Sydney test 2007-2008

This is a blog born out of the utter disgust I feel at the end of the Sydney test in 2007-08. I had (that is right I “HAD”) respected and loved the Oz style of cricket, which was in your face all the time. But after this game have lost it all.

It started in day one, a team which prides itself on walking when the edge a ball, why didn’t Ponting walk for the caught behind on the leg side? Neither did Symonds, matters made worse when he agreed to being out to Ishant and went on to make a big 100. A wicket at that point would have put India in the driver’s seat and anything could have happened from there on. I think this is a trick employed by them, where they walk when their team is not in trouble, and stay for a verdict when they are in trouble so the umpire thinks that ‘ok this guy did not walk so he must be not out’. The cheapest trick in the book period. The worse was yet to come when Clarke was out of an absolute clear edge to the slips and he stands for a verdict from the umpire. Cheap I say absolutely cheap.

Next, was to bring up an issue as sensitive as racism, in the middle of a test match, to one of our leading bowlers. Even if he had said anything I think the right thing would have been to wait for the end of the test match and the put it down in the captain’s report to the match referee. This kind of thing really messes up a person’s brain, and he starts doubting himself. So another under the belt shoot from the “GREAT AUSTRALIAN SIDE”. A bit if a talk back and they go into needless allegation. Be prepared to receive what you give. Else don’t do it.

Finally, a crucial catch of Ganguly, who is a form of his life, to the slips and Ponting says that accept a fielder’s (Clarke) verdict on the catch, and the umpire agrees. When he could have given it to the 3rd umpire just as well and a result would have come down immediately that the catch was grassed. How can anyone accept the verdict of a fielder who did not walk for what was one of the thickest edges he ever produced in life. If Ganguly had stayed India might have saved the match.

I must also mention that the umpires are equally at fault in the whole system because, they should have done a better job, and must have taken better calls. That is why I did not mention the Dravid dismissal in the 2nd innings here. Also people can argue what about Ponting’s wicket in the 1st innings, I give the same reason as above and umpire mistake. India lost this match due to largely bad umpiring and not because they played bad.

Bottom line I am disappointed that India still lost at the end of a close finish where they should have actually saved the match, but not disgusted with them as in Melbourne where they gave a spineless performance. I am truly disgusted with the Oz style of cricket and they are off my books of favorite cricket team.