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Journalism of Courage
The beleaguered Indian cricket team got support from unexpected quarters with the Australian media terming the behaviour of their own players as “unacceptable” and calling the standard of umpiring as poor which left a bitter taste in the mouth.
In an unexpected show of solidarity, the Australian media rallied behind the Indian team, saying poor umpiring proved to be their nemesis and the least they deserved was a draw.
The Australian national newspaper criticised the behaviour of the home team and said Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson should be called to account for their poor umpiring. “It is shameful this splendid Test match, won in such a remarkable fashion by the indomitable Australians, has left such a bitter taste,” wrote Mike Coward, veteran cricket writer.
“The standard of play often was outstanding and occasionally exceptional, but the standard of player behaviour was questionable and, at times, unacceptable. And the standard of umpiring was poor.
“Test cricket is not robust enough these days to withstand these failings and the protagonists and umpires Steve Bucknor, in particular, and Mark Benson should be called to account,” he said.
Brisbane’s Courier-Mail felt any fair-minded judge has to feel sympathy for the Indians and a draw was the very least they deserved. “At least six poor decisions went against them and don’t be surprised, with their spirit broken, if they struggle to fire a shot in the final two Tests of the summer unless that shot is in the direction of umpire Steve Bucknor.
“A draw was the very least they deserved,” wrote Robert Craddock. Craddock said Bucknor should be replaced for the next Test and there should be a mechanism in place to hold the umpires accountable.
“While blogging over the past five days I have been deluged with the outraged writings of shattered Indian fans from Mumbai to San Francisco who feel 61-year-old Bucknor’s best days — and undoubtedly they were good ones — are long gone,” wrote Craddock.
“I haven’t disagreed with a word. He should be banished forever immediately, but sadly, he will be back in the middle for the next Test, and therein lies the problem with the system: There is simply not enough accountability for umpires who perform badly.”
Former Australia captain Steve Waugh, said in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph: “Perhaps a better outcome may have been for both captains, coaches and named players to get together at the end of the day’s play and work out a solution before they went past the point of no return — which now has the potential to affect relations between both countries.”
Waugh, however, supported the home team for the way they play their cricket as it is part of Australian culture.
