So the Aussies have managed to win 16th test in a row...with a little help from the umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson. They have given about 11 incorrect decisions against India and I guess all of them could not be honest mistakes. You make a mistake on day 1 by not giving Andrew Symonds out who later himself confessed that he was out. Once that is done, you would feel a little ashamed of yourself and would strive extra hard to make sure that the mistakes are not repeated. But no sir, Mr. Bucknor went on to give one wrong decision after the other.
I don't know about the other umpire Benson but I am sure that Steve Bucknor definitely has something against India and especially against Sachin Tendulkar-may be because he was a rival of West Indian Brian Lara for records and Steve, being a West Indian himself wanted Lara to stay ahead. This is just my assumption and I have no facts to support it and normally I won't have said it but now I think I can. How can you explain the decision against Sachin Tendulkar when he was given shoulder before wicket on the bowling of Glenn McGrath? Yes you heard me right, Sachin Tendulkar was ducking to avoid a bouncer that stayed a little low by Glenn McGrath and the ball hit his shoulder and McGrath appealed for LBW and he was given out. I am almost certain it was again Mr. Steve Bucknor. Even if not, it shows a bias against Indians in umpiring in Australia.
In matches against England, Sachin and Saurav were given out when they were clearly not out and I was angry with the Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar for doing it. He himself confessed that he had made wrong decisions and although he is sorry for Sachin, he would have given Sourav out any day as that looked clearly out to him. I hated him at that time but comparing it to Steve Bucknor; he looks like an angle, who was a real gentleman who had made an honest mistake. This reminds me of another Pakistani legend - Shakoor Rana, he had won more tests for Pakistan as an umpire than any player has ever done. He is the reason why the neutral umpires are used in matches but I guess who needs an Australian umpire when you have umpires like Steve Bucknor. (Did you know that Alan Border once said "I am a big fan of Pakistan who has produced umpires as dedicated as Shakoor Rana? I guess now he can be even more proud that Aussies have managed to do what the Pakistanis did and that even with neutral umpires.
"Everyone knows why we lost" is what the Indian captain Anil Kumble said and he is so right. The whole world, including the Aussies knows why India has not won this test. Ponting got upset and one could see he almost wanted to beat the Indian journo who questioned his integrity and sportsmen’s spirit. The other ugly face of the match was the incident involving Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds which resulted in Harbhajan being suspended for three matches and establishing Andrew Symonds as a big cry baby who always complains of being racially abused either by the crowd or the players whenever he gets involved in an argument.
No one has forgotten the incident of the argument between Glen McGrath and Ramnaresh Sarwan when Glen asked Sarwan "How is Lara in bed" and Sarwan displayed amazing presence of mind by suggesting "Why don't you ask your wife". On this McGrath was infuriated and ran to confront Sarwan. If you can't take it, then don't give it to others.
So tell me are you among those people who are suggesting that India should come back from Australia. I think they should play under protest-maybe tie a black band on their sleeves while playing and observe a minute's silence after going on the field and before starting the game in respect of the death of sportsman spirit in the gentlemen's game. They should also demand the match to be declared either void or a draw.
