Cricket Makes a Monkey out of a Molehill

Just Monkeying Around?

The Fourth Umpire is Burned in Effigy

Just Donkeying Around? Who would be an Umpire?

Darryl Hair Where Are You? All is Forgiven

Umpires were back in the effigy burning business as most of India and the Indian Cricket Team huffed and puffed about the Sydney Test, marred by unsportsmanlike behaviour, terrible umpiring, racism charges and the aftermath, with the normally fairly thoughtful Peter Roebuck calling for the Australian Captain to be fired. Serious stuff and the biggest thing to hit world cricket since Darryl Hair accused the Pakistanis of cheating.

Many have called for the umpires to be fired and fair play and the spirit of the game to be magically restored. Not likely, with the Indian Captain accusing Australia of not playing in the spirit of the game and a senior Indian player quoted as saying:

"We have been treated unfairly by the umpires, cheated of a favourable result in the match, are playing a team that cheats and lies quite blatantly, even while pretending to uphold the spirit of the game. The worst of it is, they get away with everything, every dirty tactic, every dubious call."

Nice!

I watched some of the test and saw the last hour, which was gripping television. Cricket can be a glorious, riveting and ugly affair. This was certainly one example that met these criteria.

No doubt commercial considerations will make everyone get together and be nice. Besides we have tickets to the Adelaide Test. Who said a little bit of niggle wasn't good for selling tickets.

As an aside, Harsha Bogle, the Indian cricket commentator on the ABC said that calling someone a monkey was not racist in India. That may be true, but with the history of the monkey taunting of Andrew Symonds in India and the aftermath, it was to say the least ill advised. Especially so given the sensitive nature of the Australian cricketers, who would never sledge an opponent. I just don't think that Ponting, Hayden and the like have any moral high ground to stand on. More like a a molehill than a mountain. Seems to me that they are being a little prima donna like and a trifle precious. No wonder they are being accused of being cry babies by former Test Captains.

I think that the major issue is the loss of face by the Indian team and that some kiss and make up will be necessary. I wonder if that is culturally appropriate? Entertaining all the same. Nothing like some bad publicity to raise the profile of the game and interest in its product.