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Good riddance India, and don’t forget to slam the door

Anthony Sharwood

by Anthony Sharwood

27 Feb 05:50am

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Filed under: Australian Cricket Team, Cricket, India, Sachin Tendulkar, Sport, Sportsmanship

139 comments

It was on. You could feel it. Tendulkar was in the mood. It was The Little Master’s last match at the SCG, a ground he loves in a city he loves, and you could just sense a big score. Maybe even that elusive hundredth hundred.


The night was warm enough for T-shirts, cool enough for comfort. Australia had runs on the board, but nothing that looked beyond India’s reach. The sun was setting and the scene was set. And then it happened.

Sachin Tendulkar was run out. There was the suggestion that Brett Lee impeded him. Twitter went into meltdown in India, even though it’s fair to say the Indian tweeters didn’t exactly have the best view of proceedings. Replays showed Brett Lee had done nothing wrong. The world’s biggest and most authoritative cricket website, the India-based espncricinfo.com, concurred.

Here’s how Cricinfo called the incident in their live ball-by-ball commentary:

Tendulkar is run out, but Lee was in his way as he ran through. Back of a length outside off stump, Gambhir drops it to point and Tendulkar responds for a single. Lee ran across the pitch towards the ball, and then stopped to observe as Warner ran in from point and under-armed it. Lee needn’t have been there, but he was. And he wasn’t there intentionally to block Tendulkar, but he did. Tendulkar threw his arms up in frustration the moment the ball hit the stumps, but that’s out by the laws of the game. He was not even in the frame. Every innings, we have a bone of contention

As Cricinfo said, the dismissal was a non-issue. Out. There were protestations from Tendulkar and the Indians, but if this had been a horse race, stewards would have fined them for a frivolous protest.

What happened next was as sad as it was unsportsmanlike. Tendulkar sooked. If you’re reading this India, to “sook” means to sulk like a child. First, he wandered around hoping for some kind of repreieve. There wasn’t. Then he committed a cardinal cricketing sin, and not for the first time this summer either.

On leaving the field, Tendulkar failed to acknowledge the crowd’s applause. I was part of that large SCG crowd which rose as one to acknowledge a true champion, as we have so many times. Never, ever say that Australian cricket crowds do not respect visiting champions. We do. The traditional response is to raise the bat and make eye contact with the crowd. Tendulkar had eyes only for his shoelaces.

Tendulkar has shown glimpses of wonderful sportsmanship this summer, such as when he helped defuse the Mankad controversy against Sri Lanka the other night. He has batted well in brief spurts too. Even though he made just 14 last night, he looked fantastic. His deliberately nudge over the slips is just one of many signature shots where the ball appears to go where he wills it.

But Tendulkar has also been aloof. Apart from his repeated failure to acknowledge warm crowds, he has been almost exclusively unavailable for media conferences. That’s not a journalist’s whinge. It’s a lament on behalf of fans everywhere who’d like to hear from their hero after the odd game.

Tendulkar hasn’t been alone in his aloofness. All summer, India has played and behaved as though they don’t really want to be here. Far too often, they have been belligerent and plain bad-tempered.

Admittedly, this tour has been far too long. In the modern era, when they’ve invented these wonderful things called planes, 100 days is a ridiculous amount of time to keep professional sportsmen away from home.

But India have acted like they never wanted to be here at all. Halfway through the Test series they started saying how it’ll all be different the next time they play Australia at home. What sort of mindset does that reveal?

That’s a rhetorical question but I’ll answer it anyway. It reveals a bunch of players who are feted at home like Bollywood stars, and who don’t have the stomach for a fight overseas. I don’t know, maybe the sheets aren’t folded right in our hotel beds or something.

And to think, earlier this summer, I wrote that India was the new England. I didn’t seriously believe the Border-Gavaskar Trophy would ever replace the Ashes in terms of prestige or hype, but I was incredibly excited about the summer ahead. India hold the World Cup. Their Test team, though thrashed last year in England, would surely lift.

How wrong I was. Unless a mathematical and cricketing miracle occurs, India now won’t even make the finals of the One Day tri-series. That’s says more about lack of desire than lack of talent. Perhaps that very Indian concept of karma is working its magic too.

“Indian summer” is a term which connotes a late, last gasp of warm weather before the cold sets in. Excuse the horribly mangled metaphor, but this Indian summer has been more like a winter of discontent.

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139 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • Little Joe says:

      06:17am | 27/02/12

      It’s finally over!!!

      Maybe everyone will finally believe that Bradman was better that Tendulkar.

      Reply

    • real deal says:

      07:33am | 27/02/12

      For any real appreciater of test cricket there was never any doubt.

    • Andrew says:

      08:59am | 27/02/12

      All but 1.1bn people will anyhow

    • No idea says:

      09:28am | 27/02/12

      Were there ever a suggestion Tendulkar was better than Bradman?? Being a casual cricket viewer, even I know Bradman is on a different level than any other cricketer.

    • Ansh says:

      04:49pm | 15/03/12

      Yeah, 3 test match a year player is better than every other Cricketer on earth.

    • gobsmack says:

      06:32am | 27/02/12

      I agree.  It has been a very disappointing tour by the Indians.  After the Melbourne Test they gave the distinct impression that they would rather be somewhere else.
      I think the Tendulkar dismissal should be seen in the context of the David Hussey incident.  The Australians seem to be developing a knack of getting in the way (there were a couple of other minor incidents).  When these sorts of things happen, my test is to imagine what the reaction would be if the shoe had been on the other foot.  Having said that, I wouldn’t for a minute claim that the Indians personify fair play and sportsmanship.
      PS:  Thanks for the non-Rudd article.

      Reply

    • dukks says:

      08:51am | 27/02/12

      “I wouldn’t for a minute claim that the Indians personify fair play and sportsmanship.”

      The Indian government is corrupt from top to bottom, Indian NGO’s are corrupt throughout, the BCCI, has the stench of corruption about it, the Indian media do very little to bring all of this this corruption into the light of day and the Indian cricket team reflects the basic disposition of their society.

    • Alex of Brisbane says:

      09:26am | 27/02/12

      India fair and reasonable? Ask all the Western contractors who are still to receive payment for their work at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. Some people are owed hundreds of thousands of dollars. From the moment those games finished, the Indian organising committee, and by extension their government, was working to find ways to get out of payment for work that was already completed. The corruption (and blatant arrogance and racism, but that’s for another article) in that country is astonishing.

    • Macca says:

      06:51am | 27/02/12

      Everything about India’s tour as been petulant. A team of such experience should have displayed more professionalism and maturity.

      Good luck to Sri Lanka tomorrow. Their enthusiasm alone will get them into the final with Australia.

      Reply

    • Nexus789 says:

      08:52am | 27/02/12

      Indians are petulant full stop….this crosses over from cricket into other things as well.

    • Dave M says:

      09:58am | 27/02/12

      Just a massive bunch of sooks if you ask me.

      It makes me laugh when they put on their tough guy death stares to the Aussie bowlers when they’re 4 for 80 odd and the game is already over. How embarrassing.

    • Old Man Emu says:

      07:16am | 27/02/12

      India have long been known for their bad sportsmanship and, yes, blatant cheating.

      Originally, they employed umpires who generously gave tourists out and never gave home players out. At least back then, the ICC was stronger than the BCCI and, thus they brought in neutral umpires to prevent India using umpires to cheat for them.

      Then there was the famous Sydney test 4 years ago, when Indian captain Anil Kumble complained that Australia had appealed too often and celebrated too vigorously after their great win. This was the same match where Kumble appealed almost every ball that hit the pads and even some that did not. In fact, at one stage Kumble appealed for LBW against Brad Hogg even after the ball had rushed through the covers for 4 off the middle of the bat.

      Whilst Kumble was an inarguable hyprocrit and cheat, he also captained and goaded on Harbhajan Singh, whose racist taunts against Andrew Symonds (which were also mirrored by the Indian crowds) should have seen him receive a lengthy ban. Instead, the Indians played the dispicable race card to get him off. And the ICC, drunk with Indian money, just let it ride.

      Yesterday’s was a good example of the Indian attitude. When David Hussey was rightly given not out, the Indians bayed and screamed like children. Despite the fact that Hussey was well within his rights to protect his body. It looked bad in slow motion, but when played at full speed it was an obvious instant reaction at a ball coming toward him. In fact, at full speed, you can’t even tell what had happened.

      Then there was Tendulkar’s crying fit. The fact is, if he had’ve put in half the effort he made complaining about the decision into making his ground, he would’ve got home comfortably. All he was looking for was an excuse and he kinda got one, so he opted for that instead of trying to make his ground.

      The BCCI has too much power in cricket (decision review system), but unfortunately they also have a negative impact on the way the game is played. Just look at Virat Kohli - a good player no doubt, but a sub-standard human being who has been brought up to beleive he is a God when really he’s just a wanker with a piece of wood in his hand. Australian cricket would be better off without India for at least a decade.

      Reply

    • K says:

      08:29am | 27/02/12

      “Just look at Virat Kohli - a good player no doubt, but a sub-standard human being who has been brought up to beleive he is a God when really he’s just a wanker with a piece of wood in his hand.”

      That is gonna make me laugh all day! Cheers Old Man Emu

    • gobsmack says:

      08:45am | 27/02/12

      @Old Man Emu
      I would agree with most of what you have said except the David Hussey incident.
      Take off your eye-patch and have another look at the replay.
      Firstly, Hussey was watching the fieldsman from half way down his run.  Once a batsman commits to a risky single, his focus should be solely on the other end of the pitch and his only thought should be running fast enough to get there.
      Secondly, he wasn’t protecting his body.  His arm was outstretched in front of him.  In any case, batsmen routinely take body blows if necessary to protect their wickets.
      Mark Taylor, Ian Chappell and Tony Greig have each stated that he should have been out.
      Like I said in my post above, if it had of been an Indian who handled the ball, people like you would have been the first to complain.
      BTW, I thought Kohli was one of the few Indians to show a bit of fight and determination in the Tests.  Your comment about “a wanker with a piece of wood” could be applied to any number of batsmen.

    • Andrew says:

      09:05am | 27/02/12

      @gobsmack, the sole determinant of whether Hussey should be out is the Laws of Cricket (C) MCC - at least where there is no overriding playing condition. If commentators are unfamiliar with the Laws, then that’s the least surprising event since Kevin Rudd thinking he would make a better PM than anyone else. That does not make Hussey out. Nor does LOOKING at the fieldsman appear in Law 33. And just because batsmen routinely take body blows doesn’t mean the Law REQUIRES them to. Hussey is perfectly entitled to handle the ball in protection against an incoming throw. He can’t be Obstructing since he didn’t change his line and the Law carves out Handled Ball incidents, and self-evidently Law 33(2) describes exactly what happened. He’s not out.

    • George says:

      09:56am | 27/02/12

      Australian cricket will be poorer ‘without India for at least a decade’ - matches against India provide key financial support for Cricket Australia - which go to paying million dollar salaries for Australian cricketers and supports grassroots cricket in Australia - so don’t bite the hands that feed you.

    • gobsmack says:

      09:58am | 27/02/12

      @Andrew
      Yes, maybe the letter of the law is what saved Hussey’s skin.
      If you consider horse racing, it is actually disadvantageous to have horses looking sideways while they’re running (which is why they but the blinkers on those that do).  Once committed to the single, the only conceivable advantage to Hussey in watching the fieldsman was to engage in the lawful practice of placing the body between the throw and the stumps.  He was too short of ground to do that, so up went the hand instead.
      You can argue legal technicalities if you want, I’m talking here about sportmanship.

    • andrew says:

      10:19am | 27/02/12

      Rule 33(1)
      Either batsman is out Handled the ball if he wilfully touches the ball while in play with a hand or hands not holding the bat unless he does so with the consent of the opposing side.

      It is pretty clear from Rule 33(1), D Hussy should have been given out. 

      However:
      A batsman is not out if: 33(2) He handles the ball in order to avoid injury

      I think this is where things get a bit grey. 

      I can appreciate that he was (likely) trying to protect oneself and it probably was a natural instinct, but it just didn’t look good that he put his hand/arm out stretched out they way he did. 

      I would have had no problem with D Hussey been given out and I have no problem with him given not out.

    • Greg says:

      11:01am | 27/02/12

      The Hussey incident was referred to the third umpire, so it’s safe to assume that he should not have been given out according to the written laws of the game.

      Nevertheless, it was a borderline issue.

      Maybe there needs to be a team reprimand, sort of like soccer’s yellow card, where the umpires believe that a player has pushed the boundaries of sportsmanship. Then, if another incident should arise from the reprimanded team, then the benefit of the doubt should favour the other team.

      I didn’t have any problem with the Tendular run out though. Brett Lee was watching the ball and not the batsman, and could not have known where he was. In fact, if Lee had continued to chase the ball, he would have forced Tendulkar wider.

    • J Lee says:

      04:17pm | 27/02/12

      here!here!!! old man emu,  spot on

    • antman says:

      06:05pm | 28/02/12

      Where? Where? J Lee?

    • Seamus says:

      07:20am | 27/02/12

      I hope someone gave them a dummy to take home with them.

      Reply

    • Jay says:

      07:30am | 27/02/12

      I watched the Test matches Indioa played against the Windies before they came to Australia. They played on the low slow Indian wickets against an ordinary team and they looked old and tired. it summed up how they would peform in Australia. The Indina Crciket Board needs to make some big changes, but dollars and political influence will always have be the overriding factor.

      Reply

    • n_dude says:

      03:02pm | 28/02/12

      Very true. I remember the Head of the BCCI saying after the series loss that India would flog Australia at home. Says a lot about their attitude really. If you can’t win abroad you will never be number 1 in tests.

    • Tubesteak says:

      07:40am | 27/02/12

      We’ve seen some brilliant games and some brilliant innings this summer. Both in test, ODI and Twenty20.

      Earlier this summer I said that ODIs might die in favour of Twenty20 and that we might as well accept that. But some of these games have been so tight (winning off the second last ball with a big over including a six!) that I now believe the game might continue.

      We have been treated to a thrilling summer. Maybe the best in a few years. There has been controversy over on-field incidents (even Hussey had a bit of controversy yesterda) and off-field argy-bargy over who should remain in the team.

      yes, India has been somewhat disappointing. They aklways have been in Oz. But whatagame!

      Reply

    • rudy says:

      02:04pm | 27/02/12

      That Sri Lanka game on Friday was exciting at the finish, but the other ODIs I’ve watched this summer (including Australia v India last night) have been dull, with the result obvious long before the scheduled end. I switched them off.

    • JRM says:

      07:41am | 27/02/12

      You have to acknowledge that the Husesy and Tendular incidents can be looked at either way. But someone has to make a definitive judgement. Enter the umpire.

      Neither piece could be judged without use of video replay. And India don’t want that technology.  So the decision as made in each on raw first viewing at full speed simply stands.  If you don’t want DRS -  don’t whine about what replays show later either.

      Reply

    • AFR says:

      09:16am | 27/02/12

      Hussey’s was simply a reaction to a ball about to hit him. With Tendulkar, sure, Lee might have get on the way, but if Teldulkar had remotely made an effort he would have been home comfortably. My 63 year old father in the stands watching with me would have completed that run.

    • sunny says:

      07:44am | 27/02/12

      “they started saying how it’ll all be different the next time they play Australia at home. What sort of mindset does that reveal?” it’s a mind set that Australia would never have if they were playing in India, no matter what the pitch or conditions. I think you’re right it’s like they were having a big sook (maybe a few individual exceptions including Rahul Dravid - he’s one of the Indian players that can be admired for his attitude).

      Reply

    • rudy says:

      01:57pm | 27/02/12

      Dravid can be admired for his attitude maybe, but not for his batting ability on Australian pitches.

    • Ted says:

      07:47am | 27/02/12

      Arrogance - simple really, it has been an issue for years with Indian cricket and it looks like the tradition continues with Kohli.

      Reply

    • Mahhrat says:

      08:00am | 27/02/12

      You’re right Ant, though I think we’re describing the symptom not the cause.

      The thing that struck me about the Indians this summer is the lack of professionalism.

      I’m starting to get the impression that they are deliberately focussing on nothing but T20.  The BCCI (or whatever the Indian board is today) is focussed on it; it suits them for whatever reasons (perhaps culturally? I don’t know).

      Given their imbalanced power in the sport right now, they’re using this sort of thing to bring to try and end any form of cricket that isn’t T20.  They’re simply not interested in the levels of preparedness and dedication that test or even 50 over cricket requires.

      Of course, what’s more likely to happen is that in spite of them having all the $$, they’ll not have the success anywhere abroad.  At some point, international teams will tire of inviting India to their shores, if what we’ve seen this summer is the kind of effort they’re going to put in, and while India will always offer players 8 week’s work for half a million dollars, those same players will simply leave afterwards.

      India will be left with nothing but an IPL, with no countries really bothering to visit with their national sides since it’s been shown to be occasionally dangerous and the Indians are apparently indifferent to the whole thing anyway.

      At that point, the rest of us will simply run our own competitions and largely ignore the Indian’s IPL.

      A touch dramatic I grant you, but I don’t think we’re so addicted to their $$ that we’ll happily sacrifice our own domestic scenes.  I submit the Big Bash as an example.

      Reply

    • Mark of Brisbane says:

      09:30am | 27/02/12

      The problem is Mahhrat that Cricket Australia only makes money when two teams tour here, being England and India. The amazing thing is CA makes four times as much money when India tours as they do when England comes here for the Ashes! Therefore having India tour here actually subsidises having teams such as South Africa, Pakistan, NZ, and the West Indies playing tests here. Just a fact of life.

    • thatmosis says:

      08:07am | 27/02/12

      Couldnt have happened to a better man or team. The Little Master Ball Tamperer (google it) failed and failed miserably. The high expectations of the Indian people were again not realised as the conditions here didnt suit his style of play. Its painfully obvious to all but the most ardent fan that India cant play away from the flat dusty pitches of the sub continent and Im actually surprised they havent tried to use their money pulling power to play all games there. Good bye and good riddance. And watch out fot Kholi who is beginning to believe he is gods gift to cricket, petulant little pup.

      Reply

    • Michael says:

      09:04am | 27/02/12

      They’re not actually doing too badly on the ‘playing all games in India’ front.  India don’t play a Test series outside of India until December 2013, and don’t play an ODI series abroad until July 2013.

    • Shane says:

      08:13am | 27/02/12

      After all the time, money and deliberate planning spent by the ICC and the BCCI to get India to the top of the test rankings, you think they’d conduct themselves with a little more style and grace and a little less arrogance. And perhaps, a little more skill. Except for 2 or 3 players, they’ve rarely troubled anyone - even Sri Lanka.

      It’s ok to have self belief, but when it’s mistakenly fed from ego and delusion it’s a dangerous mix.

      Reply

    • Ashok Veetil says:

      08:30pm | 27/02/12

      Shane, get your house in order first up….even Sri lanka, is it? How has the Aussie team performed against the Lankans? Don’t gloat over the wins over a sub par team that has been India but learn to make an honest assessment into how fragile this super hyped Australian team is?

    • Kat says:

      08:33am | 27/02/12

      Yup, good riddance !  And they can take up soccer after the way the two of them fell ‘heavily’ to the ground after SOFTLY touching each other when running to catch out Warner, what a bunch of boys - certainly not MEN !!  Memo to the Daily Telegraph - it was NOT a ‘nasty collision’, stop babying them, they get enough of that at home…

      Reply

    • thatmosis says:

      09:42am | 27/02/12

      Now that you come to mention it it was reminiscint of the Italian Diving Team when they beat Australia in the Football, very astute observation.

    • Tator says:

      09:44am | 27/02/12

      I’ve seen bigger hits dished out in Peewee Ice Hockey and both parties just get up and keep playing( and that is just the girls who are playing in our mixed comp), are they cricketers or are they soccer players????

    • Ben C says:

      10:29am | 27/02/12

      I haven’t seen the collision, but I would doubt that it was as heavy as Steve Waugh and Jason Gillespie.

    • pete says:

      08:40am | 27/02/12

      “he has been almost exclusively unavailable for media conferences. That’s not a journalist’s whinge. It’s a lament on behalf of fans everywhere who’d like to hear from their hero after the odd game.”

      Really? I think it’s a journalist’s whinge. Fans these days are bored with stupid questions and dullard answers. No insight is ever achieved in press conferences. You shouldn’t pretend fans are desperate to hear people talk. They’re interested in the action.

      Reply

    • Rick of the Dustbowl says:

      08:49am | 27/02/12

      Great, I can’t wait to get in a taxi and ask the driver how the cricket went. Here’s another Aussie saying you may have to explain in India….....shit stir.

      Reply

    • Shane says:

      09:01am | 27/02/12

      I hope it’s not a late night Melbourne trip, or you may well find yourself driven up to Mernda and kicked out wink

    • Josh says:

      08:50am | 27/02/12

      The Bangaldeshi’s would have been a better competitor’s, than this rabble.

      I hope Dhoni is fined for a his little whinge in the presser. Yes, D.Hussey should have been given out and yes Tendulkar was run out.

      Reply

    • Kitten says:

      08:55am | 27/02/12

      They are treated like GODS in India, the performance of the team can affect their economy.  The cricketers and the bollywood stars are bigger than anyone/anything in india.  They are treated like ordinary cricketers in the rest of the world and they cant cope with being normal after being treated like gods and they act like spoilt kids who dont get what they want.

      Reply

    • cc says:

      09:20am | 27/02/12

      I wouldn’t be too quick to hail cricinfo. One of their ‘respected’ journalists is now hinting that India’s woes might be the fault of Duncan Fletcher! Not sure how a coach - in the job for less than 12 months - can be responsible for a circus that has continued for at least the last 30 years I’ve been watching cricket. I’ve no doubt India’s problems are cultural.

      And very disappointed with Tendulkar this summer. I thought he was the one gentleman on the Indian team. Alas, he has shown himself to be just another self-absorbed, arrogant little wanker.

      Reply

    • Mark says:

      09:32am | 27/02/12

      Indian cricket is like the kid down the street when you were growing up that had every piece of cricket equipment available, the very best brands but none of the talent to go with it. That kid could never deal with having no talent and would sook up an go home whenever he was out. After a while, you would just stop playing with him because it was too painful. Perhaps the same fete awaits India.

      Reply

    • Dave M says:

      10:42am | 27/02/12

      @Mark

      Sounds like my brother and I playing backyard cricket as kids. The only way to get him to play was let him bat first. I’d bowl nonstop for an hour or so while he intentionally edged everything through to the invisible wicky and slips cordon just for fun (he loved it). It was sometimes hours before I got a bat. Once it was my turn at the crease, he’d come thundering down the driveway in a rage launching headhunting bouncers every delivery of the first over. Second over I would finally connect with one of his wild deliveries and dispatch it for 6 (over the side fence which the bowler had to retrieve) and the tears would begin. He’d have a massive dummy spit and run inside to watch tele and that would be the “match”.

    • NigelC says:

      10:58am | 27/02/12

      They’re having a fete? I hope there are lamingtons.

    • Gandhi says:

      10:29am | 27/02/12

      this article is not about Indian politics or about corruption. so please leave your comments for some other day and talking about politics your country ain’t any better oops what about your own Labour party (‘Aussie aye mate’)
      get a life…

      Reply

    • lee says:

      10:48am | 27/02/12

      LOL, troll alert much?

    • Gandhi says:

      11:07am | 27/02/12

      @ Lee .... you are eight wonder of world mate…

    • Shay says:

      11:26am | 27/02/12

      @ lee ...redneck..alert

    • Mark of Brisbane says:

      11:39am | 27/02/12

      Actually, Australia is ranked as one of the least corrupt countries on the world. Face it India, when it comes to corruption and racism, you are a world leader.

    • Gandhi says:

      12:08pm | 27/02/12

      @ Mark .. look who is talking .. word racism should be on your national flag mate.. ask any (’ aboriginal’)  ..Face it bud..

    • Mark of Brisbane says:

      12:29pm | 27/02/12

      Seriously, Gandhi, there are maybe half a dozen nations on Earth that can claim the racial acceptance that is found in Australia. Even that could be a stretch. India? Puh-lease. Oh, by the way, I lived in India, I saw the disgusting racial vilification first hand. You could only wish you had acceptance of races, religions and cultures that Australia extends.

    • kev says:

      12:50pm | 27/02/12

      @gandhi - Don’t even try to pull up Aborigine issues because everyone knows that Aborigines play the race card on many contentious issues and it does nothing but kill off any debate.

      As for your side Indians are nothing but professional whingers. Every time you lot tour Australia all I ever hear is petulant whines about everything under the sun from the pitch conditions to umpiring decisions. Then to top it all off as usual if you lot find that you are copping a right royal whack in the media you pull out the race card as the cop out defense.

    • Gandhi says:

      12:55pm | 27/02/12

      @ Mark..
      now you are making fool of yourself so please.get your facts right and then we will talk..

    • Lee says:

      01:33pm | 27/02/12

      LOL redneck? Eighth Wonder? Seriously, lighten up! This article was about the Indian Cricket clearly not wanting to be here, its not something new in fact it gets talked about a lot in pub circles.

      PS dont call people “mate” when they are clearly not.

    • Gandhi says:

      01:55pm | 27/02/12

      @ Lee..

      I was expecting mate’s rate of ya bud.. you disappoint me :(

    • Viceroy says:

      10:58am | 27/02/12

      Indians are just not great sports people. They just do not have much fight in them. Any wonder the British lorded it over them for centuries.

      Reply

    • Niceroy says:

      11:10am | 27/02/12

      yeah right .. we still are World Champions smile bahaha

    • Ben C says:

      11:35am | 27/02/12

      @ Niceroy

      Come back and say that when you finally win something outside of the subcontinent.

    • Kika says:

      03:19pm | 27/02/12

      The British are still lording it over us, who are we to speak??

    • Steve Putnam says:

      05:43pm | 29/02/12

      @ Viceroy You are obviously unaware of the fact that Indian troops were the only ones to fight their way to the top of the heights at Gallipoli.

    • Mona says:

      11:05am | 27/02/12

      These comments are so racist. Australians are soar losers too. Look at your own sporting history. Besides don’t talk about Bollywood, Bret lee is seen singing with Bollywood singers on the stage. What a bunch of crap.

      Reply

    • Mona says:

      11:06am | 27/02/12

      These comments are so racist. Australians are soar losers too. Look at your own sporting history. Besides don’t talk about Bollywood, Bret lee is seen singing with Bollywood singers on the stage. What a bunch of crap.

      Reply

    • Bretto says:

      11:24am | 27/02/12

      Mate congratulations on initiating another race debate that has nothing to do with the issue you profess to write about, cricket. And no doubt you’ve caught the attention of the bogan, ignorant class who use this as a platform to vent their racist sentiments.

      Reply

    • Mark of Brisbane says:

      12:00pm | 27/02/12

      or balance the anti-Australian rubbish that appears regularly. Seemingly it is all OK to make ignorant comments about Australia, but when it is dished out to India for their disgraceful corruption and race record, people you like you bring out the’ red-neck’ term. I am sure it is nice and comfortable in your world of ignorance.

    • hearsay says:

      08:58pm | 27/02/12

      @ Bretto

      Thank you (and to the others who voice the same sentiments as you) to somebody with common sense, logic and an open mind ! This is the Australia I like to say im a part of.

      Viceroy - you’re a joke amongst other things.

    • Dan Webster says:

      11:39am | 27/02/12

      Crap at cricket, crap at driving taxis, crap at managing 7-11 stores and always annoying when they ring you at dinner time (un-invited) offering the latest mobile phone deal.

      See-ya next time, ya sooks.

      Just stirring!!, I thought the series was good with lots of tension.
      ( I hope to travel to India one day as it has plenty of history)

      Reply

    • Gandhi says:

      12:01pm | 27/02/12

      two things you guys are good for Beer n BBQ .. rest the world knows your economy is going down the drain, all your big companies are going off shore,your big plants are closing door on your face and god only know what will happen to your land the day INDIA AND CHINA gives ya taste of your own medicine…...

    • IndianWarrior says:

      12:02pm | 27/02/12

      Hey Dan
      You couldn’t keep the discussion on the topic, could ya mate.
      How about this:- Aussies-sooks while playing cricket ; behaving like drunk, retards in taxis and crap at running their own country(Juia-Rudd..lolz).. Mate get a taste of your own medicine. Enjoy with your head buried in the sand mate.

      I am not finished yet….Just stirring. I think Sri lanka will win the series and I hope to travel Australia one day as it has plenty of rednecks and bull-shit artists.

    • Ando says:

      01:39pm | 27/02/12

      Ghandi,
      Can’t you see you are guilty of exactly what you accuse others of doing. I assume the majority of Indians along with the majority of Australians see no use in name calling and generalizing. You and Dan are as bad as each other.

    • IndianWarrior says:

      11:51am | 27/02/12

      AProud Indian
      It is not surprising to see so many biased comments.Agreed Indians have faltered and that too in a big way, but some of the comments are totally loads of crap. Aussies are as big a sooks as anyone out there especially when losing. The so called the big Aussie toughness vanishes into thin air at the first sign of defeat or counter aggression. They then try to veil their bad attitude and unsporstmanship with rubbish terms such as Sledging etc.
      All teams have their good and bad points but what really puts me off is the Ausies taking a high moral ground on as if they are epitomes of good behavior. Wake up people and give balanced opinions, no need to be jingoistic just for the heck of it.

      Reply

    • SimonFromLakemba says:

      12:02pm | 27/02/12

      Good post bud, agree with it.

    • Blair says:

      12:06pm | 27/02/12

      Agreed. No-one in their right mind could argue that India has been appalling this tour, both on and off the field. But Australia is no better than anyone else when it comes to poor sportsmanship and handing defeat badly. By all means, roast the Indians. They deserve it. But don’t pretend that they’re the only ones who fall short deportment-wise.

    • me my mo says:

      02:15pm | 27/02/12

      It’s hilarious. There is pretty much a mirror of this discussion going on in a few Indian news websites; similar comments & inverted opinions. Both nations are as bad as each other when it comes to sports.

    • BrownAussie of melbourne says:

      04:35pm | 27/02/12

      Yean but we’ve got the bragging rights mate. Bring some game and you can also enjoy reading good things about your team. Australian team gets criticised by us, their own supporters, and that’s the difference. Indian supporters like you overlook the problems and that’s why the Indian team is where it is today.

    • Blair says:

      11:51am | 27/02/12

      Australian crowds always respect visiting champions? Wonder if Sir Richard Hadlee shares your view. Otherwise, couldn’t agree more about India. Absolutely spineless performance.

      Reply

    • Justin says:

      01:08pm | 27/02/12

      the chants to Hadlee were actually a back-handed compliment to one of the best players to visit these shores. Wally Lewis faced exactly the same chants from NSW crowds during Rugby League matches. I am not saying it was right, but it was reserved for someone that the crowds ‘feared’ beacuse of their supreme skills.

    • Blair says:

      01:20pm | 27/02/12

      Man, it’s an excellent point and I see where you’re coming from. I guess my point is that respect tends to be in the eye of the recipient, not the person dishing it out, and backhanded respect doesn’t always endear or come across as respect. I’m not saying it’s right either, and I’m certainly not saying any other country gets to be too sanctimonious about it. Trust me, as a Kiwi, I’m constantly appalled and embarrassed about the over-the-top, humourless bullshit surrounding the All Blacks.

    • TheRealDave says:

      03:24pm | 27/02/12

      Exactly right. While we sat on the hill chanting at Richard Hadlee, Ian Botham, Imran Khan, Viv Richards etc we loved them for the cham,pions and competitirs they were. Look at how Tendlkan was given standing applauses every time he walked off the pitch. We love a champion - even one from the opposing side. We may chant and call them wankers when they are competing against our team but we always give em a cheer when they walk off the field.

      I think you’ll find the average Aussie cricket fan absolutley loves watching those same blokes when they are on fire on the field. Even to our own detriment.

    • Farken says:

      11:58am | 27/02/12

      will we ever get a tour by the Indian cricket side where they don’t whine and will we ever get a tour by the Indian side where the Indian press has not vilified the Australian side and the umpires

      Reply

    • Rose Bush says:

      12:04pm | 27/02/12

      Indians in general who don’t get their way get hysterical and say people are racists which is usually directed to Australians when graft and corruption don’t work here.

      Reply
    • Anthony Sharwood

      Anthony Sharwood says:

      12:11pm | 27/02/12

      OK everybody, hear this and hear it good. Some of the comments here are veering towards unacceptable. I’ve been personally moderating this thread and to date, I have not deleted any comments. But I will start doing so if we continue to get into nasty racial vilification territory.

      It’s obviously fine to talk about the behaviour of both the Indian and Australian cricket teams, but it is definitely not OK to start making generalisations about Australians and Indians. We cool?

      Reply

    • Farken says:

      12:21pm | 27/02/12

      so its ok to state the obvious but not to name names ok im sweet with that i’ll try not to do that in the future

    • Blair says:

      12:25pm | 27/02/12

      I’ll admit I raised my eyebrows at the bit about Australian crowds always respecting visiting champions ... but then that’s because NO country is across-the-board great in that area. Otherwise, a good read.

      And on the ugly comments about race ... agreed. This has nothing to do with race and everything to do with a shabby performance by a team crammed with players capable of much better.

    • Mark of Brisbane says:

      12:32pm | 27/02/12

      Wow, from the guy who vilified Christians who dare express themselves? Wow, its brown shirts and jackboots from Anthony for some and ‘let’s ease up its just a sports column’ for others hey Anthony?

    • Stones says:

      12:22pm | 27/02/12

      Whilst, everything you say may be true, I fail to see the point and purpose of your article.

      Tuning on the Indian team, as a host nation, also can’t be seen as to support the spirit of cricket.  Then, to invite the blogging community from the punch (who, lets face it, are hardly immune from the mob mentality) for a free kick, is pretty poor form. 

      No doubt there’s lamentable performances, from both sides to analyse and review, but to put it a way portrays our international guests as children that we can’t wait to see the back of (whether you believe it or not), is hardly responsible journalism, and will only serve to continue the bitterness on the next tour.

      Reply

    • Proud Indian says:

      12:41pm | 27/02/12

      Why do Australians go and play in IPL and when almost every single comment on this article criticises Indians and Indian Cricket.

      Reply

    • rudy says:

      02:00pm | 27/02/12

      Money. No other reason.

      So Indian cricket has the most money. Can you show us evidence that all the money is doing the sport of cricket much good in India?

    • Uttkarsh says:

      12:46pm | 27/02/12

      Amazing to see so much hatred towards the whole country based on a team of 11! Is it just because of the cricket or the outsourcing….I am Indian living in Aus for almost a decade now and gladly havent met any of yous who assume things about a country based on a sporting team travelling. Based on this I imagine how would Aus reflect if we look at Warnies affair with liz, Clarke with bingle, Nixon affair, Pointings black eye outside a pub, finger pokings at wrong places in the league..and the list goes on. Once again I love Aus as much as Ind and I think ppl should not jump to conclusions about any country so quickly as in this global world you never know when you will have to deal with them. Now lets get back to interesting story this summer of Rudd vs JuLiarrr..

      Reply

    • Hooch says:

      02:52pm | 27/02/12

      I agree, I live in aus now but have spent about 6 weeks in the mid 80’s in mumbia when my parents where workng there.  All I heard about was the sport of cricket.
      no team is blameless when it comes to bad/unsportsmanlike behavour, ponting, warne et al where all famous for on field and off field behavour (tv smashing) but at the end of the day its only a game.  A game we love and get passionate about, just don’t let this passion degenerate into racial vilification.  we have been there once with the symonds affair and that left a bad taste in everyones mouth and I personally don’t want to see it again.
      I just want to see good games

    • Belly says:

      02:52pm | 27/02/12

      How would Australia reflect if we looked at Warney going out with Liz Hurley and Clarke going out with Lara Bingle? Quite well I would have thought, if you’re into that sorta thing…

    • Bazooka says:

      12:56pm | 27/02/12

      Your Banks are run overseas, Your communication is run overseas, Your Cricketers Play for overseas teams more than they play in Oz…
      You are just a cute lil Puppy of US who is trained to do as Master desires.
      LOL,,,  if it wasn’t for Centrelink!!!!!!

      Reply

    • Gandhi says:

      01:05pm | 27/02/12

      Bravo Bravo Bravo !!!

    • Bazooka says:

      01:17pm | 27/02/12

      @Gandhi
      pls go to sleep raspberry

    • Nature Boy says:

      01:30pm | 27/02/12

      Still whipped your countries ass.

      Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

    • alto says:

      03:20pm | 27/02/12

      Bazooka:  And at least the Australian team can play cricket overseas. Australia has won several series in India. India has yet to win one in Australia.

      I could mention a few other things like crippling poverty, the caste system, sectarian violence and a hare-filled, nuclear-armed neighbour promoting terrorist attacks. Nothing much to be smug about, in other words.

    • Bazooka says:

      04:41pm | 27/02/12

      Alto
      There is poverty I agree, there is caste sytem I agree but that is India for U.
      We are still a Asia-pacific region superpower inspite of all this. U need us more than we need U. Whether its sending Ur jobs to us overseas or hiring our nationals to work big and small jobs within Australia itself.
      Talking about Nuclear armed neighbours, we can protect ourselves mate and dont need to lick up Americas arse like UR country does.

      Talking about cricket, we won last 2 Border-Gavaskar trophys and should have won last time we were in Oz. But the cheats played their cards and the entire world knows that. We performed pretty well in SouthAfrica as well last season, almost winning the series there.. What time your team do there? created history for one of the lowest batting totals? lol
      Wait till ur team comes to India now….

    • alto says:

      09:56pm | 27/02/12

      A few home truths, Bazooka. India has received US aid, including military aid, for over 50 years. Australia has never needed overseas aid. Think there’s no strings attached to the US aid India receives? Wanna rethink that ‘ass-licking’ comment?

      Yes, we in australia so need you Indians to drive taxis and serve in petrol stations here. None of us want to do those jobs.

      You mention Australia’s cricket tour of South Africa. 2 tests. Result 1-1.

      You mention cheats in cricket. Which country of India and Australia has had a cricket captain rubbed out for match-fixing? Clue: Not Australia.

      And again - which of the two countries has NEVER won a test series in the other country? Clue: oh, never mind. I guess if India can beat Australia 4:0 and every win a big one, you can boast. Till then, better to stow it.

    • Road Dogg says:

      01:12pm | 27/02/12

      Overall India have been massively disappointing.

      What I have enjoy though this summer has been Australia finally embracing the amount of young talent we have coming through and being rewarded for doing that.

      Whilst it would be nice to have someone like Ponting go out on his own terms IMO all teams should be selected on form. Reputation and previous performances should only be considered when it’s a toss up as to who to pick.

      PS. Bring on the NRL. Go the Knights and whoever is playing Manly (now there’s a bunch of sooks that make India look stoic).

      Reply

    • Cricket lover says:

      02:17pm | 27/02/12

      Nice taste in league teams there, Doggy! Anyone who plays Manly has my support smile

    • Cricket lover says:

      01:29pm | 27/02/12

      Ok Anthony - you step in and state that racism won’t be tolerated. I guess you just meant any negative comments from Australians huh? Coz I’m seeing a lot of vitriolic, biased rubbish on here from the Indian supporters.

      Fair’s fair - moderate ALL the comments, not just the anti-Indian ones.

      Reply

    • Jocko Stayne says:

      02:11pm | 27/02/12

      Old Man Emu to replace JamesSutherland!

      Reply

    • rudy says:

      02:14pm | 27/02/12

      It seems to me the Indian team has been let down by their batters, too many of whom are overpaid and have overstayed. Their records and longevity is propped up by the batting paradises of the Indian home pitches, and they just cannot cut it overseas.

      Memo to Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman, Sehwag and even Dhoni (also Australia’s Ponting, M Hussey and Haddin): even the best batters should retire by age 35 unless they’re Bradman, in which case it’s 38.

      Reply

    • Jimmy the Hand says:

      02:16pm | 27/02/12

      Australia is the single most unsportsman like country on the planet so pretty rich to be calling others so.  Even this article going on the full frontal attack demostates a detestable inability to win with humility.

      Reply

    • alto says:

      02:45pm | 27/02/12

      On the contrary, the article shows that Australians want to win, but wants worthy opponents. An opponent full of overpaid superstars who demonstrably aren’t trying hard enough is an insult.

    • Kika says:

      02:54pm | 27/02/12

      Exactly. Pathetic attitude. Shameful. It’s supposed to be a gentleman’s game.

    • kev says:

      03:45pm | 27/02/12

      Oh shut up. Being driven to win doesn’t make you unsportsman like. India have done nothing but whinge this entire tour and they may have had more success had they put half as much time into preparing for games and looking at their on field problems after losses. Every incident involving Australia and India has always resulted with people like you blaming Australia for being unsportsman like and yet you casually ignore India’s role in it.

    • In_the_name_of_peace says:

      02:20pm | 27/02/12

      Chill out people ..Chill out India ..Chill out Australia..Chill out Gillard..Chill out Rudd.
      Gosh whats with every one now days. The Human race is surely on a path of self destruction with so much hatred.
      For God sake its just a bloody game of cricket….get over it, give peace a chance.

      Reply

    • Bruno says:

      02:22pm | 27/02/12

      ‘That’s not a journalist’s whinge’ - isn’t there a saying about if you have to say something isn’t then it is. Well if there isn’t a saying there should be. A sports fan that wants to see there sports heroes talk rather than play is not a fan but a groupie. Your readers in particular sound upset that India is the authoritative cricket nation now and their influence is spreading to other areas. Something about the shoe being on the foot. Alot of your readers would do well to spend a few months in the slums. They would come out better people, the ones tough enough to survive that is.

      Reply

    • Hari says:

      02:32pm | 27/02/12

      As an Indian fan, I agree with your argument Anthony.  This series has been a massive let down and the attitude of the Indian players has been appalling both on and off the pitch.  Look no further than Sehwag’s pathetic comments after the whitewash was completed in Adelaide.  He and a few others in the squad are looking squarely in the rearview mirror and need to be moved on quickly.

      Anthony, regarding some of the comments on here, what do you expect with a headline screaming “Good riddance India, and don’t forget to slam the door.” I think your sub-ed ought to think carefully about headlines like this which are bound to fan the flames. Regardless, I’m sure half of these commenters haven’t even been to the cricket once this summer. Sharing a beer with Australian fans as we digested the action was common place. The mood at the grounds has hardly matched some of the precious, anonymous squawking on blogs such as these.

      Reply

    • only a teacher says:

      03:01pm | 27/02/12

      looking at each player trying their best to get the other side out or score against the opposing side we see so much in their behavior . Brett Lee makes it a habit of standing in the path of the Batsmen who are hell bent on making a run . Yes his focus is on the ball but he stands not behind the stumps but in the pathway of running Batsman may be such obstructions are valid and within the rules of cricket.Such is sports these days   the law that matters but they are all good sportsmen or are they ? those who provoke and those who whinge. I cannot understand this commentator hype about about using the yardstick of Bradman’s performance to evaluate Tendulkar   ? Why cannot Tendulkar play cricket his way like Gary Sobers and Richards or Brian Lara and be judged accordingly . Even school boys do not like to be compared to their big brothers .

      Reply

    • DFP says:

      03:05pm | 27/02/12

      Yes, the Dismissal was a non-Issue… ..and yes, he was out by the Laws of Cricket….But is it acceptable for a Bowler intentionally or not,  to be wherever he likes in the playing field…is this acceptable???...Any Bowler can just block or trip the runner (Even Unintentionally) and he gets out…. is that acceptable??? Are we talking about Cricket or Rugby here???

      Reply

    • Laws of cricket says:

      04:04pm | 27/02/12

      Most Australians wouldn’t blame themselves. They have got the best - players, umpires, pitches etc. If they can’t be having things in their favour, it is probably because the opposition had done something wrong.
      Even an idiot knows that Hussey handled the ball and despite his intentions -he is OUT. The umpires are ensuring that Aus does not lose their way to the finals.
      Huh.. I even coined the word “hussey” meaning to stretch out your hand and block the ball going towards the stumps.
      As the country, where underarm bowling was invented to win at any cost, I am not surprised, the “hussey” has also been added to the list.
      Hope SL does a lot of “husseys” in their game against Aus too.

      Reply

    • Rob says:

      04:33pm | 27/02/12

      Wow so much racism here, doesn’t need to about about this. It’s simple, India have had a poor tour of Australia (they suck) and look like their hearts were just not in it from day one. Tendulkar barely posted a score the entire summer - pretty useless for such an ex classy batsman.

      As far as bad sports go, no one likes losing but no need to be racist about it. Pity about so many Australian spectators etc harrassing them.

      Reply

    • The radical feminist says:

      05:27pm | 27/02/12

      Nobody ever thought that Sachin Tendulkar would score his one hundredth one hundred on this Australian Tour ! He is the Kevin Rudd of cricket!
      Big reputation, big history, big future but no performance when needed!

      Reply

    • Arup says:

      08:33pm | 27/02/12

      Absolutely. Only thing is your post should have appeared on 27/11/2011

    • steve of wa says:

      06:06pm | 27/02/12

      Please bring on the football, then all this crap will be over and one with…

      Reply

    • Arup says:

      07:31pm | 27/02/12

      Dear Anthony, along with Malcom Conn you are now the most-respected India-baiter.

      Reply

    • Ashok Veetil says:

      08:22pm | 27/02/12

      Pity this newspaper and the bias of the editors and the sub-editors: when we post articles, this is what we see:
      “Thank you for your comment. Please note that we are not able to publish all the comments that we receive, and that we may edit some comments to ensure their suitability for publishing. Feedback will be rejected if it does not add to a debate, or is a purely personal attack, or is offensive, repetitious, illegal or meaningless, or contains clear errors of fact. Although we try to run feedback just as it is received, we reserve the right to edit or delete any and all material.”

      What I read here is pure racism and purely a personal attack against an entire nation….and just because their cricket team failed to live up to their pre-tour hype. Sorry, but am yet to ever come across such hypocrisy.

      Reply

    • hearsay says:

      08:41pm | 27/02/12

      “Bad sportsmanship ?” “Rude ?” “Inhospitable?” Take a look around folks. The only sooks I’m seeing here are the ones complaining, whinging and carrying on as if a crime has been committed. 

      So somebody had a ‘sook’ on the pitch and Tendulkar didn’t acknowledge the crowd. Oh the outrage!!  And I suppose the Australian cricket team will be attaining sainthood soon for their gentlemen-like behaviour on the pitch through the history of the game?

      God forbid a cricket player would ever sledge on the field or get upset about a decision or be having an ‘off’ day.  Newsflash: Players from all teams are only human and they make mistakes – that includes the Australian side. So to put it mildly….GET OVER IT! This is cricket !! 

      I am actually appalled at some of the comments on this post especially the ones which take to discussing issues which have nothing to do with cricket.  I agree that india is rife with corruption but that is not all the country stands for. Do some homework and you may actually discover another side to India. 

      And this may come as shocking revelation to all the ignorant half-wits out there but there are millions of Indians who are disgusted with the corruption in the country and want it to come to an end so that they can see their children have the opportunities they didn’t have.

      Please don’t compare the Indian cricket team or every Indian citizen to the Indian government. Unless offcourse you think that similarly the political drama and the embarrassment that unfolded recently in Australia reflects all Australians and what they represent?

      And as far as this pathetic idiot is concerned:

      @Nexus789 says: 09:52am | 27/02/12
      “Indians are petulant full stop….this crosses over from cricket into other things as well”

      You are an embarrassment and if YOU are what Australia represents then I think we are far more backward a society than any other developing and corrupt country in the world. People like you give a bad name to educated, knowledgeable and open minded Aussies. On second thoughts, you give a bad name to pretty much everything.

      Here’s an idea – why don’t we ask the Australian Cricket team to withdraw from the IPL and forgo their 6 and 7 figure pay-checks (per game) for the sake of this cause? I mean if “Indians are all petulant full stop” you really should get on a higher moral ground and stop doing business with them.  But I’m guessing ‘ethics’ isn’t quite your thing.

      Best Regards,
      From a 30-something year old Indian woman, who spent her childhood growing up in Australia. On most days I am proud to call myself an ‘Aussie’.
      Today isn’t one of them.

      Reply

    • sick of it says:

      08:49pm | 27/02/12

      i agree, cant wait for this summer of cricket to be over..should have finished after the test series.

      one point id like to make… with over 1 billion people, youd think a nation like india would excel at sports.  The best they can do is one ageing cricket team.

      To the indians in australia who regularly criticize Australia and its way of life raspberryISS OFF BACK TO INDIA. 
      oh thats right…its the quality of life that keeps you here.

      Reply

    • Namrata says:

      10:01pm | 27/02/12

      As an Indian living in Australia (and no interest in Cricket what so ever - I was pointed to this article by my father), it is very upsetting to read such awful comments, going both ways. At times I was reading the comments and yelling at my computer at the same time.

      The article itself is very condescending at times, especially when it is implied that Indians would not know what ‘sooking’ means. Let me just point out that all other countries have to learn the Aussie slang, it isnt just the Indians.

      I agree that Indian cricketers are given the status of gods and because I am not into cricket I do not understand the reasoning behind it. Having said that, Aussie commentators like Michael Slater (yes I had to sit through some boring cricket while sitting with family), would not stop talking about Tendulkar like he was a god - so I guess it isnt just the Indians.

      Kohli being called sub-human is absolutely appalling. I mean, how can you accuse someone of being that way and still call yourself a person. He’s an athlete for goodness sake, he didnt murder someone! Frankly his attitude is not as bad as other athletes, namely football players, so why should he get crucified for it. At least he’s feisty and brings some fun in the game. Save the ‘SUBHUMAN’ insult for those who actually deserve it.

      India is not a perfect country, neither is Australia. So a slanging match is ridiculous. Although, I have to admit it was fun to read some things people have written and I could not help but laugh, even as my blood boiled.

      I finally came to one conclusion - All the Australians who have commented about the cricket here (those who have used this platform to racially vilify the Indians are not included), and the fact that India has under performed, must have a real passion for India - Australia matches. If they did’nt such strong opinions would not have been expressed, despite Australia’s victory.

      Just something to think about.

      Reply
    • Anthony Sharwood

      Anthony Sharwood says:

      11:35am | 28/02/12

      Namrata, I just want to make it perfectly clear that a commenter above did not call Kohli “subhuman”. He called him a “sub-standard human being”, teh meaning of which is very very different to “subhuman”. We took it to mean meant someone whose behaviour is inappropriate.

      We certainly would not have uploaded a comment that called someone “subhuman” as this would be steering right back into the murky waters of the Andrew Symonds “monkey” slur.

      I hope this clears things up a little, and thank you for taking the time to comment

    • Michael says:

      10:47pm | 27/02/12

      I went to the cricket several times this year to see India play.  I enjoyed the contest and applauded when India snatched a stunning victory in the last over against Australia in the Adelaide ODI match.  I stood and applauded Kholi’s maiden century too.  The atmosphere at the ground was fantastic, and I really appreciated the large turnout by the Indian supporters.  They were full of good cheer and I didn’t hear one racist comment or snide remark from either side.  Everyone got along just fine.  It saddens me to think that all civility and decent behaviour flies out the window when people are sitting behind their keyboards and feel the need to vilify each other.  The Indian team and traveling supporters are our guests and thus should be treated with dignity and respect.

      Reply

    • Ash says:

      06:44am | 28/02/12

      As an Indian I concur wholeheartedly with this article! Amen..im glad they’re going back soon..its too dismal to even tlak about!
      The same cant be said for the majority of comments here..some of which have absolutely nothing to do with cricket at all but a broad generalisation of a people based on a sport! I wonder how you’d feel if the world thought all Aussies were boofheads based on..lets say Aussie Rugby League players! *Shame*

      Reply

    • John says:

      08:22am | 28/02/12

      Agree with the Article, not sure about the comments from the bogans and rednecks - But Tendulkar is the greatest batsman of all time whereas bradman is the greatest ‘test’ batsman of all time.

      Reply

    • Disappointed says:

      08:27am | 28/02/12

      Agreed the Indian cricket teams attitude hasn’t been the best on the tour. They seem like they don’t care about winning and have excuses for not playing well on fast pitches here.

      But the headline of this article is pathetic. As are a lot of the comments directed against the visiting Indian team.  If I was an indian cricketer reading comments like these I wouldnt want to acknowledge the crowd or address the media, cause it seems like australians just simply loathe most things indian.

      And lets not hold India up as the epitome of sooking and unsportsman-like behaviour. The australian team isnt exactly a team of fine, gentlemanly cricketers.

      Brett Lee, Hussey and also Wade diving right in front of the stumps to block a throw from Dhoni - perhaps those are all new tactics devised by the australian team this summer?

      Reply

    • Steve says:

      11:06am | 28/02/12

      Think what you all like. Tendulkar is like every other Indian player - a spoilt little brat. His refusal to acknowledge his own fans and his brat like attitude is proof of that. He and his team mates have been appalling since the day they arrived.

      When things don’t go his way, he is just as annoying as the rest of them. So he’s made 99 hundred’s…so what.

      I bet he lifts his head when he’s on his home turf. Sachin…take your bat and ball and go home!

      Reply

    • Subhash says:

      05:28am | 29/02/12

      I am an Indian and feel that if the Indians in Australia think that the Australians are racist, then they should pack their bags and return to India which I think is no better than hell on earth! The Indians always play the race card when thinngs do not go their way.The Indian cricketers and the so-called Bollywood stars consider themselves to be gods.Who cares?

      Reply

    • Disgusted says:

      01:54pm | 12/03/12

      Wow, after reading the comments, it is true that there are a lot of racists amongst us. One Tendulkar moment of mild dissent after 25 years of cricket raises such poor comments. He might not be the best cricketer in the eyes of Australian’s (except perhaps the great man himself, the Don) but he has certainly been the best behaved amongst them all.
      Sport is a great equaliser sledgers. Perhaps this small tirade is lost on a Winning hungry and senior and coloured players hating nation? (Punter, Hayden, Gilly, Symonds
      Now, where did I keep my Indian flag…..

      Reply

    • subs says:

      01:05am | 25/03/12

      Wow as an Indian living in Australia for the last 14 years comments on websites like this makes me wonder, ‘so what do the aussies really think of us’.  My kids have grown up, there is no other country that is home. India is a lovely place to visit for holidays and catch up with relatives, but this is where they have lived.  I don’t know, this is my country now too but obviously beneath the surface animosities seem to simmer.  Quite sad now.

      Reply

    • Arup says:

      12:27am | 29/03/12

      Pretty late post dear Anthony, but would like to draw your kind attention to the latest-entrant to the journos-to-slate-Sachin Club: Lawrence Booth of UK’s Daily Mail. Malcolm Conn will be president. Move over Ian and Greg Chappell.

      Reply

    • WorldCitizen says:

      10:52am | 29/03/12

      People are people so why should it be ....
      Any time we point out a deficiency in chracter those that would argue , instead try to overlook the character flaw and treat the attack as if it were a generalisation about a race or more specifically a culture. there is only one human race but there are many cultures. Many cultures have antithetic viewpoints. For example the papua New Guinea Tribe that endorses paedophilia as a rite of passage - to us that is abhorrent.

      Reply

    • social says:

      01:01pm | 08/05/12

      I think this is a real great article post.Much thanks again. Great.

      Reply
 
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ToryShepherd 17 May 12 02:59PM

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Meanwhile, a case from the glass half full files. Andrew Bolt has attacked me in a much nicer way than usual today http://t.co/mQqX6rOc

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