Ricky Ponting has rake dup an issue that caused much angst down under on India’s last tour. But whether he is in a position to judge the decision of other captains is open to discussion.
Ricky Ponting has expressed disappointment over captains’ decision to not accept pact between captains on the matter of catches. But Australians, who are not known for walking, which is why Adam Gilchrsit stands out much like a sore point in the team, are now wanting teams to accept them at face value when the appeals made down under were far from convincing for foreign captains to trust his decision.
Two cases in point involve Michael Clarke claiming a catch and Ponting virtually forcing it down the Indians that since he thinks it was taken cleanly, the visitors should accept it. Another involved himself claiming a bat pad catch off Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
While Ponting may feel that the game is stuck because of the unwillingness of the captains to take each other’s word as final, but the truth of the matter is the decisions that involved did not inspire confidence and none would blame Anil Kumble if he appears reluctant to make the same mistake twice.
Ponting should perhaps have a look at Australia’s own behaviour before considering the reasons why teams such as India are wary of getting their fingers burnt twice. After all the Australians have not really won the respect they should ideally deserve as world champions and once again, it is not their discipline to the game that is in question but their attitude which over the years has earned them an unenviable reputation.
Perhaps the Indians have missed a trick by not appealing for the referral system and opt for reviews which would have perhaps helped assuage the trouble brought on by one too many erroneous umpiring decisions in their last acrimonious encounter.
Perhaps some things are best left to the umpire. If the Australians cannot be honest enough to make the decision to walk or reiterate that it is the umpire’s job and not their morality in question, perhaps the subject of catches are best left to the men who the Australians think matter and only them.
