More questions as Australia bring the cock-a-hoop Indians down to earth

Oops!! Oops!! Did I say ‘monkey’? Is that racism? Hell no! And that brings me down to the third point. If the crowds at Vadodra did indeed call Symonds a monkey, they were being blatantly stupid, but not racist. Either-ways, such people do not deserve to watch this noble game. But I must say, these people are neither cricket lovers, nor racists. I can say with a lot of conviction that monkey is not a racist remark in India. We, in India, worship the monkey-god, Hanuman. The life-form that we worship cannot be a racist slur. This is a clear case of making a mountain out of a mole-hill. Looking at the form Symonds has had, be probably has had a divine hand that is making this wonderfully aggressive cricketer smash bowlers like seldom before. So, just lay it off. ICC, sections of the media, some of the cricketers.

They started it..the Aussies did..Pushing Sharad Pawar from stage during the ICC Champions Trphy..McGrath calling Jayasuriya a monkey face..Micheal Slater getting all up in Dravid's face..and the ICC anti-racism code was initiated after what the Aussie crowd's did to the South African's..They are the true poineers of this game..I am proud of someone like Shreesant who can fight back like he does..It doesn't make him look bad..he is just being himself and we should let it be..I am more happy than sad about losing this series..we accomplished a lot here..Finally we gave the Aussies something to complaint about..This time there was no The Indian Pitches are too slow, the Indian food sucks or its always a challenge touring a third world country..this time the management the BCCI and the Indians in general gave the Aussies exactly what they deserve..they were on the backfoot finally..Even though we lost the series..I reckon from now on its in every Aussies head "What Goes Around Eventually Comes Around"

Intersting thoughts Budha, It will be a very interesting tour to our shores this summer. I think (and hope) that it will be a lot more competitive than the Ashes tour. Interesting thoughts on the racist issue too. I have no idea what to make of the monkey noises and your explanation is as plausable as any I've heard. To DalgeetSingh - pushing Pawar from the stage was wrong, but he did need to shut up and move away from the cameras. Racism is bad no matter who perpetrates it - Aussies or anyone else - and Sreesanth can jump up and down and abuse people all he likes, but he looks like a complete idiot if he can't take wickets or contain the scoring. The Aussies are way to professional to be distracted by a circus act.

Why would you be proud of Shreesant he didnt do anything in the series ok he got all aggressive but he didnt take many wickets he just made an absolute fool of himself and as for racism it has no part in the game but the indian team dont know what there in for when they come to Aussie our crowds are the worst the will abuse them all day the young players will never want to play cricket again!

When have I ever said that I was proud of what Sreesanth did? On the contrary, if you read the article again, I have criticised him. You somehow seem to be proud of the worst crowd and the most abusive crowd. Abusing cricketers all day is nothing you can take pride of. Let me add, if untoward incidents do happen, you will see the BCCI flex its muscles. India gives world cricket 80% of the revenue

Sorry, I just woke up. Are people still interested in this ridiculous 'sport'. Who cares?

Brad...The Aussie crowds have been behaving like this since god knows when..They have been largely unappreciative and have always given foreign teams a tough time at home Soil..Why won't I be Proud of Shreesant.he held his head high through the series..Its not always about winning..The Aussies may have won..but atleast this time they did not be-little the Indians ..they were expecting cheers from the Mumbai Crowd (remember 2001)..I was in the Stands chanting Warne..but my respect for the Aussies has dwindled as their arrognace has grown..Case in point T20..After beating Srilanka their captain said "a lot of teams will be very nervous now"..after losing to India Andy Symonds said "There was excessive celebration".some of their X-Players in recent TV Interviews have gone on a crusade against Tendulkar be-littling all his accomplishments..Then again Andy Symonds incident with Pathan after getting hit for a Six..My point is that the Aussie team and fans have been doing this for years..Now its finally their turn.

Does anyone remember McGrath calling Jayasurya a Monkey? There was no big outcry about that, none of the Austrilian fans cared. No blogs by our Buddha either. Please comment on how the Austrialian board, the ICC or bloggers around the world responded to that. I was also in the stands in Mumbai and was chanting "Aussies S##k", Ironic perhaps but justified. As the earlier comment said, they got what they deserve

this is the Worst article i've read during the India - Australia series.Pathetic !!!!

I'd like to reply to a few points. 1) Ranjeet, please look at the article I had written when Ponting and Gavaskar were trading blows earlier this year, I have written about the way the Aussie players have been racists. The way the Aussie fans and players have conducted themselves is deplorable. My point about Sree is that he has been very insipid with the ball and his job is to bowl well first and not just get into theatrics. 2) Daljeet, Aussie players are known for being pathetic sportsmen. Andrew Symonds has not been a hallmark himself. But Indian players and crowds need not compete in this slanging match. It would serve India better if we competed in cricket. Finally, Broad, I shall strive harder so that my articles are not the worst. Thanks for reading, by the way.

Brad Says "Aussie, our crowds are the worse,they will abuse them all day young players will never want to play Cricket again" Yes brad we all know that Aussie crowds are the worse but you are inaccurate when you say some young players will never want to play Cricket again! Your lot tried so hard with Murali (yes he was so young when Aussies started on him)But he showed the thugs what real men are made of.He is still playing and will be the greatest spinner in the world soon. No doubt your lot will start on him again(this timeyou have the Indian crowd behaviour as an excuse to justify dispicable taunts racial & otherwise)in 3 weeks time when the great bowler gets near Warne's record (yes.. go ahead bring out the predictable slurs again, if you must).What Indian crows did was disgraceful. Still, Aussies aren't in a position to whinge so much about given their track record in racial abuse department. To think they have the cheek to call the English "Whinging Poms".And some of you keep implying that if you take

To the pommy girl you will probably find Aussie will warm to Murali there opinions have changed on him as for him being best spinner i doubt that the best off spinner maybe the best spinner will always be Shane Warne he probably would have been best captain to had he not always got himself in trouble.Shreesant is a idiot he made a fool of himself see Symonds had a battle with the indian players all series but he walked away man of the series. The Indian players should try carry themselves like Tendulkar a true professional.

Brad,agreed, Symonds proved he is the better man.However, I doubt it matters on iota to Murali if the Aussie crowds warm to him or not.I don't think any SL players would give a hoot about what drunken Aussies are shouting at them. After all, these people have learnt/played/lived Cricket in a warzone and disaster and still managed to be the 2nd best in the world in relatively short period.IMO, when it's all done & dusted, Murali will be in the history books and Warne (although a great bowler)will be more remembered for texts/mummy's medicine/bribes to Indian bookies. Shane Robinson, if you don't care, why are you in the Cricket section reading articles?Go back to sleep or read Dave's storey.

Is that it..Is that ur Criteria, if someone wins the "Man of the Series" that's it..he walks away with pride..I thought Symonds acted like a J@@K A## throughout the series..U think we the Indian fans wud boo the living cr*p out of a person just because he is sucessful..Did we ever Boo Steve Waugh or Shane Warne..But when someone has as many on the feild incidents as he did and all an Aussie can say is he walked with his head high..I reckon it shows ur bias Mate..He got booed in India and he deserved it..Aussies got the "Aussie S8ck" Chant and they deserve it...Heck the Aussies got boed in South Africa too..Ever wonder why, the crowds aint stupid..they just dont boe or cheer someone just for the heck of it..

Sorry Budha. I may have missed that article. Your post suggest and every other post pretty much agrees with the fact that the Austrailian side has not conducted themselves in a manner reflective of this noble game. I do disagree when people slam Sree for no reason. He is an agressive fast bowler (his sucess) aside, can you please site any example where you would think he went over and above what the norm in this game has been for years. Do you know how many players have been fined for excessive appealing. Does Manoj Prabhakar ring a bell, Venkatesh Prasad, hope u remember him using the F-word against a certain paki player. I know, I know what's wrong and correct me if I am wrong, but I reckon you are buying into what the Austrilian print is saying about sree. Are you scared of what the Aussies think? Or did Sree's actions really upset you..Please I haven't read all your bolgs but do point me to the one about Prabhakar being fined or about V.Prasad using the F-word and how you felt about it..I am not going to

Hi Ranjeet... I am the last person that will get swayed away by the Aussie or any other press. People on Sportingo, that have read my articles and comments will testify that. There are many instances when Sreesanth has flouted the norms of the game. 1) When he bumped into Michael Vaughan; 2) When he overstepped the crease by 2 meters and ripped a beamer at Pietersen's head. In this series, my problem has been that Sree has only been talk and theatrics and no achievement. ICC has always been unfair to Indian cricketers, I completely agree. But I disagree to the fact that I am slamming Sree for no reason. Any Indian would be a lot happier if his stats read 10-1-38-8 than 10-0-73-1 (with irritating noises and nonsensical theatrics.

i.e This Blog. I think its wonderful that people like you care enough about the Game. Shows your passion for the game, essentially that is what Sree has shown time and again. Ofcourse you may not agree with the way he expresses himself on or of the feild and its your right to Critize him. But it certainly is within my rights as a person who has followed cricket for all his life know to defend Sree. History of Cricket is filled with characters, Sree is as unique and entertaining as Aktar was when he first burst onto the scene. Sree has truly entertained me, not one dull moment. As far as sucess goes just a series ago (T20) against the Aussies he bowled both Hayden and Gilchrist. How many Indian or for that matter other bowlers can claim to have beaten these two for pace. I reckon Sree is misunderstood and I also think recent failures are no reason to slam someone. History question again "How many Indian Bowlers have almost knocked someone's head off with a beamer"..Kapil Dev,Chetan Chauhan, Shrinath, even Ani

i.e This Blog. I think its wonderful that people like you care enough about the Game. Shows your passion for the game, essentially that is what Sree has shown time and again. Ofcourse you may not agree with the way he expresses himself on or of the feild and its your right to Critize him. But it certainly is within my rights as a person who has followed cricket for all his life know to defend Sree. History of Cricket is filled with characters, Sree is as unique and entertaining as Aktar was when he first burst onto the scene. Sree has truly entertained me, not one dull moment. As far as sucess goes just a series ago (T20) against the Aussies he bowled both Hayden and Gilchrist. How many Indian or for that matter other bowlers can claim to have beaten these two for pace. I reckon Sree is misunderstood and I also think recent failures are no reason to slam someone. History question again "How many Indian Bowlers have almost knocked someone's head off with a beamer"..Kapil Dev,Chetan Chauhan, Shrinath, even Ani

Directing a beamer at a batsman's head is not what a sportsman should do, especially by overstepping the crease by 2 meters. That is certainly not something to be proud of. Characters are all fine so long as they remains within the rules of the sport. When Sree waded into Vaughan, in a non-contact sport, what should I be proud of? When he jumps up and down and gets hit for 8 an over? The thing is that he has had more failures than successes. Apart from a T20 match and the Jo'berg spell there is not too much he has done with the ball, but he has made a fool out of himself by his antics and no wickets. Nothing is more entertaining than seeing a bowler getting a batsman out. The type of entertainment Sree gives, makes me want to watch Tom & Jerry. Let him get wickets and then imitate Donald Duck, nobody will have any problems.