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Double standards

Some might call this article a case of being picky while some might just say it is biased. Well, so be it!

I heard most of yesterday's play and watched a small bit of it on television. Everything I saw and heard has left me feeling that double standards exist with respect to behaviour on the field and amongst the commentators, when it comes to interpreting actions on the field. These are underlined by two events that occurred during the course of day 3 - the first being Prasad's celebrations after dismissing Slater, and the comments made on television and radio upon the dismissal of Langer the previous day, and the negative caught and bowled decision against Kumble yesterday.

Let's first look at what happened when Langer was given out lbw. He, as was clearly evident from the replays while walking off the ground, was shaking his head wildly. There was no doubt that he was muttering under the helmet and lashing his bat in the air while repeatedly looking back towards the centre of the ground. To me it looked as if Langer was expressing his disappointment and showing dissent at being given out. Yet most of the commentators classified it very quickly as Langer being disappointed at getting questionable decisions all summer.

Why is it that when an Australian player expresses such feelings it is not dissent? Had a visiting batsman behaved in this manner he would be reported as soon as possible.

Before I come to the second issue, let me talk about what I heard on the radio station that's covering the Test match. At that point of time it was raining heavily at the MCG and play was abandoned for the day. So the radio station opened their lines to listeners. Two callers called up and defended V Prasad's celebrations; they termed the hearing as an over-reaction by the authorities. They also said the authorities are being biased. But the radio commentators - Keith Stackpole, Dean Jones and another gentleman - defended the authorities, which is a really sad reflection. The callers also said that they could not believe what they were hearing and, as is normal, the commentators did not let them air their views once they realised what the listeners' point of view was.

Michael Slater was also interviewed on the same station. Among many other things, he spoke about the incident. He said that he thought the celebration was not necessary. He also said: "The previous ball, I had mistimed a pull shot and was lucky to get to two. He (V Prasad) called me a slogger then and got me out with a rank wide ball with the next delivery. He (V Prasad) has already been into our dressing room and apologised for that, which I thought was not required as I had not taken offence."

I wonder if one of the Aussie players would have apologised had they 'celebrated' on getting one of the Indians out.

My point on the issue is quite similar to that made by the listeners. When an Australian bowler behaves in a similar manner it is contrived as celebrating or merely having a word with the batsman which is all part of Test cricket and is forgotten when the players are off the field. Which is quite evident from Michael Slater's statements in that interview. But the umpire saw it fit to not just report him, but report him immediately after the incident had occurred. The umpire in this case was David Shepherd. Although I do not want to question the man's integrity, I am left thinking, like other fans of cricket, whether it was a fair decision.

I am willing to bet that had the bowler been McGrath this would have gone unnoticed not only amongst the authorities but also amongst the commentators as well.

Then there was the caught and bowled appeal that was not awarded to Kumble. To me and to some commentators on the radio and the television (including Tony Greig) it was out. Apparently there was some reason which convinced the third umpire to press the green button. I was most surprised by Mark Taylor's comments on this topic. He said that had he been the batsman, and Kumble had said he caught the ball, he would have walked, as he believes that Kumble is a very honest bowler and a gentleman. This I thought was a big call from an Aussie who would generally never make such a statement against one of his own countrymen. Nice of you Mark!

In passing, I am left quite dissatisfied with the standard of umpiring and the conditions they present touring teams to compete in. Had Gilchrist been given out yesterday when he was on 6, I have no doubts that the Aussies would have caved in soon. Instead, they started getting on top after the incident as the Indians appeared visibly frustrated.

So, this is the second Test in a row where one decision which went against the Indians could potentially take the game away from them. What ever happened to the belief that the umpires were on the field to aid the game and not influence it's course.

Lastly, Sachin Tendulkar's handling of the situation was excellent. Credit is due to the man and his ever growing maturity.

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