What are Aussies fussing about now?

The Australian newspapers and media all over has headlines like

"Cricket's day of shame" - Sydney Morning Herald

"Cricket caves in to India's demands" - The Australian

"India gets its way, Harbhajan charge downgraded, ban overturned." - The Sun-Herald

Where were these very newspapers when Brad Hogg used foul and filthy language against the Indian players. For them that is appropriate conduct. These very newpapers did not pushed everything aside when Ricky Ponting and his "gentlemen" team shoved the BCCI president off the dias on winning the Champions trophy. Its a shame that Andrew Symonds got away without any punishment. He too should have been fined 50% of his match fees for instigating Harbhajan.

All the evidence points towards Andrew Symnonds calling himself a monkey and Hayden supporting him. Furthermore, as per Darwin, aren't we all decendants of these very apes. So is Darwin a racist?

Aussies, please remember, the new India is polite and still follows the Gandhian philoshy but we have learnt not to show our other cheek when hit by someone. We will hit back where it hurts most if we are offended in any way. You abuse us, we will kick the butt out of your ass. We are here for good, like it or not.

New twist in Harbhajan case?

A new dimension has been added to the Harbhajan Singh's appeal case with Justice John Hansen, the judge who is scheduled the hear the appeal, suggesting that new evidence in the shape of recordings from the stump microphone could be used.

Harbhajan, the Indian offspinner, is appealing against a three-Test ban imposed by Mike Procter, the match referee, who upheld a charge laid by the Australian team that Harbhajan had racially abused Andrew Symmonds by calling him a monkey. Harbhajan has denied the charge.
Justice Hansen, who briefed the media about the hearing but didn't entertain questions, said "there may also be some additional evidence, such as transcript available from the stump microphone, which was not available to Mr Procter."

The Indian team management described the new development as strange and wondered if evidence had existed why it had not been used earlier. "If any new evidence is to be used, then they will have to show it us first," MV Sridhar, the assistant manager of the Indian team, said.
Another curious information to have emerged today is that the feed to the stump microphone was withdrawn from ESPN-Star by Channel 9, the host broadcaster, on the third morning of the Sydney Test, the day which the exchange between Harbhajan and Symonds took place.
"Through the first Test and on the first two days in Sydney there was uninterrupted feed from the stump microphone," a source in ESPN-Star, the Indian broadcaster, told Cricinfo. "But on that morning it was deemed fit that only the host broadcaster should have the complete feed, while we could have access it to it during play."

While outlining the procedures for the hearing, set to be held at the Federal Court in Adelaide, Hansen added, "in accordance with normal sporting disciplinary hearings, and previous appeals, the hearing will be in private." He confirmed that the evidence will not be under oath.
"It will be a re-hearing," said Hansen, "with evidence being given by all those witnesses who gave evidence to the adjudicator, Mr Procter." Australia will have six representatives at the hearing: Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Symonds, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke and manager Steve Bernard. India will be represented by Anil Kumble, Harbhajan, Sachin Tendulkar, manager Chetan Chauhan and assistant manager Sridhar. Umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor are expected to be part of the hearing by means of video link.

http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/ausvind/content/current/story/333733.html

What is patriotism?

What is patriotism? This is a question that flummoxes many Indians (including your truly) and we have never been truly able to define such.

Sania Mirza refuses to play for money (read Petro-Dollars) for other countries and puts playing for India above everything else. But she is issued a notice for keeping a foot close to the National Flag, thereby insulting the Tricolor, in a WTA event, on the basis of some gentleman in Madhya Pradesh. Who's more patriotic - Sania Mirza or the person who filed a case against her for his 5 seconds of instant glory.

Malaysian government snubs the Indian Prime Minister when Indian PM voices his concern for the treatment meted out to ethnic Indians and Indian diaspora at a large in Malaysia. There is no outrage or political fallout of this statement and we continue to holiday in Malaysia. This in spite of the Malaysians truly showing no love for Indian tourists there and looking to cheat them at the first opportunity. Is this patriotism and love for our country and fellow countrymen.

I leave this question open and invite comments on what constitutes "true patriotism" in Indian context. All the comments will be published as a blog entry in the later part of the year.

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Tata Motors launches Nano

Nano, the world's cheapest & smallest car labelled "People's car" from TATA Motors has been unveiled at a glittering ceremony in India Auto Expo minutes before.

The 4 door 5 seater car is extremely sleek and cute and comes in Standard and Deluxe variations. It has a top speed of 70 km/phr, is extremely fuel efficient (gives 20km/lt. or 50miles/gallon), has a 624CC 33bhp engine. As per Mr. Ratan Tata, the car meets the stringent Euro IV emission norms and is Bharat II compliant, thus being extremely environment friendly. On the safety front, it meets the front collision safety norms as per Indian standards and meets the side and rear impact norms of International standards.

The car is roughly 8% smaller in size than Maruti 800, the people's car so far but has 21% more interior space than it. It has a rear engine though.

In spite of rising input costs, Mr. Tata has promised the standard version of the car at a ex-showroom price of Rs. 1,00,000.00 roughly equivalent to $2600 (1$=38Rs) stating that "Promise is a promise".

Best of luck TATA Motors for launching of the car. Hopefully I can get my hands to it when its launched commercially in August / September 2008.

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Hogg charged for making 'offensive remark'

Brad Hogg, the Australian chinaman bowler, has been charged under Level 3 of the ICC Code of Conduct following a complaint by Indian team manager Chetan Chauhan. Hogg was accused of making an offensive comment to Anil Kumble and Mahendra Singh Dhoni during the second Test in Sydney and hearing is scheduled to take place on January 14, days before the 3rd test at Perth. If found guilty, Hogg could be banned for two to four Tests or for eight one-day internationals.

Paragraph 3.3 of the Code of Conduct refers to players or team officials "using language or gestures that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of that person's race, religion, gender, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin".

Harbhajan in, Procter and Bucknor out

As per the latest news reaching in on the racism controversy, Harbhajan Singh is free to play the 3rd & 4th test matches in on going Border Gavaskar test series down under and Bucknor is not officiating in the 3rd test in Perth. Moreover, Ranjan Madgule has been appointed as the refree for the remainder of the series replacing Proctor, whose integrity too was doubtful in the entire case relating to Harbhajan's suspension. ICC has also confirmed that they have received an official complaint against Australian spinner Brad Hogg for using abusive language.

The Indian team, however, has refused to leave Sydney till Harbhajan is absolved of the racism charges all togather.

This should send a clear signal to the authorities concerned that they need to look into the matters more judiciously than before and take strict action against the erring Australians who "like to play their game tough" but donot have the stomach to take it back in same spirit.

For any of those who have not followed the controversy so far, here it is summarized

January 8 - ICC removes Steve Bucknor from officiating in the 3rd test in Perth and appoints Madgule as series refree.

January 7 - Indian team stays on in Sydney to push removal of ban and rallies around Harbhajan. BCCI files appeal with ICC

January 6 - Harbhajan found guilty of making a racist remark to Andrew Symonds on day three of the Sydney Test between India and Australia and slapped with a three-Test ban.

January 5 - Harbhajan hearing postponed

January 4 - Harbhajan charged with offensive/racist behaviour following a compalint by Ricky Ponting.

Australia win 2nd Sydney test by cheating

Can there be bigger cheaters than Australia. None. They in tandem with umpires took 4 Indian wickets off no-balls, grounding catches etc. and got away with it. And best is, they knew all about those.

Should not India be lodging a strong complaint in ICC against Australia and forfeiting the series by asking the CA what scoreline they want for series and just sign on dotted line for the same. That will be much better.

Who's racist.. Ponting or Bhajji

Who's the biggest racist in among the current crop of cricketers?
a) Ricky Ponting
b) Andrew Symonds
c) Harbhajan Singh
d) Steve Bucknor
e) Umpire Benson officiating in 2nd Sydney Test of ongoing Border-Gavaskar test series
f) Michael Clarke

I think all of the above except Harbhajan Singh could be termed as racist and should be charged of inappropriate behavior and be banned from playing cricket or umpiring for a further 4 tests.

Benson in giving Ganguly out, consults Ricky Ponting to check if Ganguly was taken cleanly by Clarke or not. Consider this, Clarke on day 4 after a huge edge of Kumble and had taken cleanly, stands his ground. Ponting who had nicked a delivery going down the legside does not walk away and is given not out by umpires. Can the word of these two players, keen to equal the world-record of 16 consecutive test wins, be taken considered? And can a fielder make the judgement? If yes, then what's the need for umpires in cricket and every time a fielding side appeals, the batsmen should be given out.

Will the match adjucator and ICC chief Malcom Speed now look into this aspect of the game. Bucknor and all those other so called gentlemen of the game?

We hope that this match is abandoned and declared a draw for so many issues. In fact the entire series should be called off and you Aussies, watch out when you come to India. GenX and GenY Indians know how to give back right where it hurt's most.

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Andrew Symonds scores 162/3 in ongoing Border-Gavaskar Test Series in Sydney

In the 2nd test match (Jan 02, 2008 to Jan 06, 2008) of ongoing Border-Gavaskar cricket test series down-under in Sydney, Australia on day 1 after Australia had been reduced to 135/6; Andrew Symonds - a hard hitting Aussie batsmen broke a sort of records. In his innings of 162 not out, he was out 3 times and was given not out all the three times by umpire Steve Bucknor.

When at 30 he nudged the ball to Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Bucknor just couldn't see the thick edge. This was in over 46.4 of test debuntant Ishant Sharma, when Australia were 191/6. And considering, that cricket is called a gentleman's game, Symonds showed his game spirit by standing ground. 3 boo's for Andrew Symonds - Boooooo Boooooooooo Boooooooooooooooooooo

This decision of Bucknor can have a huge impact as the test plays out over the next couple of days.

When on 52, off R.P. Singh in over 58.4 with Symonds just having completed his scratchy 50, survived a strong LBW shout. Television replays clearly showed him to be out. This was when Australia were 249/6.

The 3rd and last time he was ruled not out again by Bucknor was off Harbhajan Singh in over 101.5. Dhoni appealed for a stumping but Umpire Bucknor, at square leg, didn't even think of claling for the third umpire, but replays showed that was out - though a close one. Soon after India had Brett Lee.

Thus, I feel that Symonds scorecard should read 162/3 instead of 162 not out.

Mr. Bucknor, you have been a great umpire for so long and we Indians respect you but its high time that you stand down and let others take over. Indians have offered you an opprotunity to gracefully retire by not complaining officially against the said results and poor umpiring.

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