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Geoff Lawson, current Pakistan coach and former Aussie cricketer, told the Daily Telegraph:
“There’s certainly been a lot of feeling from ex-players who think the baggy green has been disrespected. Some of these (current) players need to be spoken to. I certainly don’t agree with dragging (Ricky) Ponting’s captaincy, I just think a bit of counselling needs to be done with how these players perceive themselves.” “As an ex-Australian player I was pretty disappointed. Perception is everything and the outside world thinks that this Australian team is arrogant and not well behaved. Whether the team …read more

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News is that umpire Steve Bucknor won’t officiate at Perth, which means Billy Bowden will be replacing him. And there’s another news that Harbhajan Singh’s ban has been suspended following BCCI’s appeal against the same, which means he can play the rest of the matches. Of course, the team management will decide if he’ll play or not.
Huh, well.
Coins: Actually, this move by the ICC just goes on to show that bucks matter a lot, even if they’ve sworn to the contrary:

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Need I say we’re all foaming at mouth.

Angry fans on streets

Fans as far as Jammu & Kashmir (which is a cricket-neutral state) are carrying out protests.
Angry Indian cricket fans held street demonstrations and burned effigies of two cricket umpires on Monday, blaming poor decisions for their team’s defeat in the second test against Australia, while criticizing a three-match ban handed to spin bowler Harbhajan Singh.
Indian media also reacted with anger toward Harbhajan’s suspension after he was found guilty by match referee Mike Proctor of racially abusing Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds, and questioned the sportsmanship …read more

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There is some news that the Indian board will boycott the Border-Gavasker series but looks like they’re still going back and forth with the decision. So we’ll have to wait a day or two to see how things shape up.
Most of the bloggers and newspapers are demanding a  boycott. I might have thought so, too. However, I beg to differ now.
How about we stay and punch the opponents in their nose with two straight, ruthless victories? That, in my opinion, is a better way to answer them back.
If the tour is called of, the BCCI …read more

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This is the first thing I read on logging in.
BCCI has asked the Indian team to stay in Sydney until the Harbhajan hearing, rather than travel to Perth for the the third test.
Under ICC rules, member countries are obliged to fulfil their tour contracts except when the security of the players is at risk or the touring team’s government orders that the tour should not proceed.
India could also be liable to reimburse Cricket Australia for any losses incurred.
Cricket Australia faced the possibility of a similar fine if it boycotted the tour of Zimbabwe last …read more

My dad can refer some doctors, if you want.

Bring it on. India vs. Australia: The Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Australians want to convince themselves that India is bringing in a fractured team to their land.

According to a report recently sent to the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Sachin Tendulkar and the rest of the squad will arrive this month with serious doubts over their ability to go the distance of a 10-week tour.
I’m not sure if ability is the right word to use here.
He says Murali Kartik, for instance, struggles for fitness, agility and throwing ability.
We can do without him. Next…
…read more

Bring it on. India vs. Australia: The Border-Gavaskar Trophy

 
Pretty predictable list, basically. Only surprise is Sreesanth’s absence.
Yes, he’s unfit, but then RP and Zaheer Khan have been roped in too, despite injuries. Well, so we’ll miss on the fun, I guess.

The couplet from A Tale of Two Cities applies to Harbhajan’s current situation extremely well.
Good news: Harbhajan’s 2-wicket haul at the 4th ODI against Oz played a key role in India’s comeback.
Bad new: The old boy will have to incur Jodie aka Snark Goddess’s wrath. I told ya, it never helps to be a bad boy.
Well, but anyway, you have your bhangra, haven’t you Bhajji? You’ll get over it.
Photo Courtesy: The Age