Australia Vs. India Test Series Thread

[captainfog]

Because these test matches were during the holiday season, i managed to watch almost the entire Sydney test, and quite honestly, the cricket was brilliant. Both teams play to a very high standard, and are a joy to watch.

What Ponting has failed to include in his statement is that Symonds himslef has probably knowingly been out on a couple of occasions, but refused to walk. In addition the ozzies have made, and succeeded with some pretty strong appeals where it was also pretty clear the indian batsmen did not hit the ball.

From my perspective as a neutral, i am appauled at the ozzies, and quite frankly they have played to win at all costs, and sadly have not played in the spirit of the game --- which is another thing that that the indians are really bitterly disappointed about.

The ozzies are a sensational team, and have wonderful cricketers and i cannot believe that they have resorted to some of their tactics etc.

For one I believe the Indians are quite right to make a stand, and it's about time that a team challenged the ozzies.

Why are you surprised? The Aussies have always played like that.

[Tee]

Well surprise surprise... India resume the tour.

[DeeGame]

Who gives a crap? The Aussies won because they are a better team, and the Indians are afraid of losing in a white-wash. We all know it. There! I have said it!

Who said the Indians are afraid of losing in a white-wash?

IF Bhaji is proven to have racially abused Symonds he deserves to be suspended but you cant suspend a player without evidence.

[Joe King]

Who said the Indians are afraid of losing in a white-wash?

IF Bhaji is proven to have racially abused Symonds he deserves to be suspended but you cant suspend a player without evidence.

[tsb]

Who gives a crap? The Aussies won because they are a better team, and the Indians are afraid of losing in a white-wash. We all know it. There! I have said it!

Win at all costs eh? Thanks for proving our point.

[MARTINOZ]

Who said the Indians are afraid of losing in a white-wash?

[MARTINOZ]

Win at all costs eh? Thanks for proving our point.

Lose no matter what

[Skillz]

Fair enough, didn't know this.

I've just read Ponting's statement, still think it should have been dealt with without involving referees.

What's interesting is the outcry in the Aussie press about bad sportsmanship - 80% of people saying they weren't sporting and Bush Jnr should be sacked.

What is going on here. Just what has Ponting done wrong? I can't work it out, myself.

BTW why is he called Bush Jnr?

[MARTINOZ]

What is going on here. Just what has Ponting done wrong? I can't work it out, myself.

BTW why is he called Bush Jnr?

What he did wrong according to some of our enlightened brethren, is report an alleged racist remark by Singh. I know what you're thinking - "Who would do such a thing as to report racism. Bloody idiot!" - but he did, and now the neo-nazis are up in arms over it.

He's called Bush Jr because disco said he doesn't have many pubes.

[Skillz]

This article covers the issue pretty well, for me.

Praise Ponting, don't bury him
Comment by Malcolm Conn

January 09, 2008 RICKY Ponting should be championed as a national hero for exposing racism in cricket.

Ponting deserves to be feted, not condemned, for taking his bold stand to protect Australia's only black player, Andrew Symonds, from continuing racial taunts by India spinner Harbhajan Singh.

He should be considered in the same light as former AFL stars Nicky Winmar and Michael Long, the Aboriginal footballers who took a stand against racism two decades ago.

Anyone who disagrees should pick up a well-worn broom and sweep racism back under the carpet where it has been allowed to fester for decades.

The only way to deal with racism is to tackle it head on.

Claims from commentary box-chained greats of the past such as India's Sunil Gavaskar, former England captain Tony Greig and Pakistan's Wasim Akram that Ponting should have dealt with the slur of Symonds off the field are ignorant of the facts.

Symonds tried. When Harbhajan called him a "monkey" during the seventh match of the Future Cup one-day series in India last October, an upset Symonds informed team officials and then went and knocked on the Indian dressing room door.

He sought out Harbhajan and explained he found the term offensive.

Harbhajan apologised and the Australians believed they had an agreement with Harbhajan that he would not abuse Symonds in similar fashion again.

So Ponting decided enough was enough and felt he had to act when Harbhajan called Symonds a monkey last Friday, during the third day of the second Test in Sydney.

Only by dragging racism into the harsh glare of public ridicule can it be satisfactorily dealt with.

Cowards who use racial abuse are shamed and public education begins on the hurt of racial vilification.

Harbhajan's three-Test suspension by South African match referee Mike Procter on a charge of racial vilification should be held up as the way forward.

And all the respected Indians who claim that "monkey" is not a racial slur in India must explain a remarkable coincidence. Of all the current and former Australia greats to whom I have spoken in recent days, none has ever been referred to as a monkey by an Indian player. So it appears the only Australian player ever called a monkey by an Indian player happens to be black.

Symonds has been the only Australian player ever subjected to monkey chants by Indian spectators, who were arrested and ejected during the same game in Mumbai where Harbhajan first racially abused Symonds.

To call a black man a monkey is to suggest he is sub-human.

For Harbhajan and his mates to deny that he ever used the word monkey is like Mark Waugh denying he was paid by Hansie Cronje's illegal bookmaker for information.

I believed the bookie then and I believe Symonds and his teammates because Mark Waugh and Harbhajan both have form.

That the Board of Control for Cricket in India is again disgracing the game by attempting to blackmail the ICC into overturning Procter's decision is the sort of classic dummy spit which continues to make international cricket a joke.




From Foxsports.com.au

[MARTINOZ]

This article covers the issue pretty well, for me.

Praise Ponting, don't bury him
Comment by Malcolm Conn

January 09, 2008 RICKY Ponting should be championed as a national hero for exposing racism in cricket.

Ponting deserves to be feted, not condemned, for taking his bold stand to protect Australia's only black player, Andrew Symonds, from continuing racial taunts by India spinner Harbhajan Singh.

He should be considered in the same light as former AFL stars Nicky Winmar and Michael Long, the Aboriginal footballers who took a stand against racism two decades ago.

Anyone who disagrees should pick up a well-worn broom and sweep racism back under the carpet where it has been allowed to fester for decades.

The only way to deal with racism is to tackle it head on.

Claims from commentary box-chained greats of the past such as India's Sunil Gavaskar, former England captain Tony Greig and Pakistan's Wasim Akram that Ponting should have dealt with the slur of Symonds off the field are ignorant of the facts.

Symonds tried. When Harbhajan called him a "monkey" during the seventh match of the Future Cup one-day series in India last October, an upset Symonds informed team officials and then went and knocked on the Indian dressing room door.

He sought out Harbhajan and explained he found the term offensive.

Harbhajan apologised and the Australians believed they had an agreement with Harbhajan that he would not abuse Symonds in similar fashion again.

So Ponting decided enough was enough and felt he had to act when Harbhajan called Symonds a monkey last Friday, during the third day of the second Test in Sydney.

Only by dragging racism into the harsh glare of public ridicule can it be satisfactorily dealt with.

Cowards who use racial abuse are shamed and public education begins on the hurt of racial vilification.

Harbhajan's three-Test suspension by South African match referee Mike Procter on a charge of racial vilification should be held up as the way forward.

And all the respected Indians who claim that "monkey" is not a racial slur in India must explain a remarkable coincidence. Of all the current and former Australia greats to whom I have spoken in recent days, none has ever been referred to as a monkey by an Indian player. So it appears the only Australian player ever called a monkey by an Indian player happens to be black.

Symonds has been the only Australian player ever subjected to monkey chants by Indian spectators, who were arrested and ejected during the same game in Mumbai where Harbhajan first racially abused Symonds.

To call a black man a monkey is to suggest he is sub-human.

For Harbhajan and his mates to deny that he ever used the word monkey is like Mark Waugh denying he was paid by Hansie Cronje's illegal bookmaker for information.

I believed the bookie then and I believe Symonds and his teammates because Mark Waugh and Harbhajan both have form.

That the Board of Control for Cricket in India is again disgracing the game by attempting to blackmail the ICC into overturning Procter's decision is the sort of classic dummy spit which continues to make international cricket a joke.




From Foxsports.com.au

Spot on that article. Sick of this whining that the Indians are at because they are getting beat. If they want to go home, let them. They are the ones that are doing the bullying as far as I can see.

And another point. Lots of people (not just on here) are going on about the Aussies and the way they are playing the game. No-one seems to remember the atmosphere the English team built up when they won the Ashes on home turf, or the atmosphere that teams are greeted with by the Indian and Pakistani teams when teams play there. It seems to be that because Australia are the best team at the moment that it's ok to throw **** at them and see if it sticks.

[Skillz]

Spot on that article. Sick of this whining that the Indians are at because they are getting beat. If they want to go home, let them. They are the ones that are doing the bullying as far as I can see.

And another point. Lots of people (not just on here) are going on about the Aussies and the way they are playing the game. No-one seems to remember the atmosphere the English team built up when they won the Ashes on home turf, or the atmosphere that teams are greeted with by the Indian and Pakistani teams when teams play there. It seems to be that because Australia are the best team at the moment that it's ok to throw **** at them and see if it sticks.

What is most strange is that so much **** is being thrown from Australians. Malcolm Conn's article was spot on in every way. Basically everyone is **** scared of upsetting the Indians, they know it and use it to their advantage at any opportunity.

Cricket's mortally wounded now anyway IMO and without doubt the main reason is Indians power over the other nations (once again IMO).

[MARTINOZ]

They should tell them to piss off if they want to try to hold everyone to ransom and ban them from playing other teams for a while, see how it suits them.

[Skillz]

They should tell them to piss off if they want to try to hold everyone to ransom and ban them from playing other teams for a while, see how it suits them.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Beastie]

When I heard what had taken place with Andrew, I immediately informed the umpires and then left the field at the end of the over to inform our team manager, which is what we are instructed to do.

Going by this statement it would appear that Ponting did not hear the comment either. I cant see how Mike Procter could have been sure that the word Monkey was used. Its one persons word against another.