That Ugly Series Down Under

That Ugly Series Down Under

Today, I will talk about one of the most controversial series of the cricketing world which was the India Tour of Australia Test series which took place in 2007-08. 

It was one of the ugliest series ever in the history of cricket also known as the MonkeyGate Scandal. It was a spat between cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds where Symonds alleged Harbhajan of calling him a 'Monkey' and racially abusing him. 

It was the 2nd Test between India and Australia played at the Sydney Cricket Ground which was a closely contested game, in the end, Australia won the match by 122 runs on the last day of the test match.

 The result ensured that Australia retained the Border–Gavaskar Trophy, as well as taking Ponting's Team to 16 consecutive Test wins, equalling the previous Test record also held by Australia under Steve Waugh. Andrew Symonds was adjudged man of the match for scoring 162 and 61 in the first and second innings respectively.

Unfair Play by the Australians and Umpires 

This Test Match was mainly known for poor umpiring decisions given by Umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson and Unfair Play by the Australian Team in the match. 

Let me now tell you about the Score Lines of the match. Australian Captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to Bat first and put on a good score on the board after an early collapse with RP Singh and Anil Kumble taking four wickets to jolt the Australian batting.

Still, Symonds playing a blinder with 162 Not Out and Brad Hogg and Brett Lee contributing with 79 Runs and 59 Runs respectively to take the innings total to 463. 

In reply, India scored 532 in the first innings with VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar scoring 109 and 154 respectively and Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Harbhajan Singh contributing with half-centuries. 

In the second innings, Australia declared at 401 for 7 with Matthew Hayden and Mike Hussey scoring centuries and setting a target of 333 runs for India to win the test match

In Reply, India was bowled out for 210 runs on the final day and lost the game by 122 runs.

There were many wrong decisions from the umpires and the match referees in this particular test match which had cost India the game. Many more things happened on the field such as the racism allegations by Andrew Symonds after which Harbhajan Singh handed a three-match ban by the ICC. 

Ban was revoked as Harbhajan was proved innocent and hadn't called Symonds' Monkey'. The controversy started on the third day of the Test Match At the end of the 116th over of India's first innings, Harbhajan was batting with Tendulkar in a vital partnership for India, who had just lost a series of quick wickets. 

Lee was the bowler in that over, and Harbhajan had just edged him over the slips for four. Harbhajan then tapped Lee on the backside with his Bat, apparently saying "hard luck", to which Lee did not react.

 Later Ponting reported Harbhajan's behaviour to the match referee Mike Procter as offensive behaviour and commenting on the caste, religion and creed of an individual. Also, Umpire Steve Bucknor was replaced by Billy Bowden as the umpire for the next match because of his poor umpiring decisions. Many Umpiring decisions went in favour of the Australian Team which had cost India the game.  

After this match, the Australian Team was highly criticized because of their rough and unfair play in the Sydney Test and were called a team who could do anything for winning the game. This match was remembered for all the wrong reasons, and many International players and Journalists were against the Australian Team's behaviour in the game.

 The reaction of International Players and Journalist

Australia won! But did they deserve it? Said the Indian Commentator Harsha Bhogle

• Why is Mr Benson asking a person who didn't walk off when he was caught behind at 14, and it couldn't be possible that you are lying when you are batting and correct while you are fielding. That is nonsense! Utter nonsense! I am sorry Mr Benson, you got it all wrong.- 

• Said an angry Sunil Gavaskar who was against the umpire Benson because of his poor umpiring decisions.

• Peter Roebuck, the senior journalist of The Age, branded Ponting as "arrogant" and insisted that he should be removed from captaincy. 

• Jeff Thomson, the former Australian fast bowler, harshly criticized the Australians by saying that:
  
  

"The Aussies act like bullies, and they can't cop criticism from someone. I think it was appalling that none of the Australians went over and shook Anil Kumble's hand at the end of the SCG Test. They just played up and carried on like bullies as they normally do".

Conclusion

• I feel this test match was not played in the right spirits by the Australian Team and the umpiring was not up to the mark by Steve Bucknor which had really cost India the game. It was a right decision by BCCI to revoke the ban given to Harbhajan Singh as Symonds alleged Harbhajan of racial abuse and calling him a monkey after this Harbhajan was the only charged with 50% fine on his match fee because of the swearing words used by him.

• I feel that cricket is a gentleman's game, and it should be played in the right spirits, and fair play should be displayed by both the teams while playing the game. What Australia did on the field was not correct, and the players and umpires were highly criticized by fans, journalists and other international cricketers.