| The row between Cricket Batting legends Sunil | | | | Calcutta). Still, let us understand, they didn't resort to |
| Gavaskar and Allan Border was a show of pent up | | | | sledging and their decision was hurting none other |
| anger dating back from the Bedi vs Bob Simpson | | | | than their own team and Chauhan in particular (he |
| series in 1979 which India almost won despite | | | | lost what was in hindsight was probably his last |
| unfavourable (read highly biased) umpiring by | | | | opportunity to score a test 100). It is still much |
| Australians: | | | | better than Aussies tricking to keep out Murali |
| 1. Gavaskar - Quoting David Hookes incident: | | | | through various unfair means. It is a well know fact |
| This is perhaps the only incorrect reference/ remark | | | | that only the actions of cricketers from the |
| in the whole episode. | | | | sub-continent have been found incorrect. Ricky |
| David Hookes or anyone else, the quote was out of | | | | Ponting, what do you say to that? Thumbs Down. |
| context and Gavaskar lost track of his argument | | | | 4. Ponting - on Adam Gilchrist walk out without being |
| from here, allowing the Aussies to defend | | | | given out:Cosidering that Ricky Ponting did not take it |
| themselves. Thumbs Down. | | | | lightly, and did not like Adam Gilchrist's walk says a lot |
| 2. Ponting defending sledging by referring to it as a | | | | about how Aussies play their cricket - i.e. not in the |
| cultural difference: | | | | best of sportsman spirit. Thumbs Down. The |
| Sure there are cultural differences and India and | | | | bottomline is that some teams want a fair results, |
| West Indies are at one end of the cultural spectrum | | | | and some teams want to just win. And recently since |
| and Australia and England the other end (England has | | | | they have been winning, they have not been found |
| lately moved to the centre of the spectrum). This | | | | to be a Champion, they're just winners. West Indies |
| end of the spectrum is red (blood), and they sure | | | | were Champions. Champions are winners whatever |
| play the game hard, and would resort to any style to | | | | the results. Thumbs up. |
| win - in fact winning is everything. Remember how | | | | 5. Border - on how Gavaskar played his cricket: |
| Bob Simpson was never given out in 1977-78 series | | | | Well Gavaskar surely played it better than Border |
| led by Bishan Singh Bedi where the Aussies could not | | | | who just kept on and on till he could cross Gavaskar |
| stand up to the Indian Spinners so only their partisan | | | | in the number of runs he scored - and at what |
| umpiring saved the day for them. I don't know how | | | | average? If Border wants to refer to Gavaskar's ODI |
| many remember the Trevor Chappell underhand | | | | career, well, that is about India taking time to adapt |
| delivery? New Zealanders surely do - and would | | | | to the new style of playing cricket and Gavaskar's 36 |
| never forget that. Or more recently Ponting sledging | | | | runs in the world cup, was the bottom. Thereafter |
| the minnow nations play - well he should go to the | | | | Gavaskar adapted well and had a score of good |
| football world cup and take a stand there first. | | | | performances. Finally it is a fact that India and West |
| Similarly, England resorted to Bodyline, Vaseline (John | | | | Indies took the cup much before Australia could |
| Lever in India) and even through racial means which | | | | stand up and be counted. Even Sri Lanka took it |
| they abandoned later (discrimination at MCC, etc). At | | | | before them. Thumbs Down. |
| the West Indian and Indian end of the cultural | | | | 6. Border - Quoting David Hookes incident: |
| spectrum (which is white as in peace) we've always | | | | This is perhaps the only incorrect reference/ remark |
| known that the game has to be played fairly and | | | | in the whole episode. |
| even tampering the psychology of the opponent is | | | | David Hookes or anyone else, the quote was out of |
| not fair. Now this is another matter whether | | | | context and Gavaskar lost track of his argument |
| tampering with the psychology is fair or not, but it is | | | | from here, allowing the Aussies to defend |
| a part of the game tactics. Thumbs Down. | | | | themselves. Thumbs Down. |
| 3. Ponting - on Gavaskar Chauhan walkout: | | | | 7. Darren Lehmann - joining the controversy: |
| Well that incident is a blot on Gavaskar's otherwise | | | | Darren who? Well, what is the need of Darren now |
| spotless career (besides the Kapil Dev drop in | | | | to get into the controversy? Thumbs Down. |