Test greats slam 'hyprocritical' Ponting

[manoj_admlab]

Jon Pierik January 06, 2008 12:00am TEST greats Sunil Gavaskar and Tony Greig yesterday accused tough-talking Australia of hypocrisy after "dobbing in" Harbhajan Singh for alleged racial abuse. The fiery Harbhajan was reported by umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor at the request of Australian captain Ricky Ponting after the Indian was involved in a verbal spat with Andrew Symonds on Friday. The Queenslander had questioned why Harbhajan, in his match-turning innings, had touched fast bowler Brett Lee on the bottom when the fireworks erupted. While there have been claims Harbhajan had called Symonds a "monkey", Indian players and officials dismissed such suggestions. "I understand that Symonds may have told him to f--- off and he may have said the same," an unnamed Indian player said. "It was nothing out of the ordinary." Indian team manager Chetan Chauhan was angered by Ponting's decision to urge the umpires to report Harbhajan. "If he did say anything at all, it would have been in the heat of the moment, in retaliation for continuous aggravation and extreme provocation," Chauhan said. "It is ridiculous to take matters to this level when they, themselves, say pretty much as they please." Symonds, of Caribbean descent, had endured monkey chants from fans during the one-day series in India, and former Test batsman Michael Slater yesterday claimed Harbhajan had reprised this taunt. Harbhajan's hopes of being cleared were boosted when match referee Mike Procter said Benson and Bucknor had not heard what was said. This means the charge, to be heard after play tonight, could be thrown out as neither team will have corroborating witnesses. Ponting's decision to cite Harbhajan riled Gavaskar and Greig, and had even former captain Mark Taylor fearing the Tasmanian had opened a "Pandora's box". "If the umpires haven't heard it, what has happened to the famous Australian saying: 'What happens on the field, stays on the field -- let's have a beer at the end of the day's play'?" Gavaskar said. "Is it only when the Australians 'give' it to somebody - what (happens) on the field, stays on the field? "When they get it, has it got to be reported? It doesn't stay on the field." Taylor agreed and said Australia's behaviour would be scrutinised more than ever. "I think Ricky is opening up Pandora's box in terms of this," he said. "Australians . . . make the odd chirp, so if this goes any further I am sure there will be times Ricky will be on the other side of the ledger. "It will open up Pandora's box in that regard." Said Greig: "The Indians are fighting back a bit. The Aussies have to handle this stuff as well. "There is a maturity in handling this stuff and not necessarily going to the schoolteacher and saying, 'hey, I am dobbing you in'." http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23013014-2882,00.html

[siddhu]

I agree with them... Ponting is stooping too low, and throwing is toys out of pram because things aren't going his way and India unlike other teams is putting up a fight and on their way to stop Aussies in their track for the 16th consecutive win. don't dish it out if you can't take it. They are now showing holier than thou attitude, where as we can only imagine (and of course we don't have any proof) the things that might have been said in the 70s and 80s to the subcontinent players...

[Sachinism]

theres a vid of this on youtube made me lmao its also posted in the videos section on here, check it out

[maggot_brain]

This is a good article that's been posted. Even better that some of the Indian players are getting under the skin of the Aussies. Give as good as you get I say. You can always count on Sardarjis to not take any crap. Go Bhaji!

[Anakin]

Ponting can't handle the pressure, it's as simple as that.

[PaiN_KiLLeR]

I'm loving this, consider how much cricket there's left on this tour.. we have a lot more duels in store.

[Dravid]

Ponting can't handle the pressure' date=' it's as simple as that.[/quote'] pressure? forgot final? its more that he cant do **** agianst SPIN:D

[Anakin]

pressure? forgot final? its more that he cant do **** agianst SPIN:D

He was plumb out in that final too. If you give even bhajji that many lives, he can do some serious damage in any form of the game.

[Mandrake]

"Harbhajan's hopes of being cleared were boosted when match referee Mike Procter said Benson and Bucknor had not heard what was said." Good on Bhajji to bank on the extra sensitive(deaf) ears of Bucknor and Benson:hysterical:

[Anakin]

For once B&B prove useful

[maggot_brain]

For once B&B prove useful

Ironic really, their poor sensory perception has harmed us during the match and now it might just reprieve one of our players.

[Inside_edge]

Predictably when the goings got tougher Punter ran to his daddies.If hes gonna rattled by this then Uthapppa and Sreesanth will run him over. Get used to the Indian aggro biyatch

[BERGKAMP]

its obvious why ponting has dobbed him in, he knows the only way he is going to score runs in this series is if he gets h.singh banned for the rest of it.

[Guest dada_rocks]

I empathize with him poor guy is trying hsi best to bring himself smong runs.. With Bhajji around it doesn't look like happening

[aussiefan]

mmmm, tony greig? he's not australian ( thank god ) and i can't even guess where gavaskar is from....

[Zap_Brannigan]

The aussie team will stoop to any low to get anything they want.......i wont be surprised if the allegation is all a lie to psyche out us.

[talksport]

mmmm' date=' tony greig? he's not australian ( thank god ) and i can't even guess where gavaskar is from....[/quote'] there are test greats who are not australian as well ...

[Rebb]

Ponting has embarrassed himself by running off and playing dibber dobber. Totally unnecessary and dirty tactics. Glad it's coming back to bite him on the behind.

[eternalhope]

mmmm' date=' tony greig? he's not australian ( thank god ) and i can't even guess where gavaskar is from....[/quote'] And Taylor issssssssss?

[beetle]

Once he is cleared...harbhajan should sue the australian team ...epecially ponting and sensitive boy symonds.If he doesn't do it and the board doesn't back him all the way...then I say he deserves it!