Holier than thou

Bastard can be forgiven.

Monkey cannot.

This can only happen in Australia.

Putting the monkey on the other shoulder

Bhajji went from a 3.3 offense to 2.8, and from a 3 test ban to losing 50% of his match fee.

Symonds went from being equally involved in the words exchanged to being let off scot free. That's the same offense for which Bhajji was fined.

Who, tell me, is the respected judge in this court? I'd like to press a charge of racial discrimination.

Jumbo vs the Li'l Master

On January 21, 2007

Sachin T
145 test matches
235 innings
11616 runs
Sachin's latest stats

Anil K
124 test matches
223 innngs
603 wickets
Anil's latest stats

Now I'd like to apply the popularly accepted conversion of wickets to runs.
5 wickets = 100 runs
So Anil Kumble's 603 puts him a tad over 12000 runs, which is a few tads more than Sachin Tendulkar in a few less matches.

I've just cast my vote on who I think is India's greatest cricketer. What do you think?

When in doubt, let's ask Ricky

Much has been said in the last few days about racism in cricket. Fingers have been pointed and decisions handed out. Opinions are everywhere. Culprits of the past have magically transformed into upholders of everything sacred, as they sermonise from the safety of the commentary box.

However, brushed under the carpet amidst the charge of racism is an equally important issue. Dishonesty, or to put it crudely, cheating. Both Ponting and Clarke claimed catches when the ball had clearly been grounded in the process of taking the catch. Isn't that bringing the game to disrepute? Isn't that putting to shame the cricketing fraternity and the Australian nation? Dishonesty is as deplorable as racism. While the charge against Harbhajan remains unsubstantiated, the evidence of poor sportsmanship is clearly visible in several replays. Ponting was guilty and so was the 'pup' who is expected to follow in his footsteps as the captain of the Baggy Greens.

I wonder what the ICC plans to do about it. It's simply not fair to ask an umpire to be accountable for a wrong decision, when players go scot-free for deliberately misleading them.

And if wrong appealing wasn't bad enough, the players in question also turn up at the press conference and deny any knowledge of what happened, profess fair play and lay the onus on the umpires. Ponting even went as far as asking a journalist, "Are you questioning my integrity?".

I wonder what Ricky thought the whole matter was about.

Ponting's actions have brought not just the game, but also the Australian nation, to serious disrepute. India has only lost a test match. Australia has lost face.

Icky Ponting

It's amply clear from these 2 videos that Ponting's claim that the Aussies play 'fair and hard' is a load of nonsense. It also places conclusive evidence on the table of Ponting's high standards of honesty. He ought to be recommended for sainthood.

Saint Ponting. How does that sound?

I like Icky Ponting better.

More examples of how the Aussies play 'fair and hard'

The Aussies seem to think they play fair and hard. Match referees seem to agree. What do you think?

Slater vs Dravid


McGrath vs Sarwan


Symonds vs Pathan


Greig puts McGrath on the spot


The Australian media point of view


And finally a funny look at it all

Able replacements for Warne and McGrath

The Australian team may have lost Warne and McGrath to retirement but they've discovered new talent from entirely unexpected quarters. Bucknor and Benson.

Shame shame, puppy shame

TV replays threw up a lot of doubts. But Michael 'pup' Clarke had none. Then Ponting raised the finger. Benson nodded. And Ganguly returned reluctantly.

Earlier it was Ponting. A ball comes off Dhoni's pad. Ponting dives to catch it. Appeals. Replays show the ball touching the grass as he landed. Ponting appeals again. This time on behalf of his integrity.

Seems quite apt that Clarke is slated to be Ponting's successor at the helm of the team from Down Under.

Men of the Match?

I simply fail to understand why Andrew Symonds was declared the man-of-the-match in the second test at Sydney. He contribution to Australia's victory was marginal when compared to some others on the field.

In my humble opinion the 2 men whose performances turned the game on its head are Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson. Surely they deserve the prize.