sent by Prince Pal
source : Gilad’s Deviantart Journal
Jan
15
The much awaited test series between two different kinds of ‘world champions’ is already its half way through. Though crammed with sledging, abuses, bans and of course pathetic umpiring, this series would in some way remind us of one of the greatest test series ever played on the face of this planet—India vs. Australia(2001) in India.
Under Steve Waugh’s captaincy, Australians, at that time, were going great guns winning all their test matches. But India broke their winning streak with the help of stupendous performances by VVS. Laxman and our very own Bhajji who of course, single handedly brought the Aussies down to their feet.
Well, its 2008 now….The cricket on display at Down Under has been both excellent and frustrating. There’d been pace and swing; but the umpires have played the spoilsport. However, the interesting part is that like the year 2001, VVS Laxman and Bhajji are in the spotlight once again. Laxman, for his magical 100 that kept India in hunt for a while in the Sydney test, while, our Punjabi lad, Bhajji for a little unpleasant reasons.
It’s hard to say what is morally right and what is not? Its even harder to tell if the remarks made by Singh on Symonds were actually meant to arouse racial sentiments or were in fact, used as an excuse by the Australians to demoralize their Indian counterparts. However, one thing’s for sure, all that had been taking place at the Sydney cricket ground, would’ve frustrated and hurt the sentiments of every single cricket fan around the world, let alone the poor Indian cricketers who were playing their hearts out against not only an opposition that’s known for their infamous ‘word wars’ but also against a horrible umpiring that added fuel to the fire and made sure that the spirit of the game gets affected big time. Under such circumstances, if India wanted, they could have out poured their frustration, but they chose to deal with the whole issue with a sense of balance and dignity. Though disappointment was shown but the game moved on and thankfully, India never used all this as an excuse for not being able to save the ‘drama-packed’ Sydney test match. The greatest example of this is Anil Kumble’s decision of dropping the charges against Brad Hogg- a development that has just come into place this Monday.
The whole controversy over whether Harbhajan’s remarks on Symonds were so ethically incorrect that they could justify a punishment, of no less than ‘a three match ban’ on the cricketer, this is what Harsha Bhogle a world renowned commentator, has to say:
“Anil Kumble thinks the word ‘bastard’ is offensive, and it is, but a group of lads in a bar might freely use it and wonder what the fuss is all about. What is acceptable in one culture may not be in another.”
Well, true! Whether or not, the usage of the word ‘monkey’ by Bhajji for Symonds, actually hinted at racism, is a puzzle, that’ll hopefully, be resolved only after the ICC fixes a date for the hearing of Harbhajan’s case. Till then let’s all gear up to watch the next match-16th January, Perth.
