India is crying because they lost the match if it would have been ended on draw no issue would have been made. BCCI and Indian team did all this to divert angry Indian crowd the heat which they were suppose to feel they refelct it o Australia. I think ICC should treat every board as same not on their money power let not India think they made the sport, No cricket was good before India and will remain good without India. All teams should protest this dictatorship of India by refusing to play against them

Mr Hackney, It would help if you understand exactly what the issue is before making a comment. The Indians have not threatened to pull out of the tour because of the poor umpiring or because of the absolute lack of sporting spirit shown by the Aussie players in the Sydney test or even the charge brought against Harbhajan by Ricky Ponting. India obviously fell let down by several umpiring decisions and have protested accordingly. However, there is no way anyone can justify Harbhajan Singh being found guilty purely on the basis of one person's word over another. With no audio / video evidence, the umpires not having heard anything, how did Proctor find "beyond reasonable doubt" that Harbhajan Singh was guilty? Just because Symonds and Clarke said so? Despite Sachin Tendulkar saying that Harbhajan Singh did not say anything of that sort? This entire judgment and the way the hearing was conducted (note Proctor's statement, where he provides no evidence .. just the words that I found beyond doubt that Harbh

spot on craig...there's nothi9ng worse than a sore loser. the aussies are also sore losers (remember ponting's outburst at trent bridge in 05?) but on this occasion the bcci are up in arms because of a couple of bad decisions. it's about time all cricketers realised that umpires are human, they make mistakes and as you say, it evens itself out. ponting himself may cast his mind back to headingley when mark ramprakash caught him and he was given not out and his century that innings may even have saved his career.

Sorry Craig, we seem to be watching two different matches OR you wear tinted glasses!! By the last count as mentioned by all commentators on Channel 9, at a concervative figure atleast 10 wrong decisions were made and 8 against India. Yes everyone makes rheotoric statments after a game but I don't remember BCCI making any official complaints after the summer in England. By the way it's journlists who write in Newspapers and not BCCI! I don't see anything wrong if BCCI wants to support it's player, can't you see the CA supporting theirs in the face of criticism from their own fans and most importantly from Hall of Fame inductees? Go back and research and the polls coducted in the last week...

Big shame for aussies winning the match in this spirit

I think the BCCI had asked after end of Day 1 the Indian Team Management to raise the issue of Poor Umpiring. However Team Management choose not to do so. Refer to news after Day 1. Anyway the fact that India lost with 7 balls to spare and on the last day Benson & Bucknor didn't do themselves any favour only made it worse. Had India lost quick wickets and lost with lots of overs to spare probably it may not have got worse for the umpires. Let's face it Umpires have never been correct 100% and every team know it and has dreaded it. The Australians are apparently very wary of Billy Bowden. If he makes a few bad decisions against them things might get even interesting. What made it worse was not referring decisions to 3rd umpire especially for Symond's stumping and not consulting the other umpire for the Catch. All teams claim catches, Michael Slater was one of those who got very angry when the replays showed him taking the ball after a bounce. All players at one point or the other could have appealed for a

Dont understand how you can consider that Harbhajan's guilty when his case is under appeal. Let a sensible, non-partisan judge hear both sides and then give his decision. We'll buy that. Why was symonds not punished for provoking Harbhajan? Some of the arguments that you have put forth are not valid 1. If the umpires comitted mistakes in an India England match, it is for England to complain against umpiring not india 2. While a cricketer loses his place in the team for poor performance and an employee loses his job for poor performance, why should'nt umpires lose their job for poor performance / consistent bad judgements? 3. What's money got to do with this? Any team who had 8 decisions against them will go and complain. If these 8 decisions were against australia, would they have kept quiet 4. Indians / BCCI have managed this affair very diplomatically. We are actually happy that they stood their ground for a change. Any other country would have made much much more noise if they have been treated

I speak no further

Are you blokes reading a different article? This isn't about the Sydney test, this is about India's tour of England. Just saying that India has form on this sort of carry-on. As for Harbhajan, I'm happy to accept the outcome of his appeal - is any one else? The BCCI has said that they will only accept an acquittal, sounds like blackmail to me.

is too stupid to merit front page...BCCI SHOULD withdraw India...If BCCI had clout, th whole Australian team should should have been banned for 3 matchews, not just Harbhajan

U r a sore loser...Muppet. Do you think ur some Noble laureate in literature...Idiot. What about the CA when it was the ACB, didnt they refuse to go play a match in SriLanka (96) acting like they were oh so powerful. Its a funny old thing isnt it, History. and the recent comments from them, backing their teams behavior in the sydney test as the Australian way...isnt that shameful or detrimental to the healt of the game....the point of journalism in being unbiased and bringing out he facts, dont ruin it by pointing out the mistakes of one and potraying the holier than thou image of us....both boards look after the interests of their own squads, so stop stirring the pot..

Craig, while I see some point to your article, I disagree on two points - First, I believe the true cause of the current uproar is H Singh banning, not the decisions. Second, while I believe the BCCI over trumpets, their is nothing wrong with a board defending their own team, ergo they would never attack their own team (a point you begin to make).

Hospitality of a convict that i'd never want u AH.

i said u craig but u wont stop pointing fingers. the issue was dying down but it is writers like u who just for the sake of cheap publicity write something and then incite some idiots who against all spirit of the game react forgetting that what is being played is a game. i wont blame them because fabs would be fans but ppl like u should restrain themselves. as far as bcci is concerned u should understand that had they wanted they would have scrapped the series(the amt being asked was too meagre for them even to think)but just not to hurt the spirit of the game the team is still there playing. that to me is playing with the spirit. hope u understand.

[quote]Friend, I think while writing the article you have risen to the level of a saint and for this you say that why India did not make any hue and cry against the wrong decicisions given by Umpires in its favour in the England series.I think it is England rather than India who should have raised this issue.India has not been awarded global tender to appeal against oll odds on behalf of all cricket playing nations.So it smells odd of your such allegation against India that why did it not object to the wrong decisions in favour them.If BCCI declared for filing allegation against wrong decisions against umpires (though complaint was not filed practically), it is to be assumed that BCCI took good decision for developing the level of the game.Do you think that cricket is for umpires.But my opinion is just reverse.Definitely to err is human.But is this applicable for a person driving on highway at spped of 200km/hr and crushing 10 people.Similarily around 10 wrong decisions most being against India in a careless

To Alan, What has been lost for me to be a sore loser?? ANd the reason Aus didn't go to Sri Lanka was in reaction to Tamil Tiger bombing - security not because they weren't happy with umpiring or because they didn't get their own way with the ICC. And where in the article did I praise CA for anything?

To Rohit, again you comment in one of my articles calling me irresponsible and accusing me of inciting something. Firstly, let me say that I do not need or want your advice on what to write or when to write it, please stop giving it, feel free to coment on the article but keep the other cr*p to yourself. As long as the BCCI is holding the game to ransom, I will continue to point it out to anyonme who will listen. If the BCCI continues to threaten the tour, then expect more articles. IF owever, the BCCI comes out today and says they will accept. the outcome of the appeal against Harbhajan's ban, then I will write an article praising them, but I don't think I'll have to do it. Finally, you and I both know how many hits cricket articles get, cheap publicity doesn't come into it. If the BCCI had the spirit of the game at heart, they would be holding this threat over the tour.

India are most definatly not crying as Mayank is trying to put across. Anyone who thinks india have done wrong in this test either hate india altogether or are simply blind. There have been many occasions when india lost and never complained. Just look at the first test. India got hammered by the Aussies and did ANY indian complain?? Then they got charged with raciual abuse with NO evidence whatsoever.Not even a drip of evidence, just pontings word. How can you post judgement from there? then ponting and umpire work together to give an indian out, in total in excess of 270 runs were made by the aussies due to poor umpiring and about the same amount of runs was probably lost by india again due to poor umpiring. 1 mistake is ok, even 2, maybe 3 lets even stretch it to about 5 per test. But my god over 10 mistakes? And is everyone that gullable not to notice that if ponting mad allegations towards harbhajan more so for personal reasons i.e becoming bhajis bunny. then we come to the fact that india make up 70% o

Why should India not have the right to be so angry that they will threaten to cancel the tour. Can you really not see why they are feeling hard done by? NO evidence, NO umpire heard ANYTHING, NO stump mics picked anything up, NOTHING recorded by the broadcasters channel 9, Indians STRONGLY denying ANY racial abuse. What kind of judicical system do the Australians have down under?? I really cant see how you can agree on there being a ban on harbhajan in the first place based on all of this. OFFICIALS and everyone involved have confirmed that there is no evidence of this. Just straight Ponting's word for it and which ever aussie player for that matter. YOU CAN NOT CHARGE PEOPLE WITH NO PROOF. AND YOU WANT INDIA TO SIT BACK AND WAIT FOR THE APPEAL HEARING? SIMPLE FACT: FIND PROOF OR SHUT YOUR MOUTH

First let me say that when i say find proof or shut your mouth i am not aiming this at you Craig, but at Procter. But you need to read my last comment and when possible just give a direct reply to what i am trying to get across. Its like Sachin saying Hussey called him summat bad and Ponting is saying no he didnt, but then Mike proctor turns around and says well ok, i believe you Sachin because i am a south african and i know racism very well. This simply does not count nor will it stand up in ANY type of court.

I hear what you are saying Tony and I do not know what evidence was heard at the hearing, only that Procter cam out and said he was convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Harbhajan had used the word. He also said he didn't rely entirely on the word of the Australians, but that is why there is an appeal process and if Harbhajan is innocent, it should be found on appeal. Whether he said it or not is immaterial, it is the fact that the BCCI has said that it will not accept a guilty verdict - no matter what the evidence. And let me also say that just because there is no audio or video eveidence, that does not mean that it didn't happen. It has been revealed today in our newspapers that Harbhajan used a Punjab term "Maa Ki" which allegedly means motherf..ker. If that is so, then fine, charge him under the abusive language clause and let's get on with it. But it is interesting that this has taken a week to come out.

It is also interesting how close that is to the word the Aussies thought claim they heard. There have been few denials that HArbhajan used "monkey" in India when he and Symonds had a verbal stoush and it was agreed to keep it in house, provided Harbhajan never again use that word. Whether he did or did not will be decided by the NZ High Court justice who knows full well how to decide these matters. On your other point, the Indian teams behaviour during the test is not in question, Harbhajan issue aside, they showed tremendous dignity and restraint in the face of some dreadful decisions, and even since the game, there is no complaint against the players. The complaint is against the BCCI throwing its weight around. As my article attempted to show, things even out in the end, but sometimes you have to accept the bad as well as the good.

One final point, Tony. No-one took Ponting's word for anything in the Harbhajan case. The witnesses were Symonds, Hayden and Clarke. Ponting and Gilchrist were dismissed as they had not heard the words. Ponting reported it to the umpire after receiving a complaint from Symonds. Ponting was obliged to report it under the ICC playing conditions and particularly in light of the previous "offence" pot proceeding formally. Thanks for your interest. Cheers, Craig.

Very apt to point out the UTTER hypocrisy off the Indian approach to the spirit of the game. There is one team in the right at ALL times and that is only India (or this is what they would have everyone believe)

This article is a sales gimmick of someone who doesn't understand the game of cricket. Craig Hackney - the idiot, do you know what cricket is? I have been watching cricket for nearly 25 years and at least a decision was incorrect in every 3 games. It is hard to get things right everytime and we are okay with that. But test is unique as 8 decisions were blunderously wrong and nearly all of them are against India. Its like India getting to bat twice and Aussies batting 3 times to win the game... Dummies would understand that it is highly unfair and something needs to be about unfairness in sports as it will set the same expectations among audience as matches being fixed.

Please note that, Milk is only for the Crying Baby. If you dont stand up and demand what you want, and put your foot down and say enough is enough nothing is going to happen. And i don think that is hypocracy. And please note that, initially indian board was not intending to complain, but the consistancy of the poor umpeiring is what made BCCI to complain.. And with harbhajan, all what white people says are not truth. As he was convited only by the statement of australian team, and there was no evidence against him. The statements of Crickting greats like sachin was overlooked, for the ponting and his men's statment who have had a bad history of being arrogant and abusive. So get your facts right and clean up your mind before making any comments.

Craig, 9 wrong decision against india and 1 wrong decision against australia. born-sledgers hayden's evidence carries more weight then born-gentleman sachin's evidence. Benson asks Ponting to decide a catch and doesn't ask kumble Mike procter gave 5 match ban to rashid latif for appealing a catch which was not but does not take any action when ponting did it repeatedly Do you understand hypocrisy, no you dont you are just an born-ignorant-hypocrat.

Thanks for replying. Yeah of course i am not saying that harbhajan didnt say anything, just that there should be sufficient evidence. If Proctor/icc is saying that there is more evidence other than the words of players then why on earth have they not brought this to light? by doing so all of this would never have been an issue. The word "maa ki" apparantly means "your mother" and not "mother f***er". iv heard this many times from indians living in the uk and it is normally followed up by another word which makes it "your mothers ??????". And also no indian player or official has confirmed this. From what i have read this is speculation by either some indian public or 1 or 2 journalists. With everything in mind you must at least agree that ANY team would have reacyed very very stringly after one of their players have been found guilty on racsm charges but then shown no evidence. Wether it was England, Australia, Pakistan etc etc. They would have all demanded either a not-guilty verdict or simply proof. BCCI w

Well theoretically it should be all over. India have now called off any threat of cancelling the tour and have confirmed all the matches will go ahead as placed. They have now released this statement BEFORE the appeal on Harabhajan Singh. I will say however if Harbhajan is still found guilty then fine, so be it, BUT evidence MUST be shown. I just hope we can get back to the cricket as i really think although India are still not par with teh Aussies they are still one of their toughest opponents. (records show)

Great news on the BCCI finally agreeing to accept the verdict. Couldn't agree more on Harbhajan's guilt or innocence absolutely must be decided on unequivocal evidence. I also agree that if the hearings were more open, then all of this crazy stuff could have been avoided. I think the "Maa Ki" saying, whatever it means is a perfect circuit breaker that allows everyone to come away saving face and the message to come out of this is that racism will not be tolerated, but without anyone needing to be hung out to dry. I think the Aussies, too, have learned a lesson - regardless what they are saying publicly. Let's hope now that we can get on with cricket and make headlines for all the right reasons. Another result like the last one - without the aggro - would be the perfect way to put this whole episode behind us. Here's looking forward to Perth. Cheers.

BCCI has appealed to the decision of the Match Referee for what? BCCI is convinced that Harbhajan has not said the M word. So they want aquittal. Will anybody ever go to the appeal telling the world that they are guilty? You talk nonsense and your comment is stupidity. Nobody blackmailed for Bad Umpiring. Understand whats happening dude before you comment.

I understand what is happening perfectly. I can accept that the reason the BCCI appealed is to have Harbhajan acquitted, but they stated publicly that they would not accept any verdict other than acquittal - that is that they weren't prepared to accept the verdict of a High Court Judge. They have since changed their tune to say they would accept it - which is great. The blackmail comment was about the acceptance of the appeal, nothing else. Maybe learn to read what is actually written, rather than what you think I am saying. Would it help if I use smaller words?

dear sanghamitra, wouldnt it be an interesting exercise to see the oz team suspended as you suggested. if this happened, would you bet your house that india would win?

Please find out why Rashid Latif was banned by Proctor for appealing for a chatch that never was. So why was Ponting not banned. Just because he is an assuie and white.