Bhajji shadow threatens to halt India tour of Australia

After a couple of weeks of simmering in the background, the racism row involving Harbhajan Singh has cast its shadow once again over India's tour of Australia.

The turmoil came to the forefront after Justice John Hansen, who is to hear the appeal said on Monday that fresh evidence may be presented to him. But as CNN-IBN reports, the Indians find that unacceptable and that the new evidence may be doctored.

Besides being a High Court judge in his native New Zealand, Justice John Hansen is also a keen cricketer. So while he offered a straight bat statement to the media on Monday in Adelaide, there was one googly thrown in.

"There may also be some additional evidence, such as the transcript and video available from the stump cam that was not available to Mr Procter," Justice Hansen says.

That threw the Indian management into a tizzy. Sources told CNN-IBN that no fresh evidence will be acceptable to them. After all, if any such evidence was available why wasn't it presented in Sydney itself when the hearing was held by Mike Proctor? Once again the tour is under threat.

India Vs Australia Test Match Series - Honours even on Day One

A revitalised Rahul Dravid sumptuously strode to 183-ball 93 with 15 fours on the opening day of the 3rd Test here at the Western Australia Cricket Association ground - popularly known as just the WACA, thereby helped to carry India to 297 for six at a healthy run rate of 3.53 runs an over.

But this failed to nail an advantage, as Australia, with only the hitherto unconvincing Mahendra Dhoni remaining among the recognised Indian batsmen, had rather stolen the initiative.

A master-class from Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, who was brilliantly inventive in his innings of 71, and a 139-run association between these two for the 3rd wicket laid a platform for dominance on a pitch touted as too hot for Indian batsmen to handle.

But the foundation was frittered away by the failure of Sourav Ganguly - cutting to gully - and the late exit of VVS Laxman to the second new ball - hooking without getting over or behind a bouncer from Brett Lee, Australia's "standout bowler" as Dravid rightly put it.

Dravid, restored to number three, was 11 when Michael Clarke dropped him at 1st slip off Stuart Clarke. Thereafter, cover drive after cover drive off the front foot uninhibitedly flowed from his ample blade against the thunderbolts of Shaun Tait as well as a straight drive off Mitchell Johnson, which was a connoisseur's delight.

He posted his 50 with a stimulating inside-out cover drive off Andrew Symonds that threaded a narrow gap between extra cover and mid-off. But in attempting an encore holed out at extra cover. "It was disappointing," he admitted later.

While Dravid simply erected a wall in front of the bowlers, Tendulkar impishly improvised. Using the pace of the wicket, he repeatedly upper cut or swatted over the slips against Brett Lee and Tait, not to mention square cutting them fiercely and driving Clarke through the covers. His 128-ball stay was tragically terminated by an umpiring error.

A promising effort in the first hour was squandered in the next. Virender Sehwag played and missed, but juxtaposed this with cracking cuts and cover drives - mainly at the expense of Lee - and a crispy clip off the toes off Johnson to the midwicket fence.

Wasim Jaffer, more cautious but technically correct, followed suit with a stylish on-drive and then a peach of an off-drive for boundaries in Johnson's first over with the wind.

At 56 for none in 12 overs, India were galloping. But Clarke stemmed the run rate, following which impatiently Sehwag slashed at a rising ball from Johnson to pay the penalty.

Bowling against the breeze suited Lee's outswingers more; and he promptly had Jaffer edging to the 'keeper. Fiftyseven runs for the 1st wicket was India's best showing in the series so far, but 59 for two was distinctly discomfiting.

Dravid and Tendulkar played the classic waiting game. If Johnson's pace was close to 150 kph, Lee and Shaun Tait were well in excess of this mark. The wicket was fast, but not disconcerting; though, it might quicken on the 2nd and 3rd days under a hot sun.

Indeed, with Australia having to bat last, India will be hoping that the scorching spell makes it crack - the WACA of old being notorious for this.

With a four-pronged pace attack, the Australian sent down eight overs short of the prescribed 90. It would be another travesty of justice, if the International Cricket Council ignored this.

Appeals turned down evoked good humoured cries from a near capacity crowd of "Bring back (Steve) Bucknor", the umpire sacked after the Sydney Test. But should umpires Asad Rauf and Billy Bowden countenance the use of a four-letter word by Symonds and Johnson, respectively, on being rejected appeals for lbw? Cricket is no longer an Anglo-Saxon affair, but an international sport spawning different cultures.

Co-ordinated, theatrical appeals, even from fielders square to the wicket, are pressure tactics adopted by modern-day cricketers. Rauf appeared to succumb to one such in adjudging Tendulkar lbw to a delivery that hit him above the knee-roll on a bouncy track.

But after a controversy-ridden Sydney Test, the start of this succeeding encounter was incident-free. The only hullabaloo was between a section of Indian journalists and Australian officials in a cramped press box.

India pull-out of ODIs still looms

This latest cricket controversy, starring Australia and India as the warring factions, is akin to a 13-episode serial that has got an extension.

The final episode of the series saw Anil Kumble and Ricky Ponting sit down to discuss things on Monday, have an amicable chat and eventually decide on calling truce ahead of the Perth Test.

Even as their meeting got over - followed by appreciation from all corners - it seemed that the ongoing off-the-field fracas concerning India's Australian tour per se had ended. And that essentially meant the continuation of some much-needed on-the-field action -- and that includes the Commonwealth Bank ODI series next month.

But before jumping to further conclusions just read on

The Board of Control for Cricket in India, it seems, is keen on continuing the by now patriotic saga for a few more episodes. How else can you explain the fact that it is still contemplating a pull-out from the ODIs, vis- -vis the decision on the impending Harbhajan Singh appeal?

"I can't say anything about that now," said BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah, when asked if India will now go ahead with the tour as scheduled.

On further prodding though he was more forthcoming on the issue.

"India is committed to the Harbhajan case," he said, before reiterating something that the Board has been saying since the day the controversy erupted.

"We will not admit and accept any racial slur allegation on Harbhajan." Shah said, adding India will play the next two Tests (in Perth and Adelaide) as scheduled, though a pull-out from the triangular ODI series which also involves Sri Lanka - is still a possibility.

"We're just waiting for the ICC to announce the date of hearing of the case," he said. "We'll take appropriate decisions as things get clearer."

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was banned for three Test matches after the ICC Match Referee Mike Procter upheld Australia's charge that he had racially abused their all-rounder Andrew Symonds

So, even as Kumble-Ponting want to carry on with the game, the BCCI is keen on maintaining status quo on its stance for a few more days and continue with the suspense element.

And till further announcements are made by the Board, the uncertainty surrounding the one-dayers next month remains.

Or, maybe we can read between the lines?

Australia shut India out of the series

Michael Clarke produced magic in the second last over of the match, picking up three wickets as Australia romped home to a 122-run victory in the second Test. The win, which put Australia 2-0 up in the series, also gave Ricky Ponting's men a world record-equalling run of 16 victories in a row.

It was a spineless effort from the Indian batting line-up, as it fell like a pack of cards on a day that had drama, intrigue and disenchantment. The loss would be a bitter truth to digest for Anil Kumble, who had fought well and hard to lead India to the path of recovery. He had joined Mahendra Singh Dhoni when the last four wickets needed to see off 31 overs. Runs were never a concern on this last day. What was needed was a bit of resolve towards the end, something that the top-order failed to put up.  

Kumble showed enough of that and along with Dhoni pushed India within 10 overs of the match. It was then that things started to take the final dip for India. Dhoni was out leg before to Symonds, although Kumble and Harbhajan took India to within 2 overs of the game. However, the punter had already loaded the last dice and Michael Clarke, who was thrown at the deep end, delivered to the delight of the Aussie crowd.

The first ball of his second over turned viciously, catching Harbhajan's edge and finding home in Hussey's hands. RP Singh stamped his foot across on the next delivery and was adjudged leg before. Ishant Sharma nervously negotiated two deliveries before giving first slip Hussey another catch. And that was the end.

Earlier, Andrew Symonds had removed Dhoni as the batsman offered no stroke to a delivery that turned in and was given out leg before for a well-made 35.

Dhoni and Kumble had been resisting the Australian bowling attack after India were put on the ropes. India had lost six wickets for 137 runs with over 30 overs to go, but the two managed to stay at the crease for over 20 overs.

They put on 48 runs, and most importantly consumed 21 overs.

Before the two came together, India slipped, losing three wickets after tea and three before that. Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh and Sourav Ganguly returned to the pavilion to leave 30 overs for the Indian tail to negotiate. It was a sorry tale as the Indians fell like a pack of cards.

The day had its share of controversies - Dravid getting dismissed after a Symonds-delivery, that kissed his pads, went to the 'keeper; Ganguly, on the other hand, stood his ground after having doubts on whether Michael Clarke had taken his catch clearly. Anil Kumble lamented this in his post-match comments, though through a veiled reference. "That's there for all to see," he said.

But the rot had started very early, when India, chasing 333, found themselves at sea. They lost Wasim Jaffer (0), VVS Laxman (20) and Sachin Tendulkar (12).

Australia end the day on a strong note in India vs Australia, 2nd Test at Sydney

Australia ended the fourth day's play at 282 for 4 - 213 runs ahead, as bad light brought the day to an early close. The highlight of the day was Matthew Hayden's 29th Test century that was his fifth against India as the hosts moved to a position from where they can dictate terms.

At one point of time though, things could have been worse for India, but for Anil Kumble's double strikes that brought the visitors back into the game. Matthew Hayden and Michael Hussey were going along smoothly and had pushed Australia to 250 for 2 (a lead of 181) with a major part of the final session remaining. However, Kumble struck on successive deliveries, dismissing Hayden and Clarke to bring India back into the match. Hayden, who had batted well for his 123, and during the process completed 1500 Test runs against India, reverse-swept Kumble to Jaffer at backward point. On the very next delivery, Michael Clarke, tried to cut one and was caught at the first slip by Rahul Dravid.  

These were the only moments, other than those just prior to lunch that India could be proud of. Otherwise, it was a long, hard toil for the visitors on a day when they could capture just four wickets. The hard Aussie resistance has almost shut an Indian win out of the equation unless the game comes up with another glorious uncertainty.

The seamers, except for beating the edges a few times in the morning, struggled, while the spinners couldn't provide magic on a responsive wicket.

Hussey and Hayden had put Australia in command with a partnership of 160 runs in 44 overs. Hayden stood rock solid in the middle and batted with a runner, Ricky Ponting; while Hussey went about collecting runs at a decent pace. The important part during their partnership was that they always looked to rotate the strike. 

The Australian opener applied the pull and the sweep shots to good effect and played well straight down the ground. He reached his hundred off a full toss from Kumble.

Meanwhile, Michael Hussey notched up his ninth Test fifty. He was unbeaten on 87 that came off 186 balls.

Although the Indian spinners pressed on, with both Harbhajan and Kumble giving the batting duo some moments of trouble, the Australian southpaws batted with grit and purpose to parry the Indians with their rearguard action. The two nudged and pushed for singles and put the bad balls away for boundaries. The two had come together just before lunch when the score was 90 for 2.

Earlier, just before lunch, Anil Kumble took his 100th wicket against Australia dismissing Phil Jaques for 42. And just as lunch was approaching, Harbhajan got his bunny, Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting for one to leave Australia at 90 for 2 at lunch. Jaques, who along with Matthew Hayden had fended the Indian bowlers in the morning period to wipe off the lead was batting with great command. However, just as he looked like building the lead and taking the game away from the Indians, Kumble struck. Jaques went for a slog-sweep, a shot that he had played with good effect and kept on the ground. This time, he had hit it in the air and was safely lapped up by Yuvraj in the deep square leg region.

To give India a double blow, Harbhajan got the prize wicket of Ricky Ponting yet again. Ponting played across the line and was caught by VVS Laxman at silly point. Australia went into lunch with a lead of 21 runs.  

It was yet another failure for Ponting, who has got into double figures just once in the four innings he has played in this series.

India need to win the Test to level series.

India score 532 as Sachin hits unconquered 154 in 2nd Test Match between Indian Vs Australia at Sydney

 If, VVS Laxman thought of boasting three consecutive centuries at Sydney it would be little maestro Sachin Tendulkar's record he would envy. Tendulkar who remained unconquered on a brilliant 154 now has an average of 400 plus over the Kangaroos at SCG. Backed by Tendulkar and Laxman India made 532 runs in their first innings at the SCG. But, now with a lead of 69 runs over Australia's first innings total of 463, India will now be looking to put pressure on the Aussie batting line up.

While Sachin hogged the limelight with his brilliant innings, India's cause was helped by useful contributions from the lower order batsmen. Harbhajan Singh, in particular, played exceptionally well as he went on to score 63 runs off just 92 balls. Ishant Sharma too batted well for his 23.

Trailing by 69 runs, the Australian openers Phil Jaques and Matthew Hayden batted out the five overs cautiously and ended the day at a score of 13 runs for no wicket.

Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar smashed a brilliant century as India crossed the four hundred run mark in their first innings of the second Test being played here at the SCG. Tendulkar, who hit 8 fours and a huge six on way to his 38th Test hundred, looked in ominous form as he plundered runs off all the Aussie bowlers.

The Indians went into tea at a score of 424 for the loss of 7 wickets, just 39 runs behind the Australian first innings total. The two not out batsmen on the crease were Sachin Tendulkar on 106 and Harbhajan Singh on 41.

India suffered a mini collapse in the middle of their innings as pace man Brett Lee took three quick wickets to reduce the touring team from a comfortable 320 for 4 to 345 for the loss of 7 wickets. Anil Kumble was the last man out as he was caught by Adam Gilchrist off Lee for a duck.

India's hopes of building up a partnership suffered a huge blow as they lost the wicket of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, minutes after the start of play in the post lunch session. Dhoni was caught behind the wickets by Gilchrist off the bowling of Lee. The catch gave Gilchrist his four hundredth victim in Test cricket.

A double blow in the first session of play set India on the back foot as they looked to get close to the Australian total of 463. Yuvraj Singh, who made 12 runs, was the latest casualty as he was trapped plumb in front of the wickets by Brett Lee. Still trailing the Aussies by 141 runs, India went into lunch at a score of 322 for the loss of 5 wickets with Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni holding fort.

India lost their first wicket of the morning on the third day of the second Test as Sourav Ganguly, after playing a good knock, lost his concentration and hit a Brad Hogg delivery straight into the hands of Mike Hussey at mid-off.

Ganguly, who scored 67 runs off just 78 balls, looked in excellent touch as he smashed 7 fours and 1 huge six.

After loosing two quick wickets (VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid) just before the end of play on Day 2, India were hoping for another big partnership from their master batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.

The duo responded well as they went on to complete an unbeaten 50 run partnership in just 87 balls. Ganguly, in particular, was looking in excellent nick as he did the bulk of scoring, dealing mostly in boundaries. Ganguly reached his half century off just 68 balls with 6 glorious fours.

Laxman cracks century as India fight back in 2nd Test Match at Sydney

Stylish VVS Laxman gave ample display of his class with a fluent century as India fought back in the second cricket Test against Australia here on Thursday.

After the Australian first innings folded up for 463, built around Andrew Symonds' career-best unbeaten 162, the wristy Laxman led the Indian resurgence with a sparkling 109 to steer the visitors to a comfortable 216 for three at close on the second day.

Sachin Tendulkar (9) and Sourav Ganguly (21) were at the crease at stumps on a day that saw another umpiring blunder by Steve Bucknor proving quite costly for the Indians.

The Indians lost opener Wasim Jaffer (3) cheaply but Laxman and Rahul Dravid (53) put the innings back on track with a 175-run second wicket partnership on a good batting track at the SCG.

The 33-year-old Laxman, who reserves his best against the Australians, unleashed a flurry of breathtaking boundaries to not only notch up his 12th Test century but also record his third consecutive ton at the SCG.

While Laxman was firing on all cylinders, Dravid struggled to come out of the shell but hung on resolutely to take the visitors to 183 before his painstaking 160-ball vigil was brought to an end by Mitchell Johnson.

Laxman perished soon after, falling prey to Brad Hogg, but the tourists ensured that there were no further setbacks as they finished the day with 247 runs behind Australia's total.

Simply Symonds at Sydney in 2nd Test Match between India Vs Australia

If you didn't know what champions were made of, Day 1 of the New Years' Test at the SCG might just give you an idea. Australia, after opting to bat first by winning the toss, saw through a day filled with ebbs and flows and ultimately came out on top at the end of the day. It was perhaps a classic day for Test cricket, with everyone having something to say in the proceedings - the pacemen, the spinners, the batsmen and not to forget the umpires.

Just as one thought it was a win-the-toss-bat-first wicket, India got off to a superb start, thanks to RP Singh who picked up the first wicket of the morning with the Aussies yet to register a run. Singh bowled it outside the off-stump and the ball took a huge bounce. Jaques tried to play the square cut off the backfoot, only to manage a nick through to Dhoni, who caught it waist hight. Jaques fell without scoring off just 9 balls.

The Indian bowlers, led by RP Singh bowled superbly through the first hour, maintaining a consistent and nagging line and length, with very few loose deliveries. Singh was rewarded yet again for his persistence when he produced a beauty to get rid of Matthew Hayden. He pitched it just short of a length, the ball squared up the batsman and the edge went straight to Tendulkar who took a great catch to his right. Australia were at 27/2 when Hayden fell.

Michael Hussey then joined skipper Ricky Ponting as the pair looked to consolidate after the loss of the two early wickets. Ponting was absolutely lucky to survive a certain caught behind appeal from Sourav Ganguly as the ball took a meaty edge going down the leg side to wicketkeeper Dhoni. Television replays confirmed the edge and it looked as if umpire Mark Benson denied India their third wicket of the morning session. Ponting was on 17, when umpire Benson seemed to have made a big mistake.

Ponting, in the meanwhile looked like reversing his fortunes when he played some scorching strokes off Ishant Sharma. The rookie followed his initial good showing with some really erratic bowling, with plenty of width on offer. The Australian skipper looked tentative early on against his nemesis, Harbhajan Singh. But to Harbhajan's dismay this time around, he was well set before Kumble introduced the off-spinner into the attack. He was all at sea when ten minutes or so before lunch, Dhoni missed a tough stumping down the leg side off Harbhajan and Ponting survived again. He tracked the line of the ball well but failed to gather it as Ponting was already committed to the stroke as he left his crease.

The hosts began the post-lunch session extremely positively with Ponting taking the attack to the bowlers, especially RP Singh and in the process reaching his first fifty of the series. But just as it looked that the partnership was threatening to take the game away from India, Harbhajan struck. He bowled the straighter one on the off and middle line. Ponting went back and tried to work it on the on side and in the process, gets a thick inside edge on to the pad in front of middle stump. Umpire Benson showed no signs of hesitation while sending the Australian skipper back, after he gave him the lifeline on 17. Australia were 119/3 when Ponting departed. Just as he walked back, he showed signs of disagreement with the umpire's decision and a possible dissent, clearly stating that the ball took an inside edge.

In the very next over, India made further inroads into the Australian middle-order when RP Singh dimissed the other set batsman Michael Hussey for 41. Finally, RP got his reward for constant persistance with the outside the off-stump line. The ball angled into Hussey and straightened. Hussey played it off the back foot opening the face of the bat. The ball took the edge and went to first slip, as Tendulkar took a low and neat catch. Australia could not add to their score after Ponting's dismissal.

India managed to trigger a middle-order collapse when Michael Clarke was the next one to follow Hussey back to the pavilion. He scored no more than just a single. Harbhajan flighted it outside the off-stump and the ball turned a bit into Clarke. The batsman moved forward and failed to offer a shot, with the ball hitting the pad plumb in front off off and middle leaving the umpire with no option but to raise his finger in a jiffy. Australia were in all sorts of trouble after Clarke departed, at 121/5.

RP Singh's capped his superb spell of swing bowling of the morning when triggered a massive Australian collapse as they lost wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist for 7. Superb seam position from Singh, just short of length with a late swing that angled the ball into the left-hander. Gilchrist played a forward push but only to see the ball take the outside edge to Tendulkar's safe hands in the first slip, with the ball dipping very low on him. Gilchrist went for 7, leaving Australia at 135 for 6 when he departed.

Australia were in absolute disarray at that moment. And then came the comeback with Andrew Symonds and Brad Hogg. India couldn't pick a wicket in the rest of the session largely due to a combination of factors. Brad Hogg came out with an aggressive counter-attack mindset, taking the attack to the Indian bowlers. He took his chances, and at the same time played some classic batsmanesque strokes in his innings. Hogg was especially severe on anything short from the Indian bowlers. He cut proficiently at the same time, drove with equal effect.

Symonds in the meanwhile, played totally contrary to his reputation of being a bowler's bully. He was cautious, tentative but at the same time busy, pushing the Indian fielders hard whenever possible and scampering for ones and twos. His innings was also composed of some streaky and meaty boundaries. Symonds was lucky to survive a straightforward caught behind appeal when Ishant Sharma produced an outside edge off his bat. Steve Bucknor, the umpire denied another wicket to the tourists and since then, the partnership has just grown from strength to strength. The Indian body language took a beating too, with many errors coming through in the field.

The horrors of the Misbah-Sami partnership that kept the Indian bowlers at bay in their recently concluded home series against Pakistan began to haunt them again, when the duo transformed their innings from a damage control rescue act to a march towards a confident score for Australia. Brad Hogg proved why he is no kitten with the bat as he raced to his maiden Test fifty in the first ball after tea. Symonds, who was tailing Hogg for a large part of the stand finally came to the party himself after reaching his fifty. He came into his own bully self and unsettled the Indian spinners by stroking boundaries consistently. He also smashed two huge sixes off Harbhajan Singh, that finally took him past his partner Brad Hogg. Symonds would then bat through to complete his second career hundred. The partnership swelled beyond Kumble's imagination adding over 150 runs for the seventh wicket.

It seemed like it was a different day for the Indian captain. Wicketless for 15 overs, he continued with his routine and was finally rewarded in the first ball of his 16th over, when he broke the Hogg-Symonds partnership. Hogg tried to force the ball through the off-side off his backfoot, but was done in by the extra bounce. The ball took the outside edge and Rahul Dravid snaps it easy at first slip. Hogg scored a brilliant 79, which might just seem match-winning in the context of the game when he walked in. The partnership yielded 173 runs off 36.4 overs, going at over 4.7 an over, which might have perhaps changed the balance of the game.

Just as India thought they broke the partnership, they were in for an even bigger goosehunt. Symonds did not hold himself back and punished the Indian bowlers everytime they slacked. Kumble tried all his options, including bringing Tendulkar into the attack, but to no avail. Symonds showed why he is not all power, when he caressed some delightful strokes through the cover. Brett Lee came into bat with the same mindset that Hogg left off. He kept scoring runs at a fair pace without giving too much away to the Indian bowlers. Symonds in the meanwhile imposed himself over proceedings adding a 70 run partnership with Lee.

Teams:

India: Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ishant Sharma

Australia: Phil Jaques, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Brad Hogg, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark

India vs Australia 2nd Test Match live streaming from Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

India and Australia are going to play the second test of the series from 2 January 2008. India lost the first test earlier this week. So, the Indian players will have to work very hard to come back in the series by winning the match. On the other hand, Australian players would love to win the match. They are on a winning streak for quite sometime and they would love to whitewash India in the series.
The match will start on Wed 2 January 2008. The only bad part is that the match will start very early Indian time (04:30 AM).
Australia vs India 2nd test match will take place in Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Watch live score at http://www.cricketpulse.com/LiveScore/