The Second Test in Sydney between Australia and India ended with lot more drama than cricket. For the record, Australia won the match in the second-to-last over and that’s all the world will remember a few years down the line. More than that, it will be remembered for 16 consecutive wins by this Australian team.

And now for the breaking news flashing across our screens… Harbhajan Singh has been handed a three-match ban for a supposedly racist slur made against Andrew Symonds. But the ugly underbelly of this match doesn’t end here.

The three umpires (third umpire included) gave 12 terrible decisions against Indian team, condemning them to defeat. India was playing against 14 players. Both Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson seemed like they were playing for Australia.

‘India was playing against 14 players. Both Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson seemed like they were playing for Australia.’


The Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, had a hugely prestigious record at stake – equalling the 16 consecutive wins Steve Waugh had achieved in his time as skipper. So did he go all-out to ensure the win?

Symonds was given not-out three times – and he went on to make a huge score (162). Ricky Ponting was given not-out caught behind and he doubled his score from there on. Umpire Bucknor even refused to refer decisions to the third umpire. But what the hell, even the third umpire acted blind as well to give wrong decisions in favour of the Aussies – Dravid given out on the final day when there was a gap as big as Bucknor’s head between the bat and ball; Sourav Ganguly given out by Ponting, not the umpires; Wasim Jaffer given out on a no-ball. And many more. Heck, India weren’t playing to win. They had to play to survive a ruckus of cheating and fraud.

Even if half of these decisions had been given honestly, India were bound to win this match.

But the day ended with even more bizarre news – Harbhajan Singh accused of a racial slur by Aussie all-rounder Symonds. As per known statements of the match referee and the umpires, they didn’t hear or see anything. The on-screen visuals show that it was Symonds who walked up to the batsman and said something. Umpires heard no racial comment coming from Singh. The microphones recorded nothing.

But since a bunch of players are ready to stand witness for their team-mate – who were nowhere close to either of them when the supposed altercation happened on the pitch – the verdict has been given against Bhajji. The witnesses from India be damned.

On another occasion, the umpires took the opinion of Ponting for a decision against Ganguly. Ponting had just earlier appealed blatantly for a fake catch and Michael Clark refused to walk for a very clear dismissal. Ponting proved that his integrity cannot be trusted, given that he didn’t walk when caught in the previous innings.

So what’s the picture we get ...

If a white player gives witness for something they were no close to, it must be true. No matter if a non-white player was present there on the pitch and says nothing happened. If a white man says he said it, he must have.

If a white player says that the catch was clean, he can’t be lying – no matter what the TV cameras show. If Ponting picked a catch from turf or Clark picked a bump ball, as long as they say it was clean they must be correct. The truth be damned.

If a white player abuses, it's just sledging – it’s a mental game and part of the strategy. If an Asian player responds, it’s racism.To me, that is racism.

The ICC must be banned for controlling such a racist game.