Pushing a point

Australia have so strongly proved this past fortnight that they are indeed beatable 8212; that it8217;s only this sobering realisation that could account for their uncivilised behaviour on Sunday. Upon winning a rain-curtailed final against the West Indies in Mumbai, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting summoned BCCI President Sharad Pawar to hand over the Champions Trophy. And having taken possession of it, his mates then pushed Pawar out of the frame so that they could get on with victory photographs.

It is unfortunate that the Australian cricketers have chosen to parade 8212; perhaps inadvertently 8212; their utter disdain for polite manners. Their rudeness comes upon a series of standoffs which threaten to inject racism and anachronistic power games into cricket. The Darrell Hair controversy, with its strong racist undertones, is barely past. The ICC, under the strident posturing of Malcolm Speed, is in quick danger of forgetting that the 8216;imperial8217; in its title has long changed to the more democratic 8216;international8217;. As cricket8217;s governing body, the ICC has finally acted to keep the Hair episode from casting suspicion on the manner in which on-field developments are judged. But the Council must know that it draws its power from the cricket boards affiliated to it. Making negotiations with the BCCI, for instance, a point of pride could damage the credibility of both entities.

Ponting8217;s finger-wagging at Pawar on Sunday is therefore more than just the impatience of the victor to get on with the celebrations. It weakens cricket8217;s last line of defence: the sustained resolve of its practitioners to adhere to the notion of fair play. The Australian captaincy is a valuable asset to cricket: recent incumbents like Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh embodied both the Aussie will to win and a rectitude that comes with the cap. Pointing has let down that tradition 8212; and by extension his counterparts in other teams.