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Bucknor, Benson leave their imprint
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Bucknor may sit out
BCCI complains
to ICC about umpires
Indians lodge complaint against Hogg
Indian spectators complain of racial abuse
Youzhny routs Nadal for title
Ranji Semis
Kiwis win by 9 wickets
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India succumb to umpires
Sydney, January 6 Clarke, an occasional left-arm spinner, was introduced to break a resistant stand between skipper Anil Kumble, who remained not out on 45, and Harbhajan Singh. Exploiting rough patches creating by pace bowlers’ foot marks, he produced a brute of a delivery that kissed the latter’s outside edge. Next ball, R P Singh was trapped lbw. The last man, Ishant Sharma saved a hat-trick, but presented a second catch to slip in the same over - Clarke’s second. Australia’s supremacy and the brilliance of Ricky Ponting’s declaration notwithstanding, an excess of umpiring mistakes left a bitter taste in the mouth. Andrew Symonds was 30 in the 1st day when umpire Steve Bucknor failed to hear or see a thick edge off Sharma. The batsman went on to compile an unbeaten 162. Mike Hussey, who rescued Australia in the 2nd innings, was undefeated on 145 when Ponting declared on 401 for seven. He was plumb lbw when 22, but was spared by umpire Mark Benson. Finally, Bucknor adjudged Rahul Dravid caught behind, when it was amply evident that the bat and gloves were behind the front pad. Dravid was the most likely to save the match for India. Despite an improved display, in course of which India compiled 532 runs in the 1st innings and, thus, obtained a lead, their batting proved to be technically inadequate. There was always a danger of this happening, because playing frequently on flat wickets, the batsmen are either unused to sporting pitches or have rarely been exposed to these. The much vaunted Indian line-up proved deficient in coping with a worn out pitch. Yuvraj Singh continued to premeditatedly lunge forward and recorded a second duck in four innings, while Mahendra Dhoni, notwithstanding the 38 he mustered, kept padding up to deliveries from a part-time off-spinner like Symonds, who also took three wickets. The rot set in with the departure of Wasim Jaffer (who, it has to be said, received another excellent delivery from Brett Lee) during the five minutes before lunch that India were called upon to bat. Ponting’s clever declaration forced the Indians into a defensive frame of mind. The target of 333 in 72 overs on a 5th day wicket was clearly beyond their grasp. The crisis accentuated after lunch when VVS Laxman was trapped lbw in course of a torrid over from Stuart Clarke and Sachin Tendulkar shouldered arms to play on to this tall medium pacer. The Mumbai master’s career statistics in the second innings do not make stimulating reading. India’s last, realistic hope of saving the match revolved around a partnership between Dravid and Sourav Ganguly. The latter was, as usual, in superb touch as he motored to 50 in 51 balls before also exiting in controversial circumstances. The left-hander edged Lee to 2nd slip, where Michael Clarke claimed a catch. Ganguly stood his ground, but Benson gave him out on the basis of Ponting’s word. The television replay was inconclusive. Earlier, the Australian captain was adamant about a catch he had taken at silly point off Dhoni, when he patently grounded the ball. So, was Benson correct in accepting his view on the Clarke catch? The Australians may be the best cricketers in the world, but tactics of the present lot seem dubious. In the morning, a 128-run partnership between Hussey and Symonds for the 5th wicket turned the tide. The Indian spinners, Kumble and Harbhajan were unsuccessful in capitalising on the rough the Australians later cashed in upon.
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Bucknor, Benson leave their imprint
Chandigarh, January 6 Everybody knew that the Australians took their game seriously and the fact that they hated to lose to any opposition either at home or away is known even to an ordinary follower of the game. But what unfolded during the five days during the second Test at Sydney between India, perhaps the only team which looked like having the wherewithal to challenge the might of the indomitable Aussies at least during the last decade, and Australia gave a lie to the fact that the Australians play their game fair and square. That in their quest for victory they can take recourse to means unbecoming of a team of their calibre became known only during this Test. Andrew Symonds, refusing to take a walk to the pavilion and continue his innings knowing full well that he was caught behind, Aussie players making vociferous appeals to bring umpires under pressure even when it is clear that the batsman concerned is not out and, to top it all, skipper Ricky Ponting misleading a field umpire into giving an incorrect verdict are some of the ugly steps the Australians resorted to win the Sydney Test in their zeal to maintain their winning streak. Going by the number of controversial rulings handed out by umpires, the Indians were left dumbfounded as the verdict after verdict went against them. When umpire Steve Bucknor disallowed a caught-behind appeal for Symonds off seamer Ishant Sharma in the first innings when the batsman was batting on 30, one believed it to be an aberration by an ageing umpire. Three more decisions were ruled in favour of the home team on the same day which left the fans as well as the Indian team aghast with the umpires. There were reports that suggested that a formal protest with the umpiring decisions would be lodged, but the team management did not go ahead with the decision. There was no let-up for the Indians as the match progressed. The things came to a head on the last day when Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly were ruled out against the run of play one after the other, which tilted the scales decisively in favour of the Australians for the second time in the match. Already embroiled in controversies surrounding dubious umpiring and the allegations of racial slur by a player, the Sydney Test added another first to its credit when the opinion of an on-field captain was taken as the last word by the on-field umpire in ruling a player out on the last day. What happened when India were sailing along nicely on the last day of the Test on the back of Dravid and Ganguly was appalling, leaving the duo of former skippers thoroughly disenchanted and rendering the likes of an otherwise unflappable Sunil Gavaskar livid. Brett Lee came charging in to bowl to Ganguly. The southpaw edged the ball to the slip cordon for Michael Clarke to complete a dubious catch. After completing the catch in the most clumsy fashion (TV replays indicated that Clarke took the ball on the bounce and touched it again to the ground while on the roll before completing the catch), Clarke rose up in celebration as the Australian team got ready to follow suit. England umpire Mark Benson, showing no inclination to consult the square leg umpire or the third umpire, as is the usual practice, headed towards skipper Ricky Ponting seeking his opinion, who, in turn, raised his index finger. Benson lost no time in raising his dreaded finger ruling a hapless Ganguly out! Just a couple of overs before, Rahul Dravid, batting in a far more confident fashion than in the first innings, was done in by again howler of a decision by Bucknor, who ruled the batsman out caught behind the stumps off Symonds. Normally a staid batsman, Dravid made his disapproval with the umpires decision known as he started his walk back to the pavilion. TV replays showed that the bat was nowhere near the ball. Taking a dig at the burly Australian all-rounder, later adjudged the Man of the Match, for the manner of his appeal, a TV commentator wished he were Symonds! “He gets a favourable verdict as a batsman even if he has snicked the ball and taken behind the stumps and he again has his way and gets a wicket even if the ball has made no contact with the bat!” An exasperated Gavaskar asked how a field umpire, when in doubt, chose to consult a player and not the square-leg umpire or the third umpire. Benson, in the process, set a precedent unlikely to be repeated again! Gavaskar earlier wondered how Adam Gilchrist, known for playing in the most upright manner, went up in appeal against Dravid most vociferously even if the ball had clearly not kissed the blade on the way to his gloves. When VVS Laxman scored a silken century in the second innings, his third on the trot at the Sydney Cricket Ground, one was left in awe of the sheer artistry of the Hyderabad batsman. The spotlight soon shifted to Sachin Tendulkar, who finally overcame the jinx of the 90s to score his 38th Test century at Sydney. But two Bs — Bucknor (Steve) and Benson (Mark) made sure on the last day that were not the ones to be left behind. Rather, they have ensured that the imprint they have left on the Test right at the beginning of the year will not be forgotten so soon — at least not by the Indians!
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Sydney, January 6 It is learnt that the ICC is favourably inclined to agree with the request of the Indian team that Bucknor does not stand in any other match of the ongoing series. — PTI
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BCCI complains
to ICC about umpires
New Delhi, January 6 BCCI president Sharad Pawar said the Board felt the need to take the matter to the world governing body of the game. “The Board has taken the decision to communicate our strong views to the
ICC, which we have sent,” Pawar told NDTV today. Pawar hoped the ICC would heed their views. “And we believe, we have full trust that they will take appropriate decision,” he said. The Indian team management had earlier decided to not lodge an official protest but the sub-standard umpiring by the West Indies’ Steve Bucknor and England’s Mark Benson continued to the final day, which in combination with some inept batting, eventually ended in India’s defeat. Vengsarkar refuses to comment Vadodara: Selection committee chief Dilip Vengsarkar refused to make any comment on umpiring errors during the Sydney Test. “I have not watched the match. So, it will be unfair for me to make any comments,” he said. All members of the selection committee, except him, would go to Australia for the remaining Tests and the triangular one-day series, he said. They will leave in batches, he added. — PTI
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‘It’s difficult and it hurts’
Sydney, January 6 "Only one team was playing with the spirit of the game, that's all I can say," a dejected Kumble said after his side went down by 122 runs largely due to the umpiring blunders and some inept batting. "It's tough when you've played all forms of cricket over the last 25 years and end up on the losing side like this — it does affect you," he added. Kumble said his side was still trying hard to take the whole episode sportingly but admitted that he was hard not to feel outraged by the continuous umpiring errors. "You try and take it sportingly, but it's very difficult and it hurts when you lose like this and then when you've had a great chance to win the Test and square the series, but unfortunately it didn't happen," he rued. In an emotionally charged statement Kumble said he was disappointed with the lack of sportsman spirit shown by the Australians. Kumble hardly minced words in blaming the dubious umpiring by Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor for his side's heart-breaking loss. "It's there for everyone to see, I am not going to comment on it," was Kumble's sarcastic response when asked what he thought was the difference between the two sides. "(The umpiring) was there for everyone to see but it was important for us to keep those things out of our mind. We lost a little bit of focus. I think we should have batted the last two sessions," he added. "We played fantastic cricket from day one after the loss in Melbourne. We even took a lead in the first innings but unfortunately could not save the match. Even today a couple of things did not go our way." Kumble said he could understand the umpires getting it wrong on a few occasions but their consistent errors probably cost India a chance to go 1-1 with Australia ahead of the third Test in Perth. — PTI
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Sydney, January 6 Ponting, fielding at silly point, turned back and dived for a looping catch offered by Mahendra Singh Dhoni but grounded the ball in his effort. However, he didn't bat an eyelid before making an appeal, which was turned down. When asked during the post-match press-conference about whether he caught the ball cleanly, an incensed Ponting took offence to the question. "I claimed the catch and there was no way I grounded it (the ball)." "If you are questioning my integrity, then probably you shouldn't be sitting here," retorted a furious Australian captain. He, however, admitted the umpiring blunders marred the Test but hoped the match would be remembered for all the right reasons. "I think it's fair to say that there were a few mistakes made but I am not going comment anything more as it might get me in trouble," Ponting said after his team's record-equalling 16th straight Test win here. "I hope this match is remembered for the cricket that was played. Yes, there were a few controversies by the side but the match itself was played in the right spirit and I hope it continues," he added. Though laid low by a series of dubious decisions, India almost snatched a draw before part-time spinner Michael Clarke conjured up three wickets in five balls to guide the hosts to a thrilling 122-run triumph. Ponting was at the centre of the contentious dismissal of Sourav Ganguly when umpire Mark Benson sought his word on whether the left-hander's catch had carried to Clarke at slips before ruling the batsman out. "The umpire looked at me and asked whether that was out. I checked with Michael, who said it was absolutely clean and I gestured that to the umpire," he said. Clarke apparently took the ball off the ground and the dismissal raised eyebrows as Benson turned to fielders, instead of checking with Steve Bucknor at square leg or the third umpire. — PTI
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Indians lodge complaint against Hogg
Sydney, January 6 The Indians lodged a formal complaint against Hogg during the disciplinary hearing into Harbhajan Singh's alleged racial abuse directed at Andrew Symonds. The new development has only intensified the already charged atmosphere in the two camps, who have been engaged in a virtual war of attrition in the second Test which ended today. The horrendous umpiring decisions, which proved costly for India, and the blatantly unsporting conduct of the Australians has left the Indians infuriated with captain Anil Kumble saying at the post-match press conference that "only one team played in the true spirit of the game." In what has been a week of high drama marked by charges and counter-charges, the latest development only reflects the bitterness between the two teams. The Australians had accused Harbhajan of racially abusing Symonds during the third day of the Sydney Test and lodged a formal complaint with the umpires, who, however, have gone on record saying they heard nothing offensive. Harbhajan was subsequently asked to appear for a hearing by ICC Match Referee Mike Procter. —
PTI
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Indian spectators complain of racial abuse
Sydney, January 6 A fan, who was here to watch the match, told The Sunday Telegraph that an Australian spectator said “things that were not acceptable about India” during the third day’s play. “I came yesterday and we were sitting over near the Churchill Stand and one guy had some problems with us,” Taran Bansal was quoted as saying in the paper. “I don’t know why but he was saying some very abusive things. We didn’t mind that but then there was a bit of racism overheard. It was not in a big manner but it was there. He was saying some bad things about India.” “Our players were making some runs, and then he said some really bad things that was not acceptable. We don’t mind a bit of banter but racial remarks are not on,” he added. Although the offender was ejected from the ground after being reported, Bansal admitted that some local “bad elements” still remain despite the heavy security. SCG spokesman Greg Campbell denied that any racial abuse took place at the ground and instead asserted that the “it has been one of the best behaved crowds in recent memory.” —
PTI
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Chennai, January 6 The Spaniard looked stiff from the start against fourth seed Youzhny, clearly showing the effect of his marathon four-hour semifinal win over compatriot Carlos Moya the previous day. Nadal called for medical attention trailing 1-4 in the second set and then went through the motions as Youzhny completed his fourth career title win with ease, disappointing a large holiday crowd cheering the Spaniard. “There were less than 24 hours for recovery,” Nadal told reporters, allaying any injury concerns ahead of the year’s first Grand Slam. A gracious Youzhny said: “This victory is a present from Rafa to me. I didn’t win today, Rafa just lost the match because he couldn’t move well.” Youzhny, the world number 19, produced an array of superb forehand shots to race through the first set in just over 20 minutes as Nadal made many unforced errors. Although the Spaniard took a vitamin tablet during the break between the sets, it appeared to have no effect as Youzhny against broke his rival in the fourth game before going 4-1 up. The trainer stretched Nadal’s right leg before the player returned to the court to complete the match, Youzhny serving out to secure victory in under one hour. — Reuters
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Games countdown begins with a bang
New Delhi, January 6 Living up to the Games anthem of “Come out, reach out and play”, over 50,000 persons, including sportspersons, diplomats, sports officials, VVIPs and VIPS, the public and the elderly, ran from Rajpath to the India Gate lawns, and then converged on a specially decked up area for a grand fiesta of speeches and entertainment, moderated by actor Kabir Bedi. Speaking on behalf of all sportspersons who ran and were present on the lawns, world shooting champion and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee Manavjit Singh Sandhu said he was infected by the enthusiasm of the fellow runners, though he admitted that he panted for breath, running alongside former Olympians like Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, Shiny Wilson, Dhanraj Pillay, Rachita Mistri, Ashwani Nachappa, Zafar Iqbal, Vasudevan Bhaskaran, Karnam Malleswari, Khajan Singh, et al. He said he expected the Games “to be the Games of your life, with the best-ever medals tally”. Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, who is also the president of the Indian Olympic Association, promised to make the Delhi event the “best-ever Commonwealth Games” as it had the “full backing of the Prime Minister”. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit assured that the 2010 Commonwealth Games would go beyond the expectations of everyone to be the “the very best”, while Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell said “the whole world is waiting for you” to see how magnificently India would mount the games. Union tourism minister Ambika Soni saw the Games as an opportunity to showcase “how incredible India is” while Lt-Governor of Delhi Tejinder Khanna promised that the infrastructure for the games would be ready much before the opening ceremony. IOA secretary general Randhir Singh, Archery Association of India president Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Ambassadors from various missions, including the Chinese Ambassador (China is hosting the Olympics this year), were present to applaud the efforts being put in by Delhi to make the 2010 Games a grand success. However, union minister for youth affairs and sports Mani Shankar Aiyar was conspicuous by his absence.
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Ranji Semis
Indore, January 6 In reply, Baroda were eight without loss in the second innings at stumps. Satyajit Parab was batting on eight, while Connor Williams was yet to open his account. Resuming at their overnight score of 49 for 3, Delhi were bowled out for 271. Brief scores: Baroda
(1st innings): 199 Delhi (1st innings): 271 (Mithun Manhas 97; Aditya Jain 48; S Vohra 4-39, Sumit Singh 2-60, Rajesh Pawar 2-68) Baroda (2nd innings): 8 for no loss UP in sight of victory Vadodara: Former champions Uttar Pradesh were in sight of booking a berth in the Ranji final as they claimed seven Saurashtra wickets on the second day of their semifinal clash here on Sunday. Chasing 162 to win, Saurashtra were struggling at 93 for seven. Brief scores: UP (1st innings): 188 Saurashtra (1st innings): 127 (Jaydev Shah 57; Praveen Kumar 4-40, Sudeep Tyagi 4-49). UP (2nd innings): 100 (Suresh Raina 25; RV Dhruv 5-20) Saurashtra (2nd innings): 93 for 7 (Sitanshu Kotak 41 not out; Sudeep Tyagi 3-24). — Agencies
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Dunedin, January 6 Brief scores: B’desh 137 and 254 New Zealand: 357 and 39 for no loss. —
AP
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