Aussies are big players, yet no idols

It is a matter of great concern that controversies continue to be in the public eye when the attention should actually be on the finals of what has been a thoroughly entertaining tournament featuring three top class teams.

The competitive cricket ensured there were enough exciting moments in a long and dreary format that is past its expiry date and which could not have been a success without such outfits. The best of three finals set to get off on Sunday promise a feisty combat between the world champions and the Twenty20 champions but conversations invariably drift on to the war of words between India and Australia rather than their potential.

As usual, the players have done more than their bit in the drama. It was disappointing to see a veteran cricketer like Matthew Hayden exhibit his detestation for Harbhajan Singh in such a crude manner. At a time when cricket officials have had to organize flash telephone conferences and hectic parleys to get out of the muddle their players got them into, Hayden chose to air juvenile thoughts that befit neither his age nor stature as a cricketer. The challenge to Ishant to join him in a ring, took things to a new low.

The slap on the wrists given by Cricket Australia was not enough for his misdemeanor and the admonition could at least have been combined with a warning to other players to abstain from similar incursions. Hayden, on his part, did not seem to repent, throwing light on the kind of attitude the Aussies have towards their own cricket officials. The Indians may not often start an argument with the opposition, but who will now not fear to give it back to them, did just that as Harbhajan muttered his own point of view.

It will be ironical if Hayden and Harbhajan, among the main characters in the epic 2001 series that India won at home, are remembered for their barbs at each other rather than their prowess. Harbhajan’s wily bowling and Hayden’s robust batting against each others’ teams and between the two, have been a treat for cricket fans over the years and one would much rather have those frames in mind.

Hayden and Andrew Symonds have been talked about more for their role in face-offs with Indian players rather than their century-rate in Tests and utility in the shorter versions of the game, respectively. In fact, that stands true for most of the Aussie players, who seem to have earned the tag of ‘cry babies’ even though they may want the world to believe that it is the Indians who are the ones rushing to officials.

They should remember that the Indians withdrew a complaint against Brad Hogg even though the Aussies had not relented in the ‘racial slur’ charges against Harbhajan during the Sydney Test. More recently, India refused to lodge a complaint against Andrew Symonds even as Ishant Sharma was docked 15 per cent of his match fees.

There is no doubt the gritty Indians have rattled the Aussies, who find themselves in an uneasy relationship with Indian players and officials since quite a few of them have been signed up for the Indian Premier League. One will have to wait and see whether there will be more histrionics from them or if they will carry on without ado as mere mercenaries.