Sydney test and umpiring

Well, the aussies won the test by hair’s breadth. The OZ needed 3 wickets to win while India had to play out the last 3 overs for a draw. The pitch was assisting spinners; the ball was turning square and hopping. The Indian tail-enders had no chance whatsoever and were ‘spun’ out. But, the aussies would be the first to call it a chancy win. Though this is their 16th consecutive win, though they were the team that played for win on that day, though they turned it around even after conceding 69 runs lead to India, the fact that they would call it chancy; speaks about their understanding of game and excellent acumen to read correct the situation in any cricket field.

The test match was evenly poised till 3rd day. The fourth day innings by hussey, hayden and symonds took it beyond the Indians. Had India managed a draw on 5th day, they would not have achieved or gained anything. The aussies consecutive wins would end some time. But one can hardly think, by escaping with a draw, you can be a ‘worthy team’.

There were some umpiring decisions that went against Indians. Most decisions are keeper catches (outside edge and around the legs edge) which are difficult decisions for any umpire. Indian commentators and media have pounced on them as if the whole thing on foot in Australia is against team India and as if the results would have been any different had it gone india’s way. I mean whats the difference between a loss and a desperate draw.

The series started with great build-up of expectations. Captain, players, media and commentators thought India were a different team on planet than any other team that toured Australia, they though Indian team can put it across Australia. Two tests into the series, they have lost focus on India’s competency and ability to put it across Australia. Instead the focus is on umpiring and aussies’ arrogance (harbhajan issue). I wish I had some lollipops for these cry babies.

The Indian media and commentators have got it all wrong here. The spirit of the game involves many categories: theres team spirit, theres winning spirit, theres fighting spirit. A batsman who has not walked, though he knew he is out, displays excellent team spirit and winning spirit as he plays for his team and his team’s win. And when he goes on to score big, putting behind that incident (despite everyone on field knowing it) displays excellent fighting spirit as well. Instead, gavaskar & co chose to almost label them as cheats and as players whose integrity is suspect. It was nothing but display of lack of wisdom. The icing on the case was kumble’s comment: “only one team played in the spirit of the game”. I ‘m sorry it was an emotional outburst that was stupid and immature.

While the aussies would call this win chancy and would strengthen their pace attack (as it took to literally last over of the test match to bowl out Indians). That’s because they understood the match correctly. If Indians are going to say the umpiring did them in, then they are in for a white wash.