14 Wednesday 9th January, 2008

by Peter Roebuck. except that in the prevailing cir- cumstances the umpires were ill- icky Ponting must be advised to take anyone's word for sacked as captain of the anything. RAustralian team. If Arrogant Ponting The Indians were convinced Cricket Australia cares a fig for Ponting grounded a catch he the tattered reputation of our claimed on the final afternoon at national team in our national the SCG. Throughout those heat- sport, it will not for a moment ed hours, the Australian longer tolerate the sort of arro- remained hostile, kicking the gant and abrasive conduct seen ground, demanding decisions, from the captain and his senior must be sacked pressuring the umpires. So much players over the past few days. for the corporate smile that has Beyond comparison it was the Matthew Hayden crossed himself been produced these last few ugliest performance put up by an upon reaching three figures in years. Australian side for 20 years. The his commanding second innings, Probably the worst aspect of only surprising part of it is that a gesture he does not perform the Australians' performance the Indians have not packed while wearing the colours of his was their conduct at the end. their bags and gone home. There state. Exactly how he combines When the last catch was taken is no justice for them in this his faith with throwing his they formed into a huddle and country, nor any manners. weight around on the field has started jumping up and down That the senior players in the long bemused opposing sides, like teenagers at a rave. It was Australian team are oblivious to whose fondness for him ran out a not euphoria. It was ecstasy. the fury they raised among many long time ago. Hayden has much They had swallowed a dangerous followers of the game in this better in him. pill called vengeance. Not one country and beyond merely con- Michael Clarke also had a player so much as thought about firms their own narrow and self- dreadful match but he is a young shaking hands with the defeated obsessed viewpoint. Doubtless man and has time to rethink his and departing. So much for they were not exposed to the outlook. That his mind was in Andrew Flintoff consoling a messages that poured in from disarray could be told from his stricken opponent in his hour of distressed enthusiasts aghast to . In the first innings he defeat. see the scenes of bad sportsman- offered no shot to a straight ball Nor could Ponting and ship and triumphalism present- and in the second he remained at Gilchrist stop themselves pub- ed at the SCG during and after the crease after giving an easy licly chiding Tony Greig for dar- the Test. Pained past players catch to slip. On this evidence ing to criticise the timing of the rang to express their disgust. It Clarke cannot be promoted to the declaration. They should have was a wretched and ill-mannered vice-captaincy of his country. It been thanking their lucky stars display and not to be endured is a captain's primary task to that three had fallen in from any side, let alone an inter- rear his younger players and to five balls, one of them in dubi- national outfit representing a prepare his successor for the ous circumstances. Australia proud sporting nation. ordeals of office. Nothing need had 150 runs and five minutes to Make no mistake, it is not be said about the catch Clarke spare. It was unfitting conduct only the reputation of these took in the second innings from an Australian captain or cricketers that has suffered. except that in the prevailing cir- vice-captain. By all accounts Australia itself has been embar- cumstances the umpires were ill- Ponting was later rude towards rassed. The notion that Ponting advised to take anyone's word for Indian reporters at his news con- can hereafter take the Australian anything. ference. team to India is preposterous. He The Indians were convinced Ponting has not provided the has shown not the slightest Ponting grounded a catch he leadership expected from an interest in the well-being of the claimed on the final afternoon at Australian cricket captain and so game, not the slightest sign of the SCG. Throughout those heat- must be sacked. On this evidence diplomatic skills, not a single ed hours, the Australian the time has also come to thank mark of respect for his accom- remained hostile, kicking the Hayden and Gilchrist for their plished and widely admired ground, demanding decisions, services. None of them are bad opponents. pressuring the umpires. So much fellows. All will look back on this can be an for the corporate smile that has match not as their finest hour irritating young man but he is been produced these last few but their worst. Obviously a new head of a family and responsible years. captain and side is required. But for raising nine people. And all Probably the worst aspect of that is a task for another day. It the Australian elders want to do the Australians' performance is possible to love a country and is to hunt him from the game. was their conduct at the end. Australian captain (left) makes a point to Mark Benson during the second Test not its cricket team. Australian fieldsmen fire insults When the last catch was taken Match against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Ponting’s conduct during the second Test has Ponting has not provided the from the corners of their they formed into a huddle and come in for severe criticism. leadership expected from an mouths, an intemperate Sikh started jumping up and down Australian cricket captain and so warrior overreacts and his rude- like teenagers at a rave. It was Gilchrist stop themselves pub- vice-captain. By all accounts and in the second he remained at must be sacked. On this evidence ness is seized upon. It might not euphoria. It was ecstasy. licly chiding Tony Greig for dar- Ponting was later rude towards the crease after giving an easy the time has also come to thank impress barrack room lawyers. They had swallowed a dangerous ing to criticise the timing of the Indian reporters at his news con- catch to slip. On this evidence Hayden and Gilchrist for their In the past few days Ponting pill called vengeance. Not one declaration. They should have ference. Clarke cannot be promoted to the services. None of them are bad has presided over a performance player so much as thought about been thanking their lucky stars Michael Clarke also had a vice-captaincy of his country. It fellows. All will look back on this that dragged the game into the shaking hands with the defeated that three wickets had fallen in dreadful match but he is a young is a captain's primary task to match not as their finest hour pits. He turned a group of pro- and departing. So much for five balls, one of them in dubi- man and has time to rethink his rear his younger players and to but their worst. Obviously a new fessional cricketers into a pack Andrew Flintoff consoling a ous circumstances. Australia outlook. That his mind was in prepare his successor for the captain and side is required. But of wild dogs. As much can be stricken opponent in his hour of had 150 runs and five minutes to disarray could be told from his ordeals of office. Nothing need that is a task for another day. It told from the conduct of his clos- defeat. spare. It was unfitting conduct batting. In the first innings he be said about the catch Clarke is possible to love a country and est allies in the team. As usual, Nor could Ponting and from an Australian captain or offered no shot to a straight ball took in the second innings not its cricket team. (SMH)

No 'Cool' McGrath to the defence Gayle in of Punter Former Australian pace bowler had held a tough chance at second "I always got on really well with Durban Glenn McGrath has defended Test cap- slip]." Anil. He's a great guy, very reserved, tain Ricky Ponting's integrity as the "That was a catch that he could and I find it quite surprising that he'd fall-out continues from the controver- have quite easily caught. He was come out and say that." by Russell Palipane sial Sydney Test. unsure whether he caught it or not McGrath also criticised Indian West Indies captain Chris Gayle will miss After the Australians claimed a and he said that - and that was it, end team management for making public the third and final Test against South Africa dramatic and record-equalling 16th of story." their displeasure with the standard of after breaking his thumb during the match in consecutive Test victory, India captain McGrath, who will return from umpiring during the second Test. Cape Town, cricket365 .com reported on its web- Anil Kumble lashed out at the home retirement for one final appearance in "At the end of the day they [the site on Monday. side for not conducting themselves in an domestic Twenty20 match, believes umpires] call it the way they see it." he Gayle, was hit on the thumb by Andre Nel "the spirit of the game". Kumble's assertion about the charac- added. while batting at Newlands, and he is likely to be But McGrath has denied Ponting's ter of the Australian side is well away "That's the way it's been from the out of action for a fortnight. integrity deserved to be questioned, from the mark. first ball of and the way it "Getting struck on my left thumb by Andre after the Australia captain claimed he "I think the Australians play it is now. Nel early on the fourth morning, when I was had caught MS Dhoni in close late on hard and we play it fair, I feel," he said. "Some days you're going to get bad preparing to dig in for a long knock, was a huge day five. "Definitely not," said "(It's) probably a little disappoint- decisions and other days you're going misfortune. I can't lie; that was some terrible McGrath. ing from an Australian point of view, to get good ones. pain. "If they want to look at his integri- because I know the boys play (hard) "It's the way cricket's always been, "Even worse than losing the match was the ty you only have to look at that first and I've got total respect for every guy and you can't pick and choose when expected prognosis that my thumb injury will innings [when Ponting recalled Rahul that pulls on the baggy green cap and you're going to complain about it." necessitate another layoff of two to three weeks Dravid, because he was unsure if he walks out there. (cricket365.com) so I'm definitely out of the final and deciding Test match." Fast bowler Fidel Edwards is still a major doubt for the match starting on Thursday in Polly likely for finale Durban. "I'm not sure about Fidel though. I hope he South Africa coach Mickey injury at Newlands. "It's sometimes necessary to can play because having him is a significant Arthur admits there may be With South Africa facing a busy introduce fresh legs into a team for advantage for us," Gayle was quoted as having changes to the Proteas' bowling 2008, the South African coach is a particular match." said.. line-up for the series finale against keen to rotate his bowlers. Shaun Pollock, who was 12th The West Indies skipper is confident his the West Indies in Durban, crick- Arthur was quoted as having man during the first two games, has team can beat South Africa in the series finale. et365.com reported on its website on said: "Today's busy cricketing been tipped to come into the team "I strongly believe that we can still beat Monday. schedules impose huge pressures should the South African selectors South Africa - the No 2 team in Test cricket - but Dale Steyn, Andre Nel, Makhaya on the guys. With the amount of opt to rest one of the bowlers. we will have to put Cape Town behind us and Ntini and Paul Harris formed the cricket we play, it's like we're "I've certainly played a waiting get back to the high standard which we set in South African attack during the always on the treadmill and players game," Pollock said. Port Elizabeth. We will have to fight even hard- opening two matches in Port have to be managed carefully. With "But, if I do get chosen, it would er and give an improved performance with the Elizabeth and Cape Town. our bowling resources, we have the obviously be great to play on my bat if we are to pull off what would be a magnif- Steyn is already a doubt for the luxury of doing without bowlers home ground." Chris Gayle icent series success," the ‘Cool’ Gayle said. match after picking up a hamstring like Steyn and Nel if we have to. (Russ)