There are some things in your life which you never forget, I have some of my cricketing memories too, but the one incident I witnessed yesterday has left a very bad impression. It is day 5 for India Australia test match, Saurav Ganguly is playing and he edges a ball to second slip. The ball takes a bounce and Clark takes the catch (?). Umpires are unsure, so instead of going to the third umpire (mandatory), Mr. Mark Benson ask Ricky Ponting, and he does the most unbelievable and shameful thing, he points toward himself and then raises his finger, suggesting, I Ricky Ponting, captain of Australian cricket team declares OUT! Who are you Mr. Ponting to give someone out? Who are you to bully umpires in a way that they trust you more than the third umpire?
The story does not end here, Mr. Steve Bucknor and Mr. Benson along with the third umpire and match referee Mark Proctor mocked the entire world for five days, played with sentiments of a hundred million Indians and cricket lovers all over the world, while 11 Indian heroes were fighting a battle which was already over. Seven wrong decisions, all against one team except one could have crumbled all hopes and anger would have flared up, but the team did not buzz they were still trying to save the game. This proves that, still gentlemen are playing the game, and the future is safe if we can keep Australia away.
There is more, after the match we had hearing for Harbhajan Singh’s racial remarks. It was known to everyone that after losing the session to India, it was the only thing they could do, complain and put India under pressure. These Australian players who are known all over for their sledging, having a planned abusive attack on players to distract them from the game are acting like ‘cry babies’. There was no evidence against Bhajji except the Australian players who were supporting what their captain has come up with. God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar was also in the middle and was a key witness, but his hearing did not matter, how could it when the decision was already made. This is understandable if anyone would have seen the animated conversation between Ricky Ponting and Mike Proctor, where anyone could see how Mike Proctor was bullied by Ponting.
How can someone play the game in these conditions? How can we even think of winning the game when the same GANG will be present to pounce on us like hungry dogs? How can we come clean with allegation as bad as racism?
If there is someone who should be blamed, definitely it would be you Mr. Ponting, you are the mastermind behind all this. You surly wanted to be God of the game but came out as a Dog. You forgot the world is watching every action you take; every expression is read and understood. You can hide anywhere, but your deeds are known. You should resign as a captain rather than asking press to get out of the conference. You asked ‘Do you question my integrity’…ha ha, we don’t need to answer you, we know the answer and you know it too. Why don’t you accept that you are Bhajji bunny and he will always get you out, and to save yourself you went ahead to remove him out of the tour itself. Mind it Mr. Ponting if you accuse someone of racism wrongly then you are racist.
“RICKY Ponting must be sacked as captain of the Australian cricket team. He has shown not the slightest interest in the wellbeing of the game, not the slightest sign of diplomatic skill, not a single mark of respect for his accomplished and widely admired opponents. In the past few days, the Australian captain has presided over a performance that dragged the game into the pits. He turned a group of professional cricketers into a pack of wild dogs.
Probably the worst aspect of the Australians’ performance was their conduct at the end. When the last catch was taken they formed into a huddle and started jumping up and down like teenagers at a rave. It was not euphoria. It was ecstasy. They had swallowed a pill called Vengeance, among the most dangerous on the shelves. Not one player so much as thought about shaking hands with the defeated and departing.” - Peter Roebuck (Source
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I am happy for two things after this incident. First the way the international media has supported us and for once have stopped supporting the bullies of world cricket and secondly all the cricket lovers, ex-players, critics have united together in support of Harbhajan Singh and Team India.
I would like to say ‘Team, come back, we don’t play cricket with cheaters”
A nice rhyme on Jhonny’s integrity
Tags: cricket
