Tales of Blind men in Indian Print Media Today

Blind men in white coats do India in in the Times of India, and Symonds, Bucknor guide Oz out of jail in HT, were the perfect front page (main page of the paper) reporting in Indian media on the cricketing developments of yesterday.

One can go on and on about asking the Indian players to fight it out, which of course they should do, but it must not stop journalists and administrators from taking the issue very seriously, and persistently.

HT wrote ‘’a spectacular batting assault by the Australian all rounder Andrew Symonds was sullied by association with one of the most grotesque umpiring decisions of recent times, as India had a precious advantage snatched and morale battered on the first day of the Second Test at Sydney.’’

How true. And the paper also quoted Ian Chappell as describing the umpiring as ‘’shocking’’. We all felt the same way.

The Times of India wrote that ‘’Bucknor has been hounding the Indians with poor decisions, from as far back as in 1992-93. He was involved in some bad decisions on the 2003-04 Australian tour.’’

But then the Indian Cricket administration is also to be blamed. They should have gone all out against this man, if they seriously believed that he only means harm to the Indian prospects. How can a team play confidently down under if they believe that a certain umpire is always going to favour the home side at critical stages. Do not count the reprieve he might give to the Indian batting now. The damage has already been done.

There was nothing on the controversy on the main page in the Indian Express and the Hindu. A pity because the subject had generated such an outrage among the media and the fans yesterday.

And if Indian batting does click in the first innings, players, writers and fans will keep thinking on what could have been the fate of the series had……!

A series that ended in five days thanks to outrageous umpiring!

Four days at Melbourne and one day at Sydney. The Australian brilliance and some rank inept (or biased depending on how you view it) umpiring has finished the series for India.

Kumble's warriors had come to win the series, and not to draw or lose it. Now unless the Indian batsmen score nearly 500 runs in the 1st innings, they can’t hope to salvage a draw or manage a win in this test. And all thanks to the umpires with some bad eyesight and hearing ailments.

Amidst all talks of Australian fightback and Symonds’ brilliance, one fact must not be lost sight of. Symonds was on 30 when given the 1st reprieve by Bucknor, and on 48 when the 3rd umpire granted him another life. Ponting was on 17 when he was given life by Benson. These batsmen are too good not to make a good use of such largess.

Had umpires made correct decisions, Australia would have lost over 150 runs by these two batsmen alone, not counting over 250 in partnership runs.

Some commentators are still calling them lucky breaks. Those comments are more outrageous than the umpiring decisions that were handed out to India, and took the competitive flavour out of the series.

Despite all their grit and determination, Australia had no chance of getting past 200 if the umpiring was up to it. Bad, that it turned out to be so bad with and without technological aids.

Now the only poetic justice in this match will be the weather coming to India’s aid and keeping this series alive. The bunch looks too demoralized now to give a real fight at Sydney.

Indeed, it was a Shameful day for the gentleman's game at Sydney.

Other links posted today
This Sickening Cricket Addiction!!!!!!
Ridiculous decision on half use of Technology
Prophetic Ponting!
Aussie Grit; Deaf Bucknor
Sensational Daylight robbery at Sydney....