When champions don't play like champions.... Its a shame for the game...

Jan 6 2008

Whatt happened at the Sydney cricket ground over the last 5 days will definitely be remembered as a record equaling victory for the Australians- 16 test wins in a row… but what also will be etched in the memories of the cricket lovers is how India got robbed of a definite win and instead was handed out the worst umpiring debacles and the very disappointing un sportsman like behaviour of the Australian cricket team which in many ways would not be wrong to be called outside the rules… or breaking the laws… or at least outside the sportsman spirits…

The fantastic match, with India bouncing back in style and showing the world that Australia can be challenged and defeated… was turned into one of umpires blatantly giving wrong decisions favouring the home team… not once… not twice… but 6 times… and at crucial moments and for key players… and the Australian team that is well respected for being champions and playing the game hard… forgot the playing fair part of it…

Let me put it in simple words… my faith in umpires is lost because this happens too many times nowadays… even going back to the 2003 series and the same umpire Bucknor was after Tendulkar’s life… giving him out in all ridiculous decisions… and twas supported by an aussie umpire then… and this time has Benson’s support… snatching from India what was a definite win…

And secondly and most importantly… my respect for the Australian cricket team has diminished substantially… their hunger to win has made them do definitely wrong things – things that champions are not expected to… tactics or behaviour that puts them in shame…

And my respect for the Indian team has gone up- Well played boys… don’t let this affect you… go out and put this disappointment behind and show the world what you are made of…

Its anyways difficult touring Australia as a country… they are the best in the world… but its almost impossible beating them if the umpires decide to support them (the CEO rules right) and the Australian team plays dirty…

I am not sorry to be so direct and apologize if I have hurt any sentiments… I still like the country a lot and the people – but this team is different from the Steve Waugh team that faught hard… but within the rules of the game…

I guess there are 2 kinds of champions… Tiger Woods one type… great champion and a great person (Sachin Tendulkar falls here as well and so does Don Bradman) and then there are the others… Maradona (great champion… but we all know what he was…)… and unfortunately this Australian cricket team doesn’t find a place in the first types…

So a sad day for the game of cricket… like I said :

IT’S A SHAME FOR THE GAME WHEN CHAMPIONS DON’T PLAYLIKE CHAMPIONS….
COME BACK INDIA… DON’T PLAY ANYMORE WITH THOSE BOYS THAT CHEAT…