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PTI

KOCHI, Oct 3: On the first ever International Non-Violence Day, things did not go out of control but match officials were on their toes to ensure that sparks flying all over Nehru Stadium does not engulf the second India-Australia cricket one dayer.
   
After 20 overs of apparently peaceful cricket, where aggression was limited to glare and unuttered curse, there was enough hints that everything was not going well out there.

It was the 21st over when Andrew Symonds stepped out to send Harbhajan Singh's second delivery soaring high over the long-on ropes. As the 'Turbanator' completed his over, he apparently had an altercation with Hayden, who was at the non-striker's end and their body language made it obvious that they were not exchanging pleasantries.
   
And Hayden's swagger looked bit prolonged after he brought up his fifty with a mighty six off the off-spinner.

S Sreesanth has already made a name for being an youngster with a volatile temper, especially so when he is facing Australia.

In the 43rd over, the local favourite exchanged a few words with Symonds and the drama repeated again in his next over when Sreesanth made a prolonged leg before appeal against Brad Haddin and Symonds had something to say on that from the non-striker's end.
   
Eventually, Mahendra Singh Dhoni walked up to the pacer, asking him to keep his cool.

Sreesanth finally had his moment when he caught Symonds off his own bowling and went simply delirious. He was screaming at the top of his voice, while Symonds too left not before mouthing his parting words.

Harbhajan featured in another high-voltage moment while batting. Stumped off Michael Clarke in the 31st over, Harbhajan stopped to give a piece of his mind to the garrulous Australian close-in fielders prompting umpire Steve Bucknor to approach and tap him on his shoulder, asking him to move on.

The only moment of rare bonhomie came when Dhoni's shot hit Sreesanth on his helmet and a few of the Australian fielders came forward to inquire about his well-being.

The series has already had its fair share of war of words. Though a hamstring injury keeps him out of action, Australia's regular captain Ricky Ponting has emerged as an advocate of his former skipper Steve Waugh's theory of mental disintegration of the opponents.
   
It was in fact Ponting who set the ball rolling before the series when he took a dig at Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly and claimed that the presence of the ageing stalwarts would in fact help Australia's cause.
   
Home captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's talent at taking jibes at opponents did not go unnoticed either.
   
After Adam Gilchrist claimed that his team was ready to play the series opener in Bangalore despite a wet outfield, Dhoni quipped, "Bahaduri aur beokufi ke beech bahot kam fark hota hai" (There is a very thin line separating bravery from foolhardy).

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Nelson Lewis, Kingdom of Bahrain

    Thu, Oct 04 2007

    When many international cricketers and officials say that Sachin Tendulkar has a lot to contribute, I start wondering why do they make such comments. Naturally, they would prefer India to have oldies (with past glory) in the Indian team rather than young and athletic players, because they are past their prime and have nothing to contribute. With an opposition that comprises "oldies", it is easy for them to win.

    As regards, Sunil Gavaskar wanting Tendulkar to play the next world cup is due to purely chauvinism and not because Tendulkar is a batsman who can dominate the proceedings. Far from it, because Tendulkar and Ganguly are totally a spent and burnt out who perform erratically. It amazes me a person who did not contribute anything to cricket during over two years, suddenly starts playing some sparkling innings and other innings where he did not contribute and saying he is enjoying his game. What hogwash?

    Readers, just try to understand due to non-performances by both Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly can one wonder how many matches India may have lost? What sort of accountability is this? Is BCCI running a charity institution for invalids? Would Australians have kept even performing cricketers in their team, once age has crept? Just think for yourself. PTI's reporting on 03/10/2007, "It was in fact Ponting who set the ball rolling before the series when he took a dig at Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly and claimed that the presence of the ageing stalwarts would in fact help Australia's cause," is very right.

    Sadly, BCCI officials, media and the cricketing loving public have not realised this, because they have their blinkers on.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • denzil fernandes, dubai

    Wed, Oct 03 2007

    The Indian cricketers were expected to continue with their spirited fireworks with their performance on the field. Especially after the much lauded T20 World Cup win. However, they were sent crashing to defeat against a determined Aussie side and were simply outclassed in the second one day international played in Kochi.

    The Indian youngsters instead of concentrating on their jobs were busy retaliating with the Aussies and thus losing their focus of action. Particularly Sreesanth and Harbhajan don't have to listen to what the Aussies say and have to carry on playing. The Keralite youngster seems to take everything on and has recently become a bad advertisement for India.

    Almost all our players are very well behaved and someone higher up has to pull up Sreesanth and mend him before he is lost. Agression is required but not at the cost of your performance. Harbhajan has nothing special to prove at the moment and is almost at the end of his career. He seems disturbed and lacking the will to perform.

    If the Indians have to emulate the Aussies, they should copy a leaf of their consistent performance and nothing else. We don't have to be sledgers, chatters or anything else just because the opponents are. Dhoni has to send his players to the cleaners before they troop on to the field for the next match and ensure a trouble free squad.

    We need a well behaved and disciplined Indian team - forget the results! Yes, we want fireworks by our cricketers with their display on the field but not sparks with their ill tempered behaviour.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse


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