Simple Symonds? Well, evidently not so

“Mr Symonds appears to be saying that he finds it unacceptable that an opponent makes a gesture that recognises the skill of one of his own team mates. In the transcript he stated:

“MR (VR) MANOHAR (Harbhajan’s defence lawyer): You had any objection to that patting on the back?

MR SYMONDS: Did I have an objection to it – my objection was that a Test match is no place to be friendly with an opposition player, is my objection.”

Then Justice Hansen goes on to make a telling observation: “If that is his view I hope it is not one shared by all international cricketers. It would be a sad day for cricket if it is.”

Moreover, Symonds had, as the Judge perceived, violated an agreement he had made with Harbhajan, after the India series, about how they deal with each other on the field. “It makes sense to me and it would be more likely that it was a two-way agreement that they would not speak on the field and this was initially breached by Mr Symonds’ provocative abuse.”

Justice Hansen also puts a question mark against Michael Clarke’s testimony in the matter. “In my view there remains the possibility of a misunderstanding in this heated situation. As well it is not without significance that the Australian players maintain other than Mr Symonds that they did not hear any other words spoken only the ones that are said to be of significance to this hearing. This is a little surprising in the context where there was a reasonably prolonged heated exchange. Indeed Mr Clarke went so far as to say that he did not hear Mr Symonds say anything. Given Mr Symonds’ own acceptance that he initiated the exchange and was abusive towards Mr Singh, that is surprising.”

All in all, as things now pan out, the ruling does not show the Australians, particularly Symonds, in very good light. While there is no doubt that a lot was said, Symonds seems to have gotten away with more than what can be passed off as just sledging.

Given the circumstances, and that these findings came for an International Cricket Council-nominated commissioner, surely there was a case for Symonds being hauled up.

But that does not seem to be happening. As of now, all seem to be happy to let all of this go by, and carry on like nothing happened.

Till the next time, that is.

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