Snoop Dog
10 Jan 2008, 11:55
There is no doubting Sydney's 2nd test was a bit of a farce in the end. Largely because of Kumble's making.
Kumble chose to bring an issue to the table as unsavoury as 'unsportmanship'. Rarely has an opposing captain done this and it seems now the dust has settled it was largely done to create a distraction to the real issue...that of racial vilification. Sure the Australians could have done a few things better but lets remember the most positive aspect of sportmanship in that game was actually shown by Ponting denying a catch he quite possibly took. Sure he could have handled his dismissal better, as to Clarke could have. The issue of whether Ponting grounded the ball is very much debatable. Many think he took it fairly......
Hence, not a lot of big unsportsmanlike issues there. Now lets have a look at India's rap sheet
Kumble presided over a team which allowed H.Singh to carry on like a goose following Pontings dismissal, equally he was happy (like he did in Melb) to have one of the worst over rates I have ever seen (with 2 spinners on - one of which was himself). And then, with the 2nd last wicket falling he watched Sharma bring out two right hand gloves. Kumble, you are not a clean skin in this area and you should acknowledge it. To top it all off you had a player racially vilify an opposing team player. The excuse of 'its not a racial taunt in INdia is ridiculous'. Singh was made aware of it but chose to bring it out again in the heat of battle. The central tennant to cricket is accepting the umpires decision. You talk about sportmaship but you showed terribly little of it effectively holding a gun to the ICC's head. You should be ashamed. And Kumble you have much to answer for in this whole process.
To Roebuck, Greig and Lawson.......shame, shame, shame for not seeing the forrest for the trees!
The real bullies in this fiasco has been Kumble and indeed India.
Kumble chose to bring an issue to the table as unsavoury as 'unsportmanship'. Rarely has an opposing captain done this and it seems now the dust has settled it was largely done to create a distraction to the real issue...that of racial vilification. Sure the Australians could have done a few things better but lets remember the most positive aspect of sportmanship in that game was actually shown by Ponting denying a catch he quite possibly took. Sure he could have handled his dismissal better, as to Clarke could have. The issue of whether Ponting grounded the ball is very much debatable. Many think he took it fairly......
Hence, not a lot of big unsportsmanlike issues there. Now lets have a look at India's rap sheet
Kumble presided over a team which allowed H.Singh to carry on like a goose following Pontings dismissal, equally he was happy (like he did in Melb) to have one of the worst over rates I have ever seen (with 2 spinners on - one of which was himself). And then, with the 2nd last wicket falling he watched Sharma bring out two right hand gloves. Kumble, you are not a clean skin in this area and you should acknowledge it. To top it all off you had a player racially vilify an opposing team player. The excuse of 'its not a racial taunt in INdia is ridiculous'. Singh was made aware of it but chose to bring it out again in the heat of battle. The central tennant to cricket is accepting the umpires decision. You talk about sportmaship but you showed terribly little of it effectively holding a gun to the ICC's head. You should be ashamed. And Kumble you have much to answer for in this whole process.
To Roebuck, Greig and Lawson.......shame, shame, shame for not seeing the forrest for the trees!
The real bullies in this fiasco has been Kumble and indeed India.