Michael Gorey

At the start of the final day’s play between Australia and India I thought the match would end in a draw. I heard the final overs on radio, and with four overs to go I still thought it would be a draw.

Enter Michael Clarke and the Aussies grabbed three wickets to snare the match and equal their world-record winning streak.

Having heard the commentary and read Anil Kumble’s remarks to the media I don’t think it’s a victory the Australians can celebrate in the usual manner.

Kumble said: “Only one team was playing with the spirit of the game, that’s all I can say.”  That’s a damning statement from a gentleman such as the respected Indian skipper.

I find the ABC radio commentators entertaining and impartial. They made the point that Dravid should not have been given out and the final lbw was also not out, in their unanimous opinion.

Bad umpiring decisions happen in any sport, but cricket has more than its fair share. I believe video technology should be available for every appeal if the central umpire wishes to access it. The third umpire should give his opinion based on TV footage and the central umpire should make the final decision.

Australia’s victory today is tarnished. Symonds’ first innings century after he should have been given out and two poor umpiring decisions on the final day cost India the game. Too much is at stake for that to be allowed to happen.

Ricky Ponting’s reputation abroad has also been tarnished. The world’s best sledging team referred a complaint to the umpires, catches were disputed and an Indian journalist was aggressively dealt with at the media conference.

Ponting and many other Australians are not renowned for their diplomacy or sensitivity to world affairs. Cricket is a world game and its leaders need to be culturally and politically aware. English is not the first language for many Indians and communication issues can easily arise.

Allan Border did a tremendous amount of good for Australian-Indian relations, which I now fear Ponting has undermined and weakened.

I love to see Australia win, but I take no pride in today’s result. I don’t blame the Australian players for taking their lucky chances, but they should have been more gracious. Even Adam Gilchrist’s outburst towards Tony Greig was silly.

These articles might be of interest:

• Press coverage of test saga
• Ponting’s folly
• Did the sun rise?