***Official Australia in India***

[four_or_six]

It seems as though the punishments are in line with the code of conduct.

If the Indians, or any other team for that matter, don't agree with verbals they should:
(a) stop doing it themselves
(b) petition the ICC for a change of the rules so that verbals are dealt with on a par with physical contact

Unless they do both these things I think they should stop whinging and get on with playing cricket.

 

[silentstriker]

One wonders if the Australians target certain younger members of the Indian team because they know they're going to lash out and possibly get fined or banned with an over the top comeback.

Well, its not a secret that Aussies do pick out specific players. They did it with Graeme Smith for example. I am not sure if they are banking on someone lashing back, but they do test the mental strength.

If so, it's a fair tactic tttt

AWTA.

I may not like it, but if it means they can get results like this, they ought to keep using it. Indians have to be smart. The old generation was very passive and mostly remained calm. A lot of these new players can sledge but also get angry way too easily and take things too personally. And that plays into the opposition's hands, who deliberately goad them until they do something idiotic. Frankly, if I was the opposition, I'd do it too.

It's sort of like Warne when he termed his flipper the Daryll ball. Daryll was very hyped as a player, and Aussies really worked him over and got in his head initially. They really toyed with him, especially the fact that he had seen a psychiatrist.

If it works, it's not the player's job to contain it. Either the ICC has to step in, or nothing should happen. Australians can't be faulted for this.

 

[NZTailender]

The Katich-Gambhir situation was dealt with on the field and everyone moved on. It's over. Let it go.

 

[silentstriker]

The Katich-Gambhir situation was dealt with on the field and everyone moved on. It's over. Let it go.

Well, obviously some things weren't left on the field, considering two players were fined or suspended.

 

[Johnners]

WTF

 

[JBH001]

Watson had 10% of his match fee taken away. Katich was not called up at all.

Thanks. Interesting.

And no, I automatically discard what Sunny says, before evaluating it for veracity.

That is silly. Even an idiot, and Sunny is not one, can sometimes make a valid observation (intentionally or otherwise). I believe Sunny's point is that punishment does not take into account the provoker as much as it does the reacter and this applies especially so in the case of sub-continental players.

Now, I dont know how valid the latter observation is - it would certainly be interesting to look up offences and their punishments over the last few years and see whether their is a disproportionate presence of sub-continental players - although it is almost certain that Sunny will be sounding off about it in the 4 test (especially if Vijay gets a pair). But the former observation certainly has some grounds to it - that is, if the 'spirit' and laws of cricket which umpires and referees are supposed to enforce have any real credence to them. Arguing that players should not react in certain ways and are 'stupid' for doing so therefore misses the point entirely.

 

[four_or_six]

WTF

"There is definitely a chance that we'll play two spinners."

To quote Gilly... that's horsecrap. Surely.

 

[Johnners]

Seeing as it was Malcom Conn writing the article, I refuse to believe any of it, even if they are direct quotes.

 

[four_or_six]

Ah... didn't notice that. He writes rubbish normally.

 

[pasag]

Conn is really a Pirate Guinea Pig.

 

[NZTailender]

Well, obviously some things weren't left on the field, considering two players were fined or suspended.

The situations are different though.
Katich and Gambhir had a spray of words at each other and Katich played silly buggers by getting in his way, and it was all calmed down by Bowden and Clarke.
On the other hand, Gambhir directly elbowed Watson after they had a spray of words, something that couldn't be ignored or left on the field.

 

[Johnners]

Yay

One day, someone somewhere in the world (apart from NZ), will produce pitches for an entire series that aren't roads. Unfortunately, I can't see it happening in the near future

 

[Top_Cat]

Yay

One day, someone somewhere in the world (apart from NZ), will produce pitches for an entire series that aren't roads. Unfortunately, I can't see it happening in the near future

Yeah, I agree it sucks. Apart from some periods at Mohali where the Indian bowlers bowled out of their skins, it's been batting snoozefests, the pressure brought to bear by big totals rather than the bowling.

 

[Jono]

"That match was also remembered for then Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and Harbhajan Singh sulking and pulling out in protest at the curator serving up a greentop which suited Australia's pacemen."

 

[silentstriker]

Yay

One day, someone somewhere in the world (apart from NZ), will produce pitches for an entire series that aren't roads. Unfortunately, I can't see it happening in the near future

Yeah, I agree it sucks. Apart from some periods at Mohali where the Indian bowlers bowled out of their skins, it's been batting snoozefests, the pressure brought to bear by big totals rather than the bowling.

Oh God - that is absolutely ridiculous if true. I think if a ground is consistently producing draws, it should have its Test status revoked. Seriously, it is so annoying. Test cricket needs to remain relevant, and all these blowhard morons care more about making sure people score fours than to make sure there is an even contest between bat and ball and to keep it riveting. Yes, draws can be exciting. But only draws where there is a chance of a result and one team fights it out. Not draws where a team is still batting in their first innings at the end of the fourth day.

I would seriously rather see India lose on a raging greentop than draw on a borefest designed to produce this type of cricket. Please ICC, do something about these pitches. If you want to take on the BCCI, don't take them on for producing spinning wickets - take them on for producing this crap. And any other country which does it too.

Of course, the curator at Delhi said it would be a spinner's paradise. So hopefully he is wrong here and it assists someone. Games where no one has a shot to take 20 wickets are the worst advertisement for Test cricket, and especially for a series as vital as this one.

 

[Burgey]

There's a report on the radio that India are considering picking Gambhir anyway. Any word on that elsewhere?

May have our second forfeited test in 2 years.

 

[honestbharani]

where did M Vijay come from and what s the word about him?

 

[duffer]

Unofficial Test? Hope CA doesn't agree to it.

 

[howardj]

There's a report on the radio that India are considering picking Gambhir anyway. Any word on that elsewhere?

May have our second forfeited test in 2 years.

Yep, wrote last night in this thread that I wouldn't be surprised if this Test was cancelled or not official - because of this blow up.

 

[Son Of Coco]

"I admit that making physical contact with a player is unacceptable. What I request be taken into account is the amount of abuse and provocation directed at me throughout my lengthy time at the crease. While I understand that sledding is a part of the game, I believe that incessant personal abuse and foul language directed at me should not be made acceptable, nor sanctioned. I request that this be taken into consideration and it is on these grounds that the sentence is appealed."

Cricket for the 2010 Winter Olympics...you heard it here first!