Why are the Australians bitter? For those who remember the disbelief and disgust that ensued when the Bangladeshi spinners outwitted India and ensured their exit from this year’s World Cup, MS Dhoni’s recent comments on his team’s new-found aggression and Sri Sreesanth’s verbal banter should not come as a surprise.

Dhoni probably understands that the Australians, who are the champions, are poor losers. Can anyone forget Ricky Ponting accusing Duncan Fletcher of using substitutes, after being run out by Gary Pratt? He made a complete fool of himself while trying to drive home the point.

So when you judge the Indian team’s loss in the recently concluded ODI series, it needs to be put in context with the Aussies trying to make sure the men in blue are not so aggressive the next time around. What exactly was wrong with Sreesanth appealing for a run out, or what was wrong with giving the batsmen a little bit of his mind?

'If players who are accorded the status of quasi-diplomats while touring can get swayed by emotion, then the crowd can use the same reasoning for unruly behaviour'

To say that India lost because they indulged in sledging is a ridiculous assertion from the Australian camp. Matthew Hayden and Jason Gillespie have targeted India’s (or rather Sreesanth’s) aggression, and blamed it for India’s loss.

India lost because the Aussies played better cricket, were more professional and fielded and bowled much better than their hosts. So why is the entire cricket fraternity after Sreesanth to mend his ways, and calling him ‘an accident waiting to happen’?

It's true that at times he was taken apart by the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Hayden and Ponting, but then how many bowlers can guarantee you that these three cannot rip them to shreds? Moreover, what do we want Sreesanth to be, another Javagal Srinath or Vinkatesh Prasad?  They were the nicest bowlers a batsman could have asked for; imagine apologising to the batsmen after hitting him with a bouncer! Only Indian pacers are capable of such humility.