Ricky Ponting is safe from being Harbhajan Singh’s bunny for the remainder of the current test series pending an appeal against Harbhajan’s three-match suspension for racially taunting Andrew Symonds.
Way to go Ricky.
The Australian captain obviously hasn’t thought about the consequences of his behaviour. Clearly rattled by the Indian spinner’s dominance over him, Ponting has shown flawed judgement.
I’m not suggesting that was his motive in lodging the complaint, but try telling that to a billion Indian cricket lovers.
The Indian counter-claim against Brad Hogg is the first instalment of what could be a long saga.
“Monkey” is not a racially abusive term in India. According to Peter Lalor in The Australian today, Symonds did not even consider the term racist when first used against him by Indian spectators. He only felt that way after media put the thought in his head.
The Australian spectator who first heard the expression in the stands at Vadodara asked some of the Indian fans why they were doing it. “He looks like a monkey,” one replied.
Harbhajan learnt that it riled Symonds and started using it on the field. Indiscreet, poor sportsmanship and silly yes, racial abuse no.
Harbhajan has now been banned from playing in three matches for teasing his opponent.
And as commentators around the world are now noting, for an Australian to be the victim of racial abuse by an Indian is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black.
