Poor umpiring, racism and everything else that’s not cricket

ICC has announced that Umpire Steve Bucknor will not officiate at Perth. Although Cricket Australia is sticking up for Ponting, several influential media-persons and several former Aussie greats have decried the sham that the match at Sydney was reduced to. Harbhajan can play at Perth, pending a final decision.

From all this, one would assume that India has much to gloat over. But I see it a little differently. BCCI’s financial strength may have had more to do with ICC’s decision to drop Bucknor, rather than its acceptance of the fact that too many poor decisions were made in the last match (and available technology was not used). To my mind, umpire Mark Benson was just as culpable- and he is going to stand at Perth. Admittedly, the incident will put more pressure on him (and on Billy Bowden, who replaces Bucknor). But shouldn’t the BCCI have pushed to get two completely new umpires?

The BCCI has also subtly communicated to ICC that they may call off the series if Harbhajan is not acquitted. Should the focus not be on why Mike Procter chose to penalize Bhajji in the face of tangible evidence? If there is evidence that is available, let him disclose it and if Bhajji is found guilty, so be it. In the current scheme of things, even if Bhajji is found to be not guilty, tongues will wag. The world outside India (and possibly the sub-continent) will ascribe Harbhajan’s exoneration to BCCI’s financial clout and not to making amends for a faulty investigation.

And finally, what about the third test at Perth? In spite of Kumble making noises about leaving all this behind and moving on (and I have not read or heard anything to suggest that Ponting is in the same mood), what does an incident like this do to the overall spirit in which the remaining two games will be played? Perth is one of the bounciest tracks in Australia- and possibly, the cricketing world- and who knows what lies in store- “inadvertent” beamers from either team?!

Finally- it has been reported in some sections of the media that Brad Hogg has admitted using a word that would, normally, be described as “abusive”. But he claims it was not intended as an abuse, and that he used it in the way that such words are sometimes used in the heat of the moment. What’s sauce for the goose is NOT sauce for the gander. Or are new terms of endearment being coined Down Under? In which case, maybe the Indians should pepper their media conversations with appropriate words to demonstrate their appreciation for their opponents and maybe even journalists! After all, when in Australia, do as the Aussies do….. right?