After 5 years also, my anger has not subsidized.
It is sad that the Boxing day test played between India and Aus in 2007 will not remembered for the cricketing context, but for controversies, umpiring errors.
After winning the boxing day test of 2007, Australia was all set for the 16th successive win in a row, matching their own record.
Though Aus won this test by 122 runs and a min to spare, this test will be remembered for major umpiring mistakes by umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson and the show of poor sportsmanship by Aus.
The fantastic contest between bat and ball is overshadowed by anything to win attitude of Australia and very low umpiring standards.
The first incident of poor umpiring struck India when Ricky Ponting was given not out by umpire Mark Benson, when he clearly nicked the ball down the leg side. Ponting himself knew that he was out. Later on he scored half century. However later, Ponting dismissed by Harbhajan for the seventh time in his career.
When Ponting got out, Aus's score was 3/119. Micheal Clarke and Adam Gilchrist soon got out leaving Aus on a score of 6/135. India cleared had an upper hand at that stage of the match.
But again, a mistake by Mr. Steve Bucknor changed the course of the match. At that stage Andrew Symond was the only recognized batsman for Aus. In an over, when Ishant Shrama was bowling, he clearly nicked a ball to wicketkeeper MS Dhoni. The decision turned down by the umpire. This shifted the pendulum to Aus side, because Symonds made 162 and remained not out.
The umpiring errors were continuously flowing for the entire match.
eg In the second Aus inning Micheal Hussey was given not out when he was on 22 and 45, off Anil Kumble and R.P. Singh resp.
Later on Hussey went on to score 145, which shifted the course of the match to Aus side.
In the second Inning, Rahul Dravid was given out caught behind, when his bat was clearing hiding behinds the pads. This incident shocked Rahul, but not the umpires.
Saurav also given out caught behind, when the replays also were inconclusive. So umpire Benson asked Ricky Ponting the clarification. I really don't understand, if a player is not honest while batting, then how can you trust his words. Also later, when the same player claims a catch, when the replays clearly show that the ball has grounded. So I think umpires had made some terrible mistakes here.
At the end Aus won the match. But the question is did they deserve it?
The reactions of some of the players.
We start with Mr. Sunil Gavaskar
He words were,
" Why is Mr. Benson asking a person who didn't walk off when he was caught behind at 14, and it couldn't be possible that you are lying when you are batting and true while you are fielding, That is Nonsense! Utter Nonsense! I am sorry Mr. Benson, you got it all wrong."
Tony Greig one of my fav commentator talked about ethics of walking, he said,
"Ponting got an edge down the leg-side and was out (but didn't walk). Then he got a bad decision for an lbw and carried on about it. There are double standards. At the same time Ponting is trying to persuade opposition captains to take his word on catches ... they are all over the place. All I can tell you is the best umpiring I have ever experienced and the best relationships between umpires and players was in England in county cricket where we had former first-class players like Mark Benson umpiring. You were considered to be a cheat if you didn't walk"
It is sad that the Boxing day test played between India and Aus in 2007 will not remembered for the cricketing context, but for controversies, umpiring errors.
After winning the boxing day test of 2007, Australia was all set for the 16th successive win in a row, matching their own record.
Though Aus won this test by 122 runs and a min to spare, this test will be remembered for major umpiring mistakes by umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson and the show of poor sportsmanship by Aus.
The fantastic contest between bat and ball is overshadowed by anything to win attitude of Australia and very low umpiring standards.
The first incident of poor umpiring struck India when Ricky Ponting was given not out by umpire Mark Benson, when he clearly nicked the ball down the leg side. Ponting himself knew that he was out. Later on he scored half century. However later, Ponting dismissed by Harbhajan for the seventh time in his career.
When Ponting got out, Aus's score was 3/119. Micheal Clarke and Adam Gilchrist soon got out leaving Aus on a score of 6/135. India cleared had an upper hand at that stage of the match.
But again, a mistake by Mr. Steve Bucknor changed the course of the match. At that stage Andrew Symond was the only recognized batsman for Aus. In an over, when Ishant Shrama was bowling, he clearly nicked a ball to wicketkeeper MS Dhoni. The decision turned down by the umpire. This shifted the pendulum to Aus side, because Symonds made 162 and remained not out.
The umpiring errors were continuously flowing for the entire match.
eg In the second Aus inning Micheal Hussey was given not out when he was on 22 and 45, off Anil Kumble and R.P. Singh resp.
Later on Hussey went on to score 145, which shifted the course of the match to Aus side.
In the second Inning, Rahul Dravid was given out caught behind, when his bat was clearing hiding behinds the pads. This incident shocked Rahul, but not the umpires.
Saurav also given out caught behind, when the replays also were inconclusive. So umpire Benson asked Ricky Ponting the clarification. I really don't understand, if a player is not honest while batting, then how can you trust his words. Also later, when the same player claims a catch, when the replays clearly show that the ball has grounded. So I think umpires had made some terrible mistakes here.
At the end Aus won the match. But the question is did they deserve it?
The reactions of some of the players.
We start with Mr. Sunil Gavaskar
He words were,
" Why is Mr. Benson asking a person who didn't walk off when he was caught behind at 14, and it couldn't be possible that you are lying when you are batting and true while you are fielding, That is Nonsense! Utter Nonsense! I am sorry Mr. Benson, you got it all wrong."
Tony Greig one of my fav commentator talked about ethics of walking, he said,
"Ponting got an edge down the leg-side and was out (but didn't walk). Then he got a bad decision for an lbw and carried on about it. There are double standards. At the same time Ponting is trying to persuade opposition captains to take his word on catches ... they are all over the place. All I can tell you is the best umpiring I have ever experienced and the best relationships between umpires and players was in England in county cricket where we had former first-class players like Mark Benson umpiring. You were considered to be a cheat if you didn't walk"
After this test both the captains met to ensure proper behavior from both the team (ie bullshit spirit of the game). India won the next test and succeeded to draw the last one. But Sydney test was pivotal in the context of the series.
