The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : On soul-searching

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Thursday, Jan 24, 2008
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On soul-searching

The article “A little soul searching may not hurt” (Jan. 23) says the BCCI used its financial muscle to have its way with the ICC after India’s match against Australia in Sydney. I strongly disagree. The BCCI handled the matter with aplomb and grace. The Indian team was feeling lost and humiliated with the Aussies sledging their way through the match. The misery was compounded by substandard umpiring, which went in the favour of the Aussies who powered their way to victory. Injustice was done to the game of cricket.

R. Arun,

Thiruvananthapuram

* * *

The article points to the dismissal of Michael Hussey and Andrew Symonds in the Perth Test match saying both players had reason to believe they were unfairly given out.

Umpires take less than a millisecond to give LBW decisions. Many Indian players too have been given out in the past in this manner. But in Sydney, umpiring decisions were blatantly wrong, and included a grounded catch and another taken off the pads.

S. Ravindran,

Bangalore

* * *

The article is a wonderful example of responsible writing. The near frenzy whipped up by some sections of the media in the aftermath of the Sydney Test gave an impression that the loss ascribed to umpiring errors was nothing short of national humiliation. Some former players appearing on television channels went as far as telling the viewers that Australia did not deserve to win many matches even in the past.

In umpteen number of matches played on the turning Indian tracks, bat-pad decisions have invariably gone against visiting teams which, however, should not take away from the performance of the bowlers. The media and cricket fans should learn to be tolerant of rivals in general and umpires in particular. Cricket after all is a game to be enjoyed. The Aussies — notwithstanding their aggression — deserve praise for making the game livelier through their positive approach.

G.H. Pradyumna,

Bangalore

* * *

The events of the past few weeks have demonstrated how organised sport is wilting under the influence of power and money. I hope that the objective voice of The Hindu will provoke thought among the administrators of the game and the people who follow it. There is no harm in organising sport, so long as the process of playing the game is left unadulterated.

Anand Datla,

Amman

* * *

In an atmosphere vitiated by the hype and hullabaloo in our print and television media over the recent Test matches in Australia, the article was a breath of fresh air. One hopes such soul-searching exercises and the dignity with which the Australian players and the media reacted to the umpiring errors in the Perth Test match will serve to curb the immature and overtly partial outbursts of our commentators.

V.G.K. Murti,

Hyderabad

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On soul-searching