Newspaper says India was dudded in test match

High-profile commentators rallied behind a demoralized and irate India on Monday after the visitors lost the second test to an Australia side that many accused of playing outside the spirit of cricket.

"India have been dudded. No one with the slightest enthusiasm for cricket will take the least satisfaction from the victory secured by the local team ... that entertained spectators, provided some excellent batting but left a sour taste in the mouth," wrote Peter Roebuck in Monday's Sydney Morning Herald.

"It was a match that will have been relished only by rabid nationalists and others for whom victory and vengeance are the sole reasons for playing sport. Truth to tell, the last day was as bad as the first. It was a rotten contest that singularly failed to elevate the spirit."

After the match, won by Australia by 122 runs in the scheduled second-last over of the day, India captain Anil Kumble accused Australia of unsportsmanlike conduct and the team's manager called for "incompetent" umpires to be replaced.

While Australia celebrated its world record-equaling 16th consecutive test win, India fumed over poor umpiring decisions and Australia's attitude in the field.

"Only one team was playing in the spirit of the game, that's all I can say," Kumble said.

Batsmen usually wait for an umpire's decision before leaving the field when they're out, but many think it is right to walk if the decision is obvious.

Andrew Symonds did not, and later acknowledged he should have been caught behind on 30. Instead, he stood his ground and was amazingly given not out by umpire Steve Bucknor and went on to make an unbeaten 162.

There were other instances of that. And the agreement between captains on the batsmen taking the word of fielders on catches was also thrown into doubt by some contentious dismissals or appeals on the last day.

Mike Coward, veteran cricket writer for The Australian national newspaper, took a more conciliatory tone, but criticized Australia's behavior and the umpires.

"It is shameful this splendid test match, won in such a remarkable fashion by the indomitable Australians, has left such a bitter taste," wrote Coward. "The standard of play often was outstanding and occasionally exceptional but the standard of player behavior was questionable and, at times, unacceptable. And the standard of umpiring was poor.

"Test cricket is not robust enough these days to withstand these failings and the protagonists and umpires Steve Bucknor, in particular, and Mark Benson should be called to account."

Robert Craddock said in Brisbane's Courier-Mail that "any fair-minded judge has to feel sympathy for the Indians who were completely dudded by the umpires."

"At least six poor decisions went against them and don't be surprised, with their spirit broken, if they struggle to fire a shot in the final two tests of the summer unless that shot is in the direction of umpire Steve Bucknor. A draw was the very least they deserved."

Bucknor's decision to give Rahul Dravid out caught behind on Sunday was condemned by most critics.

Craddock said he agrees with comments he has heard in the past few days to have Bucknor replaced.

"While blogging over the past five days I have been deluged with the outraged writings of shattered Indian fans from Mumbai to San Francisco who feel 61-year-old Bucknor's best days _ and undoubtedly they were good ones _ are long gone," wrote Craddock.

"I haven't disagreed with a word. He should be banished for ever immediately, but sadly, he will be back in the middle for the next test, and therein lies the problem with the system: There is simply not enough accountability for umpires who perform badly."

Former Australia captain Steve Waugh, who guided Australia on its record winning run between 1999 and 2001, said it was a "real pity" that the test match "will probably be remembered for all the wrong reasons _ and not for the outstanding quality, pressure and the excruciating drama it ultimately provided."

Waugh said a racial exchange involving India spinner Harbhajan Singh and Australian allrounder Symonds _ for which Singh was eventually banned for three matches _ could have been handled better.

"Perhaps a better outcome may have been for both captains, coaches and named players to get together at the end of the day's play and work out a solution before they went past the point of no return _ which now has the potential to affect relations between both countries," Waugh wrote in Sydney's Daily Telegraph.

Waugh said "sledging" between the teams that eventually led to the verbal altercation is part of Australia's sporting culture.

"Teams playing against Australia fail to understand that banter, gamesmanship, sledging or whatever anyone would like to call it is just the way Australian kids joust and play in the schoolyard and backyards," Waugh wrote.

He called the match "one of the great games of the modern era."

"For Australia to even be in a position to win after slumping to 134-6 on day one shows the side's character, never-say-die attitude and ability to adjust to all circumstances," Waugh wrote.