On Harbhajan: If he is guilty, punish him. But we don't know if he is guilty. There is no conclusive proof. Just his word against Symonds. Symonds repeated Harbhajans alleged abuse to Ponting, but neither Ponting nor any other Aussie heard the abuse. Mike Proctor announced the sentence to ban Harbhajan but he too never revealed proof of the alleged abuse. If they show proof, ban Harbhajan, fine him and make him issue a public apology. But until then, lets not declare him guilty. Racism, unlike sledging is a very serious charge and should only be put on a player when there is conclusive proof. On the umpiring: Mistakes happen. Human errors are part of the game. That is fine. However, we are not talking about one bad session or one bad day. Both umpires made errors against both teams on all 5 days. This shows inefficiency. While most of the decisions went against India, many went against Australia too. I agree that there was a captains agreement and that the umpires should not be changed normally. But these are not normal circumstances. Those agreements are made on the assumption that the umpires will do their job well. In this case, they continued to make mistakes and in some cases shun the use of technology. Since the circumstances were out of the ordinary, I believe that removal of the umpire was not an unreasonable request. On Ponting and the Aussie behavior: Indians or the rest of the world are not parents or school teachers to the Aussies that they can dictate behavior. If they choose to behave in a manner that comes across as arrogant or unruly, then it is their reputation that will suffer. This should be a matter that Cricket Australia should look at, not the ICC. On walking if you're out: A player should walk if they nicked the ball, but if they don't, one should not hold it against them. After all it is the umpires job to make that call. Sometimes players are given out when they may not be. So it all evens out. I have the utmost respect for people who walk when they are out, but I don't think the non-walkers are cheats. On dubious catches: This is a no brainer according to me. It should ALWAYS be referred to the third umpire. While it sounds good that we should take a players word for it, there are many cricketers in history who have cheated at some point, some more than others. If you have the technology, use it. It doesn't hurt anybody. Plus, while we spectators get the luxury of replays from different camera angles, the actual time from when a ball leaves the bowlers hand till when it lands into a fielders hands is a couple of seconds. Sometimes, it is hard to judge if you have taken a catch. Like umpires, players are human too and they can make mistakes. If you have the technology, use it. On Sledging: This is never going to stop. But the umpires and captains should be strong enough and sensible enough to intervene when things get too far. That's my two cents.
I fully understand the racist overtones that has been overheard in this test match. Indians too had given their share of fame to you In India, on the roadside hoardings you find Brett Lee staring at you from the hoarding and telling you the time; Ricky Ponting stands up for an engine oil's reliability while Adam Gilchrist has in the past told Indians why they should buy a certain washing machine or refrigerator. Add to them, Michael Clarke, recently signed up by an Indian event management company. Now the same cricketers have alleged that an Indian player, Harbhajan Singh, has racially abused one of the Australian players, Andrew Symonds. As Indo-Australian cricketing relations touch an all-time low, the fact is many members of the Ponting-led Australian team, ironically, earn fat purses from Indian business houses. With public mood and sentiment so highly charged against the Australians, it remains to be seen how effective Indian marketing managers find Australian Brand Ambassadors - as companies generally call them at the time of signing up. It is well known that many companies often prefer foreign stars because they cost less than the Indian superstars. International cricketers often earn far more from endorsing Indian products and companies than what they would in their own countries by playing cricket. If they find their baggy green so dearer, then why would you travel across oceans and endorse products which they wont even know to spell properly forget about using them, because u earn money more than that you would have earned by playing cricket, aint it Well let us wait and see how many more brand endorsements you get and how well the current endorsements travel ITS ALL ABOUT MONEY BABY
Yes, I agree. But I have to say, some of our Indian fanatics crossed the limits too far by burning umpires' effigies. Yeah, I know even our players' effigies are also burnt many times before. But to the Australian fans this is something new and seems ridiculous. I am happy to hear that the series is on. Now I am expecting a game with some spirit from Australia (which is unlikely), especially from that arrogant Mr. Integrity Ponting, whose integrity can't be questioned To the OP: Your title seems funny, but baseless
The battle continues, I really hope we punish Hogg - as he annoys me and isn't in good form anyway. So bring back Tait - he'll take some heads off. Indian Endorsements and Advertising that pays our players. Well that's just classic, obviously they're seen as a positive in some shape or form within India or why else would they be used to market these products, kind of baffles me. As for Huh, and Well isn't this typical with any sport and the athletes involved ? Why not make some dollars while on tour playing cricket, maybe if the sport paid more then they wouldn't need to. I guess the Aussies are aware that they're also rubbing it in Indians faces by being on T.V, even after they've left the country and demolished another series of cricket.
See, here was a chance for someone to say, "well, at least they try. Good on them for doing so". Instead we have a comment such as yours turn up. Also, do you usually go around asking goats to talk to you? When Brett Lee did that song with Asha Bhosle, did you smile or cringe when hearing him speak Hindi?
And so do us Aussies (just because we're Aussies doesn't mean we like all the players), we have respect for some Indians and Players also, I am hanging for the next match and I hope it brings more fire to the game, I believe this is what cricket really needs - as it was getting boring. Also I thought that Australia had made a big mistake in the past 10 years by not recruiting enough young blood, then when some of our big guns retired I was thinking it may even out the playing field - but instead it's just given some of our younger guys (who had missed out previously) a chance to shine.
They actually play cricket, the retired goats move onto become coaches. No comment on what team they play for or coach.
Actually the umpire should have asked the 2nd umpire, and I think he did. But it happened so fast that even leg-side umpire wasn't sure, I reckon.
As i said in my post, it is not for any positive-just that they are cheaper in comparison to Indian cricketers and Indians accept and worship any excellent cricketer (which you don't) and the other side of coin-if they overstep or we find our idols doing things which we dont expect them to then their is an outburst against them (which also you don't) To be precise, they travel separately for endorsements (i find them always here addressing press conferences whenever there is no match in Australia)-in addition to those during tours-so it is not just extra dollars-are even aware what is that extra number is-well it is much much more than what they earn by playing cricket in Australia-haha LOL... If you think they had been rubbing it in by being on our T.V. The rubbing in for aussie players have already started by Indian business houses-the event management company who have hired Michael Clarke is already rethinking the decision and it is just few days into the controversy Remember earlier your cricketers were also admired, now....you know what
Nope I don't worship any cricketers, So by these meanings above, no I don't, they're not deity, and I do not love them either. I do however admire some players for their abilities and mental toughness. That's correct - I don't burn the simbolisms, I don't riot in the street, I don't carry on if something goes the way I don't want it. So what do they do it for ? Honestly do you really think that I care about how Aussies are viewed in India, as individuals, teams, cricketers ? Well I don't. As I have said I love this controversy, I think it's great for the game, the passion is back and so is the fight - which in turn equals good cricket, but what will happen next test when you guys loose again ? will they pack there bags and leave ?
Well what did aussies do when they lost T20-we will do exactly that-somebody please remind me what they did when they lost it
Oh and by the way don't single me out and I quote your : Which you used without any knowledge of myself. A) You know nothing about me. B) You're being very shallow and categorizing me, and all Aussies as the same. C) Personal attacks aren't permitted on DP D) It's borderline racism, prejudice and discriminating