Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
for a change..cricket lost
It was absolutely foolish and childish on the part of the Indian captain Anil Kumble to question the integrity of the Australian players. It was the horrendous umpiring that cost India the Sydney test and it has nothing to do with the spirit of Australian cricketers. A great test match as it was saw some brilliant batting and some nail biting sessions.
If Kumble is mad about the grassed catches that Australia claimed then he should go back and review the India-England test series that took place six months back when Dhoni claimed a similar catch of Kevin Pietersen. If he is mad because the Australian players did not walk after nicking it to the keeper then he should slap his own team mates Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid for doing the same. In recent years, almost all the teams have failed to live up to the spirit that is expected from them . Kumble, as the captain of Indian Cricket team has no right to question Ponting's team for the spirit (or lack of it) that they have shown during the Sydney test .
I have problem with only 3 things:
1. The ever increasing umpiring errors and the reluctance of ICC to embrace the technology. If the umpire has any doubt about the Caught behind decisions in his mind and if he is not supposed to refer it to the third umpire then why cry if he gives the decision in the batsman's favor? On the cricket field, there is always a scope for humans and technology to co exist and ICC has made a blunder in undermining the importance of technology. I sy
mpathize with Benson and Bucknor, unfortunately they made too many errors in a single test. They would have easily escaped had they made some decisions in favor of India but then a wrong decision is a wrong decision , whichever way it goes. Referrals should be brought into the game as early as possible.
2. No audio or video evidence is available which proves that Harbhajan abused Symonds racially, neither the umpires heard it. Ponting, Gilchrist, Lee were far away from the action and the only people who could have heard the banter were Tendulkar and Hayden. If Bhajji is guilty then a three match ban is lenient according to many but when Harbhaajan is denying it himself then on what basis is he found guilty? ICC should be transperent to the media to stop it from drawing its own conclusion which may stir up the fans even more.
If Tendulkar is ready to stake his reputation on bhajji's innocence then BCCI should stand behind Harbhajan and fight against the suspension. There is , however, no point in abandoning the Perth test. Its the duty of our team and the team management to make sure that Cricket and its spirit should not be hurt at any cost.
3. The reactions of Indian and Australian commentators to the errors made by umpires were astonishing. Whereas the Indian commentators failed to leave the matter for time being and get on with the game, their Australian counter parts deliberately suppressed the umpiring errors as if nothing had happened. None of the lot including Richie Benaud, Bill Lawry and Sunil Gavaskar was ready to show some maturity while commenting on the controversy.
It was absolutely shameful on the part of the Australian commentators to praise their players in spite of their behavior on the field.
It wasn't the first occasion when a test match/series was won/lost because of poor umpiring. If the third umpire is not awarded to turn down an incorrect decision made by the on-field umpire then such incidences will take place even more frequently in the future.
I hope that the ICC learns from the repercussions of this test and start respecting the use of technology for the betterment of Cricket.
If Kumble is mad about the grassed catches that Australia claimed then he should go back and review the India-England test series that took place six months back when Dhoni claimed a similar catch of Kevin Pietersen. If he is mad because the Australian players did not walk after nicking it to the keeper then he should slap his own team mates Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid for doing the same. In recent years, almost all the teams have failed to live up to the spirit that is expected from them . Kumble, as the captain of Indian Cricket team has no right to question Ponting's team for the spirit (or lack of it) that they have shown during the Sydney test .
I have problem with only 3 things:
1. The ever increasing umpiring errors and the reluctance of ICC to embrace the technology. If the umpire has any doubt about the Caught behind decisions in his mind and if he is not supposed to refer it to the third umpire then why cry if he gives the decision in the batsman's favor? On the cricket field, there is always a scope for humans and technology to co exist and ICC has made a blunder in undermining the importance of technology. I sy
mpathize with Benson and Bucknor, unfortunately they made too many errors in a single test. They would have easily escaped had they made some decisions in favor of India but then a wrong decision is a wrong decision , whichever way it goes. Referrals should be brought into the game as early as possible.2. No audio or video evidence is available which proves that Harbhajan abused Symonds racially, neither the umpires heard it. Ponting, Gilchrist, Lee were far away from the action and the only people who could have heard the banter were Tendulkar and Hayden. If Bhajji is guilty then a three match ban is lenient according to many but when Harbhaajan is denying it himself then on what basis is he found guilty? ICC should be transperent to the media to stop it from drawing its own conclusion which may stir up the fans even more.
If Tendulkar is ready to stake his reputation on bhajji's innocence then BCCI should stand behind Harbhajan and fight against the suspension. There is , however, no point in abandoning the Perth test. Its the duty of our team and the team management to make sure that Cricket and its spirit should not be hurt at any cost.
3. The reactions of Indian and Australian commentators to the errors made by umpires were astonishing. Whereas the Indian commentators failed to leave the matter for time being and get on with the game, their Australian counter parts deliberately suppressed the umpiring errors as if nothing had happened. None of the lot including Richie Benaud, Bill Lawry and Sunil Gavaskar was ready to show some maturity while commenting on the controversy.
It was absolutely shameful on the part of the Australian commentators to praise their players in spite of their behavior on the field.
It wasn't the first occasion when a test match/series was won/lost because of poor umpiring. If the third umpire is not awarded to turn down an incorrect decision made by the on-field umpire then such incidences will take place even more frequently in the future.
I hope that the ICC learns from the repercussions of this test and start respecting the use of technology for the betterment of Cricket.
Friday, December 21, 2007
English cricket - an enigma
Its difficult to understand English cricket than a Warne's flipper or a Murli's dusra.
One day they fight like champions other day they give up as if they never wanted to win. One day they defend it like a fortress the next day they let it go like a flow from a hole in the drainage.
You see them diving, sliding, grabbing impossible catches and you see them fumbling exhibiting Sydney bridges..They have shown us how to win it even when it looks all over and yet they are the masters when it comes to pulling a defeat from Victory's jaw..
and you keep wondering....Why???
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Cricket
A definition of cricket: "It is a science, the study of a lifetime, in which you may exhaust yourself but never your subject. It is a contest, a duel or melee, calling for courage, skill, strategy and self-control. It is a contest of temper, a trial of honour, a revealer of character. It affords a chance to play the man and act the gentleman." - Sir Frederick Toone
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