Happy New Year All!
The thrilling and controversial test at the SCG has come to an end. Australians have come victorious and have equaled their previous record of 16 consecutive test wins. It is indeed difficult for cricket fans in India to feel anything but livid with the way the test went from Day 1. This test match could go into the record books just for the sub-standard levels of umpiring seen from not only Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson but also the TV umpire Bruce Oxenford from Australia.
This is not the first time India has cried foul over umpiring decisions down under. It could be recalled that during 1999-2000 tour of Australia Daryl Harper was our nemesis giving Sachin out to quite a few times. We all know how Muralitharan was mentally harassed and accused of chucking and was no-balled by Darrell Hair on their tour down under.
Its interesting to note that Australians seem to have had the rub of the green on many a occasions when playing in their backyard. My memory fails me when i try to recollect visiting teams have decisions go for them in Australia. Of course, there may be few dubious ones which go against the home team, but not like the ones that Indians have received, and received on such regular basis now.
Indians now have to take this as an impetus and push themselves to perform much better on the field and also try not to get into any verbal tangos with the Aussies. Its very interesting to note that when you are on a roll and you are winning there a lot of things you can get away! Indians have lost both their matches in the series now. Going into Perth, they do not have a good track record, having lost both the matches they have played there.
It will take a lot out of Kumble and his men to bounce back now, but, if they fail to see a challenge in this situation and writhe in self pity it will only be a matter of time when they are comprehensively beaten in the remaining test matches as well.
Positivity and believing in their strengths and showing the will and desire to fight it out in the middle will help them repeat their success they achieved during 2003-04 tour.
