Today is 7th day of January 2008, and I write this article a day after the second test between Australia and India ended in Sydney. This match is going to remain for a long long time in my memory, not for very pleasant reasons though. To me personally, this test match was marred by pretty bad umpiring and poor sportsmanship. If my maths and cricketing logic is fair, Indian cricket team was in the receiving end of poor umpiring decisions at least eight times. Eight poor decisions in a test match is a stuff that is pretty hard for me to swallow. Of these eight decisions, most of them were apparently very simple decisions. The Indian team showed quite a character in over hauling the Australian first inning total and to remain in the game. They were not helped a bit by the ridiculous umpiring decisions, bland gamesmanship by their counterparts and not even a bit by the supernatural power. If you do so many things right, and tend to follow the noble path with so many adversities falling upon you and still be on the losing part then you cannot help but believe that God is on the other side. This is the reason why I say, 'God must be an Australian'.
Poor umpiring started off in the very first day of the match, when Mr. Integrity (Ricky Ponting) was given not out on a very clear catch down the leg side by the keeper. Nothing in this world was between the bat and the ball, and there was a big nick which went unnoticed by the umpire (though it was apparent to everyone else). Mr. Integrity stood his ground, and he has every right to do so. India still managed to get on top of the game with crucial blows and taking the score to 134/6. The game was very much poised in India's favor. The next poor decision was made when Mr. Abused (Andrew Symmonds) was playing on 30, and he later went on to score 169. This again was an apparent nick to the keeper and all in and around the stadium heard it but Mr. Umpire failed to do so. Next to follow were three other umpiring bloopers, and in all the three cases the reward were reaped by Mr. Abused. The other three victims for the subsequent poor decisions were Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly. I do not intend to explain those bloopers here. The more I think about those the more disappointed I get.
Cricket is always said to be a gentleman's game, but if I am to believe what I saw in this match then its a blatant lie. I have been an ardent follower of cricket since last 20 years at least and I do not remember seeing a more dishonest, crooked and deceitful team than this. Its a known fact that no one should expect a fair approach from this current Australian lot, but in this match they were quite below their own standards. Mr. Integrity went on to claim for a catch which the entier world knew was grounded (and mind you still no one should question his INTEGRITY). I have been a staunch admirer of Adam Gilchrist for his talent and more for his sportsmanship. But after the caught behind appeal against Rahul Dravid in the second inning, I feel like being gutted. The one person who had the complete view of the delivery was the person standing behind the wickets, and he appealing for a catch was very appalling. I am sorry to say this but Mr. Gilchrist you have disappointed me big time. Then there was this new found leader, Michael Clark, who either does not know what a clean catch is or does not want to understand. This Australian team is so hungry to win that they can go to any extent to do so. I felt as if the umpires were made to dance to the Australian tune.
For me there is only one team that has come out victorious, and that is India. The character these guys have shown in the field makes them perfect ambassadors for the game. I do not know though, being so RIGHT is a good thing against a team like Australia. My man of the match is Anil Kumble, not for his bowling but for his batting in the second innning and his post match talk.
