After the 1932–33 Bodyline cricket tour of Australia, England labelled Australians "sore losers" while Australians labelled England cheats. Trade between the two countries was adversely affected and till this day the series is used to reflect the character of each respective country.
In 2008, another cricket series was used to reflect the character of Australia and another nation. India, the world's most financially powerful cricketing nation duelled with Australia, the undisputed world champions of the game. Needing to survive one over against a part-time bowler in order to save a test match, the Indians lost three wickets in five balls. Not surprisingly, the Indians were emotional regarding their mental disintegration, and blamed everyone from neutral umpires to Australian arrogance for their loss. The Indian cricket board threatened to cancel the tour, Indian fans burnt pictures of Australian players, and Australia's history as a Convict colony was again used to cast dispersions upon the Australian character.
Professional Australian commentators were also disappointed with the result. Appreciating the boring nature of one Australian victory after another, they had been hoping that India would give a contest. Consequently, the Australian team's jubilance at India's collapse conflicted with their own feelings of disappointment. Some commentators, such as Peter Roebuck, called for the Australian captain to be sacked. Other commentators, such as ex-player Geoff Lawson, criticised Australia's win-at-all-costs mentality. Presumably, the likes of Lawson and Roebuck wanted the Australian cricketers to apply the spirit of backyard cricket. Specifically, lesser players can't be given out first ball, and no fast bowling to the kids or the ladies.
Problems escalated when an Indian player, Harbhajan Singh referred to Australian player Andrew Symmonds, as a monkey. The Indian player had previously referred to Symmonds as a monkey in India when Symmonds had been subjected to monkey chants by the Indian crowd. Symmonds put in a complaint and Singh was found guilty of racial abuse by a neutral match referee. The Indian Board threatened to withdraw from the tour unless the decision was overturned in the subsequent appeal. The decision was, much to the disgust of the Australian players who felt the Australian Cricket Board put profit before principle.
