting precisely the emotions of every Indian cricket fan watching this horrible SCG saga and can't share or spread the word to cricketing world.Judge Hansen rightfully said Symonds should have kept his mouth shut when Bhajji patted Lee friendly ( Well - Bowled !!).I am sure he was waiting to get into a fight (so as the other players) coz Bhajji was playing well and scored valuable 63 by then.I just want to remind the readers about the 6th ODI where again this more-on Symonds got into an argument with Pathan when he hit Symonds for a Six. Pathan lost his coll and threw his wicket immediately. No wonder why the fans in India started Monkey chanting. Symonds should be thrown out of the field for starting these ugly incidents so is Mr.Ponting for crying foul when things aren't going his way.I hope every Australian reads your article and realize what kind crickeing cricketrs Australians are.

Google: Pig Latin

Mukul you should be ashamed writing this biased trash.

India did you enjoy your one game winning streak?

Tinkysay Onkeysmay

India why do you lose so much and then always blame it on something or someone else? Surely you are used too it by now and have come to realise that India just cannot produce talent and therefore you cannot produce wins.

Tinkysay Onkeysmay

They say cricket is a religion in india, well maybe you should consider converting to something else because you are getting nowhere.

Tinkysay Onkeysmay

Can't wait until the tour is over the smell you carry is awful please take it back to india. Why dont you 'people' wash?

Tinkysay Onkeysmay

How are the diseases going?

Can someone please tell me what abusive words Symonds used? Not once has it been said anywhere that Symonds was abusive. If Singh doesn't like being told he has no friends in the Australian team then bad luck, it doesn't justify using a racial term! As for the suggestion Singh used another word, well why didn't he say that in the first hearing? That defence didn't rear it's head until a couple of days AFTER the first hearing! As for the Clarke catch have a look at the replays, you cant tell one way or another. The man who should be ashamed is Ganguly - for standing his ground when it was agreed that both teams would accept the catchers word. I must say that what disappoints me most is Tendulka, he was in the best position to remedy the situation when it happened, he didn't, he then proceeded to make it worse by leading the charge with threats to go home. I have never resented him making a 100 but in Adelaide I did. He is no different than the rest of the brats that play for India!

I for one, think it much more likely that bhajji said "teri maan ki" than "monkey".

Mukul, fantastic article. You are DA MAN!... the Aussies have a very slimy way of claiming "fair play" while sledging and abusing on the field but being careful to simply not say anything that is "politically incorrect". It does not make it any better. For decades our (non Aussie and English) teams put up with blatant racist (and worse) language and verbal abuse from these guys..and now in today's age our boys respond in-kind and more... and they can't take it. Recognize it ...Australia and England!...there's a new sherrif in town, and we're not afraid to kick some ass... As other nations have found out.. do NOT mistake Indians' nice-ness for weakness... you'll regret it.

Well written Mukul. Keep it up. This is the first time in the history, Australian got it back what they were giving to everybody and You can see that it is hurting them badly now.

carrying on... haydo took a brillant mnkey like catch in the fourth innings at Adelaide. If i said he displayed appe like skills in catching that, would that be racist?? I guess not... because he's white...
Aaaahh, its the fact that YOU white guys used Monkey as a deragotory term towards blacks for hundreds of years, and we should pay for your guilt ridden political correctness?? Go sit on a barbeque somewhere...

I'm claiming the language back...its as Sanjeev Bhaskar would put it ...."INDIAN"

This is a terrific article exposing the years of Australian arrogance and disgraceful sportsmenship. For thos ewho have a problem with Pawar and India's brinkmenship, it was Damien Martyn and Ponting who shoved Pawar from the dias and posed for camera

Also, many times, during awards presentations, Aussies are known to ignore Indian speakers such as Ravi Shastri and deliberately spend time with Simon O'Donnell and fellow caucasian guys.

This behavior of Aussies has not gone unnoticed with Indians. British cricketers are dignified and have always sportingly accepted defeats.

It is time, Aussies get a code of conduct for behavior and spirit when they play the game

There are some who grovel, that no Indian is on the Elite Panel - let me throw the question back - why there are no more Australian tennis player that can win grand slams - The pack dog mentality and hunting and win at any cost attitude of Aussie cricketers is the main reason why 16 wins in a row happens

This is an awesome piece of writing! Hard hitting, objective, analytical, and in-your-face (just as the Aussies like to do it but not receive it). Compare this with the weird stuff Roebuck writes (contradicting himself in his last two posts), and you know where truth lies.

Ponting has begun the inexorable slide for the Aussies. With more imminent retirements, I feel sorry for him and the Australian side. Will they go the way of the West Indies?

One of the few balanced articles on the incident.Thanks Mukul!

Ah the irony, Australians calling this article parochial and one sided. Apparently Mukul has no evidence of Clarke claiming a grounded catch yet the SMH bleats "Harbhajan got away with it" in bold letters. Cricket hasn't been this much fun in decades. I say go gamesmanship, its excellent TV. Strap every player with an always-on microphone; would make great viewing and would really sort out the men from the boys.

Australians getting touchy about the whole thing, get used it. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Wait till the Indians start giving it to ya on field without provocation. Oh wait maybe then it'll be time to return to the spirit of the game?

Sorry but the time when you were calling the shots has passed. Live with it or Punter will have to sell crispy strips on a permanent basis and ya’ll will need to buy a lot of the "Sydney win" memorabilia to keep CA afloat.

that was absolute crap, fair article my butt. i never saw indian say sorry for bad descisions in perth or sorry for abusing umpires it is all fair play when indian does it. When indian is on the receiving end they whine and threaten to go home, Most people I know wish they had

The lartge number of comments proves 2 things:-
1.Cricinfo has a very large readership.
2.Most Indians are vexed about the way the Aussies behaved.
The lesson learnt from all this 'Never pardon an Aussie for his misdeed' Let them have it everytime they misbehave and let the ICC's database have a large number of Australian chargesheets.There are enough characters in the Australian team who can be targetted.Let Team India formulate a strategy. Play like gentlemen but expose their ungentlemanliness at every opportunity.They will then be the first team to recommend thet there should be no sledging and no complaining to the umpires. Do not allow things that happen on the field to remain on the field but bring it out in the open.Do not tolerate their abusive language.This will make the cry babies repent and they will soon mend their ways.Lastly do not welcome them in a grand way when they come on tour. Let he bell boys show them to their rooms.

I have no idea who is ICC? are they working under BCCI. First of all ICC is just an organization who try to rule the cricket by their money which is mainly sponsored by BCCI. Player sledging should be punished whoever it might be?? How BCCI can order ICC to urge the other cricket boards to stop players joining ICL. ICC licks BCCI boots. Punish all 4 who were involved. Clarke, Ponting, Symonds, Harbajan and Sreesanth must change their behaviour. Umpiring Errors are unavoidable. ICC maintains double standards to enjoy the benefits from BCCI :))

I wonder what would have happened if the ICC hadn't mysteriously 'lost' the record of Harbajan's previous (and many) infractions. He was on a suspended sentence after his disgraceful recent behaviour in India - would the Indians still have pulled out of the series if he had been made to serve that 1 game ban hanging over his head? Or would they have acknowledged that they have a serial transgressor in their ranks who needs internal discipline and not support? Guess we'll never know, huh?

Time to change the name of CricInfo to CricIndia. Too many opinions surfacing in news stories on this site, and they have become a red flag to every un-educated clown (of both nationalities) with a gripe and a keyboard.

Very good Article. I am amazed by the fact that many people appreciated and commented it.

For once Ricky Ponting and his band of " sledgers " are back-pedaling. They have single-handedly destroyed civility in cricket and it is high time somebody puts them in place. Harbachan had the guts to do it and I am proud of him.

Excellent article, everyone enjoyed reading it covered every aspect of the Sydney controversy with a good fair view.
What about Symonds & Ponting who started it and held the cricket-world to Ransom. He got away with nothing!! Expecting ICC to reply it!!

Very good Article. I am amazed by the fact that many people appreciated and commented it.

The behaviour of both teams in the match was shameful to say the least. And the supporters of both teams keep on calling each other liars and cheats instead of acknowledging what a wonderful and hard-fought series it was.
Grow up everyone.

Well Mr Mukul-India may not think much of Ponting but who cares-Ponting has been part og three world cup teama and has led them to 2 world cup wins and single handedly wrested the ashes nack from England-and even after all this hoopls,Indai winning the test in Perth itself is seen by many as the ultimate.Well we Indians are happy that we competed against the Aussies.Well Ponting,interms of achievement and a s acricketer is way ahead of any Indian(apart from Kumble).

Have a nice day Mr Mukul.

Dinesh Bhagavath

Philip John Joseph why don't you just run along and go play with your diseases and run around in that over populated, underdeveloped wasteland you like to call India. Ughhh I've only heard others talk about the smell that you create. Come talk to me when you evolve ok MATE?

this is a sensible piece and a different angle to cut the cake. Well written!

Why is sledging acceptable? Calling into question the parentage of players or the fidelity of their spouses or their sexual orientation? How is this acceptable on a field of play? Because this is NOT acceptable to us. These are the worst insults that you can ever hurl in India.

And, if that is acceptable conduct from you'll, then I am afraid monkey is the least that you will hear from a resurgent India. While you can only point to bad behaviour from Indian players in the last few years, I can go all the way back to the 80's to document instances of boorish Aussies.

And, I think the Aussie public needs to think about another aspect of the Symonds incidents in India - how is it that the Windies do not face that kind of crowd behaviour, when they are in India. After all, they are an all-black team????

Maybe, it has something to do with what Symonds says and does?

And, we too remember the Aussie crowd chant of "Murali sucks" ..... where was your great "sporting" behaviour then?

I am neither Indian or Australian, just a very frustrated cricket lover whenever I have to watch any cricket team playing against the Australians, and often wonder why the Umpires allow the Auzzies to get away with such obnoxious, foulmouthed, unruly behaviour. I am so relieved to find a journalist capable of, and not afraid to,put pen to paper and "hit the nail on the head" regardng, without argument, the best cricket team in the world, at present! Unfortunately, once these eleven Australian Cricketers get's onto a cricket field, th onlything that seemingly comes into play is their foulmouths

Well done Makul

Harbhajan used abusive langauage and accepted using it.Hence was fined by judge Hansen. Although Symonds started the exchange, he did not use any abusive language. If he had used then Harbhajan would have told in the hearing and Symonds would have been duly fined then. There is no question of Symonds being fined, if he did not use abusive language.Going back to McGrath's exchanges with Brandes & Sarwan, McGrath only targeted the individual and not their familys. But in return what he got was an insult to his wife, which is bound to irritate anybody.IMO, if your remarks are targeted towards the individual player only, that is sledging, it adds spice to the game and is acceptable. But if it is targeted towards the family of the player, it becomes abuse and should be punished via 2.8 offence. Now if the words are targeted towards race or origin, then it becomes racism and is certainly not acceptable and must be punished through 3.3.

When an Australian cricketer uses the expression "racial vilification" on the field, and even seems to know what it means, one smells not a monkey, but a rat.

When an Australian cricketer uses the expression "racial vilification" on the field, and even seems to know what it means, one smells not a monkey, but a rat.

I wonder when will Indian media learn to write articles without any bias.Author have forgotten all the foul plays that indian team has adopted in this series and before this also.He has also forgot abt the bad umpiring decisions against aus in 3/4 test.In any way how is it justified to call off tour if harbajan is found guilty.That shows no respect in laws.We indians get angry when there is racial abuse against shilpa shetty but are not ready to think for a second that how symonds must have felt when he was racially abused.Please write considering all the angles and considering all the facts.

For all the people cribbing about Indians' behaviour here, please remember we have 30 years worth of insults, vile abuses, biases and downright cheating yet to pay back.

For aussies complaining of Indian umps in the 80's, that is bloody awful cheek. Please go see the pitiful record of your umps in the 80's.

And, just because your umps did not give front-foot LBWs to spinners in the 80's and the 90's does not make it right. Thanks to Hawkeye, most neutral umps now give front-foot LBWs to spinners now, which the Indian umps used to do back then, too. And, you cry-babies used to call them cheats.

I wonder if you blokes are even aware of a bit of cricketing history .... Nah, you are aussies ....

Bravo!

yes yes yes ... india was right ... australia wrong ... another brilliantly biased article ... unless people can admit that BOTH teams were guilty of reprehensible acts as well as BOTH boards, we will see stupidity like this all the time

As Mukul mentions , it is quite possible that Bhajji called Symonds a monkey. It was good that Indian players decided to put a stop to this loutish behaviour of the Aussies. Aussie journalist as well their players brought up on a overdose of filthy language ( used under guise of mateship sometimes and sometimes playing hard) think that what is acceptable to them should be acceptable to the world.They are the masters and we are the huble foolwoers. No one has any sympathy for thes guys. Let them start behaving. Their credo is simple. We will provoke , you can't react. Enough of that guys

Despite the evidence that shows H.Singh was provoked , Symonds & Ricky are not in total clear, let's assume for argument sake, that this word was uttered. Ironic isn't it then, that this exact word was used few years back by a McGrath, towards Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka? "Black Monkey" was the exact term & it's amazing how everyone, including the media have forgotten that incident so easily. It never came up in front of the judges, mediators or supporters defending this "never sledged, up holders of Spirit of the game" Aussie Team. Sri Lanka is then & still is not a power outside of the cricketing arena. They couldn't get justice at the time, but India being the current super power in financial terms, did what their neighbours couldn't do. Treat the mighty Aussies a lesson with their own medicine. So in the name of justice, regardless of who said what & did or didn't do, I tip my hat to India for going to bat for the little guys who couldn't do it.. Pay back is a (female dog) ain't it?

Despite the evidence that shows H.Singh was provoked , Symonds & Ricky are not in total clear, let's assume for argument sake, that this word was uttered. Ironic isn't it then, that this exact word was used few years back by a McGrath, towards Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka? "Black Monkey" was the exact term & it's amazing how everyone, including the media have forgotten that incident so easily. It never came up in front of the judges, mediators or supporters defending this "never sledged, up holders of Spirit of the game" Aussie Team. Sri Lanka is then & still is not a power outside of the cricketing arena. They couldn't get justice at the time, but India being the current super power in financial terms, did what their neighbours couldn't do. Treat the mighty Aussies a lesson with their own medicine. So in the name of justice, regardless of who said what & did or didn't do, I tip my hat to India for going to bat for the little guys who couldn't do it.. Pay back is a (female dog) ain't it?

Great article. I am proud of Tendulkar, Kumble and the whole team, who put their collective foot down