Cricket...

You never reduce Australia to 134-6 on the opening day of a Test without expecting severe repercussions. Bloody umpires helping 'em on their way too. India to fall short of the follow-on target again.

i remember loving cricket when i was a kid but i think i just hit the thing around...

Well, that's better than not hitting it around!

it is, right?? =P

Any game with Australia is boring because of this. Yawn we win again etc.

If you hit the thing around without getting out, then you were better than I was! Maybe you should take it up again! I'm sure there are a few clubs near where you live.

Kerry O'Keefe on Hogg being hit over the MCG fence by Tendulkar during India's 1st innings last week : "The last time I saw a chinaman hit like that was in a Bruce Lee film!"

#1 commentator. FACT.

Had he been watching south park?

Jesus! How's he get away with that stuff??

Harbhajan banned for racist jibe

Not like a South African dude to make a ludicrous decision on racism.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/its-not-cricket-furious-kumble-points-finger/2008/01/07/1199554493907.html

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/329440.html

MV Sridhar, the assistant manager, who spoke to the media before the decision was announced, said there was no video or audio evidence involving Harbhajan. "We felt there was no substantial evidence," he said.

The Perth Test looks like it could be an interesting one.

I want on-field fighting.

OH THERE WILL BE VIOLENCE

Some dopey pro-Aussie umpires need a bit of a slapping too

Harbl Jam Singh

India suspends tour :

http://www.theage.com.au/news/cricket/india-suspends-tour/2008/01/07/1199554559797.html

: which makes them big crybabies in my book, since I'm not sure what the Australian team has to do with two incompetent, ICC appointed, neutral umpires.

I'm on India's side. It's about the 'monkey' comment, not the umpiring.

If the BCCI wasn't sure Singh did nothing wrong, it wouldn't be doing this. Surely.

Indians can't be racist? That's some prett-ay racist theory right there!

LOL @ the media going off like this is a NATIONAL CRISIS.

Indians can't be racist? That's some prett-ay racist theory right there!

-- King Boy Pato, Monday, 7 January 2008 20:41 (9 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

wtf I didn't say that

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/07/2133556.htm

Posted 32 minutes ago
Updated 24 minutes ago

The Indian Cricket Board says it is not yet considering stopping its team's tour of Australia over the suspension of spinner Harbhajan Singh.

wtf I didn't say that

You DIDN'T?

So you think Indians can be racist?

Racist! Racist! Argh!

Sorry, I've had like four Freddo frogs tonight.

I'm surprised anyone would accept Ricky Pontings word over anything after they appealed for a catch that clearly the batsman hadn't even got near.

The Indian Cricket Board says it is not yet considering stopping its team's tour of Australia over the suspension of spinner Harbhajan Singh

Oh yes they are!

Perhaps "sledging" will have to be banned as that seems to be the root problem.

India cricket board statement
The following is the full statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India into the decision to ban Harbhajan Singh for three matches for making a racist remark

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has viewed the happenings during the second cricket Test between India and Australia in Sydney with great concern as some of these can have a far-reaching impact on international cricket.

Some of incidents are highly regrettable considering the warm and friendly relations between the Indian and Australian cricket boards.

The incident involving Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds and the subsequent hearing by the ICC match referee and his conclusions are, to say the least, distressing.

The Indian Board does not accept the findings of the match referee and has decided to challenge the unfair decision to suspend Harbhajan Singh as it deems it patently unfair.

The Board will appeal to the International Cricket Council to review the decision of the match referee and suspend its operation till the appeal is disposed of.

The Indian Board realizes the game of cricket is paramount but so too is the honour of the Indian team and for that matter every Indian.

To vindicate its position, the Board will fight the blatantly false and unfair slur on an Indian player.

The Board also questions the very conduct of the hearing as the match referee before reaching his decision disregarded the essential point of any inquiry, that it should be based on facts, rational, detached and objective.

The Board, in particular, is unhappy with the charge of racial slur against India's of-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

I blame MTV's Yo Momma

I thought calling a mixed-race player a "monkey" was the problem? (xxp)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A30769914

Peter Roebuck : Ponting 'must be sacked'

http://www.theage.com.au/news/cricket/ponting-must-be-sacked/2008/01/07/1199554570948.html

Put the crack pipe down now, Peter.

Peter Roebuck: a man of many vices.

Roebuck OTM.

Sometimes it feels like the aussies can dish it out but cant take it. There's no excuse for racist abuse but its not surprising that things like that will happen when the sledging by the aussies creates such a nasty atmosphere.

This sums it up best

Kumble simmered as he delivered a line reminiscent of Bill Woodfull's famous Bodyline statement. "I think only one team was playing within the spirit of the game," he said, causing the Indian media contingent to break into applause.

Was it michael clarke who edged to slip but stood his ground for the umpire to make the decision?

"Sometimes"

friend of mine: "in the words of chopper read, india need to harden the f**k up"!

I'm with India all the way on this, fuck it. Peter Roebuck otm.

So what do you think is going to happen over this? Will Ponting and co tone down the sledging or insist there's nothing wrong with it?
It's certainly not very sportsmanlike and sets a bad example to fans. How can they be expected to behave when the captain and his players dont?

i think a three-match ban is harsh on harbarjan but he in particular, and india in general are hardly blameless in this though. they've been just as shittily petulant as australia at times! that last day was amazing, as "good" as the portugal-netherlands game at the last world cup.

I was gonna say, India are acting like spoilt brats. Sure they got the hard end of the stick with decisions but you've still gotta expect to keep out a part-timer with 3 wickets and 2 overs left! I don't think the Aussies would accuse Harbl of this if he hadn't said it, and although a 3-match ban may be a bit steep (I'd have fined him), there's no doubting that 'monkey' is racist rhetoric. Symonds and the Aussies could have risen above what was presumably an emotional comment, not indicative of any ingrained racial prejudice, but they chose not to, and the ICC have acted accordingly. What I want to see is everybody getting a light slap on the wrist and then told to get the fuck on with it. I'd also like to see tiny radio mikes attached to every player. That would sort these situations out. And provide us with some sterling entertainment.

In order to prevent this turning into a Pakistan vs. Darrell Hair-esque farce, the ICC should reverse their decision to ban Singh, but place him on a final warning for a lengthier ban should he say something similarly offensive in future. They should also fine him, and tell the Aussies that they are dirty sneaks.

You dont think there will be any action taken by the ICC on sledging then?

"Grow up, lads."

I don't see how they can reverse the decision. If they do that then each time something is done that a team doesn't like they will threaten to strike.

the ICC have to ban sledging and at least that way they have acted with authority.
Also in future they cant just accept someones word, they need evidence.

The way I see it, reversing the decision now isn't necessarily an admission of weakness, more a means of letting India off the hook just this once. I don't see many teams threatening to go on strike for ICC disciplinary decisions, and if they do, the ICC can simply choose to go "Fuck you". When this comes about, the team is the loser. I know India are a special case because their board is so powerful, but if the ICC reverse their decision, I reckon that they'd be grateful enough not to try a similar stunt again for a while.

Yeah right...