Why I became a fan of Kumble

Unfortunately, these days, when someone apologises, it is seen as either a sign of weakness or an admission of guilt. I am neither unnerved nor are we guilty. In the larger interests of the game, if an apology could help build bridges and smooth things over, then it is better made than left unsaid because of egos.

-- Anil Kumble

Only one team was playing in the spirit of the game

-- Anil Kumble

Hi,

If you are not one of those who gives your flesh to watch a cricket match played by India (I am one of those), you might not have noticed the great controversy that is happening in Australia after Australia's 16th consecutive win under 'cry baby' Ponting's captaincy.

It all started on day one of the test match when Indians' appeal was turned down after Symonds clearly edged a ball to Dhoni. Symonds who was on 30 that time went on to make 162 which just turned the match in Australia's favour. To add to umpire Bucknor's woes, Symonds agreed in a post-match interview that he actualy had nicked that ball.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23000142-11088,00.html

Day 2 and 3 produced some high quality cricket with Australian fight back followed by an Indian classy reply. The centuries made by Laxman and Sachin in this match will still be remembered for long despite the controversy the match has caused.

And then, Ponting did something silly. Infact it was Symonds who was silly. He went to Harbhajan and was visibly sledging him and goading him to respond. Once Harbhajan responded, he turned to Ponting who in turn reported to umpires of Harbhajan's racially insulting comment. This was unacceptable to any cricket lover, because everyone knows how much Australians sledge their opponents and 'mentally disintegrate' them - in Steve Waugh's words. Their reaction to Bhajji's comment only shows how mentally fragile they themselves are and their sportsmanship.

And on day 5, when India started batting to turn the match into a draw (India had all the chance in the world to even win the match had the umpires not given some real bad decisions over the first 4 days of the match), things started getting worse. Before the series began, Ricky Punter Ponting had made a deal with the Indian captain Kumble that whenever there was a doubt whether a catch was cleanly taken by a fielder, both captains should agree to go by the fielder's word. He had done a 'magnanimous' act on day 2 of the match when he had claimed he had not collected clean an edge given by Dravid. But on day 5, when it was so crucial for India to stay on, he and his teammates made a mockery of the spirit of cricket by claiming catches some of which were clearly grounded. The umpires who had ultimate respect for the Australian sporting spirit fell into the great Australian psychological trap and judged the Indian batsmen out (2 crucial wickets of Dravid and Ganguly fell that way) and India was already cheated by the hosts. The fact that Clarke the person who cheated the most took 3 wickets in the penultimate over to finish off the match in Australian favour only rubbed salt in the wounds for Indians.

http://cricket.indiatimes.com/Aussies_are_true_masters_of_appeal_management/articleshow/2684508.cms

The post match euphoria started after the Indian catain Kumble stated in the press conference that 'Only one team played in the spirit of the game'. The calm and composed but yet unyielding manner in which he responded touched the hearts of many a cricket fan. The fact that there was more reaction amongst the Australian cricket fraternity and fans than expected only shows the evidence.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpost/4349193a6488.html
http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2008/jan/07roebuck.htm

If you thought it ended there, you are mistaken. The charge that was made against Bhajji was upheld by the match referee and he was banned for 3 matches post the match. There was no wonder the Indians felt cheated and BCCI responded in a really tough manner. I can't help but appreciate BCCI's stand during this entire drama. They have insisted on backing Harbhajan and are willing to pull the team out of the tour if the charges against him are not withdrawn. They even managed to get umpire Bucknor removed from the next test match (Although some will argue this was not correct, I as a cricket fan see nothing wrong in the decision taken by the ICC in the interests of the game). While Ponting behaved in a rather immature way by shouting furiously at an Indian reporter who questioned Ponting's integrity in appealing for a catch that was grounded, the Indian captain Anil Kumble won the hearts by keeping his calm and compose and by giving it back to the Australians with utter dignity. He clealry stated to the press how he felt cheated by his Australian counterpart where some claims by the fielders turned the match in their favour.

The match surely will be remembered for all the frenzy it has caused. I as a cricket fan was surely disappointed but am happy that the Indian captain conducted himself in utmost dignity.