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Journalism of Courage
Former India coach John Wright suspects there was an Australian provocation behind Harbhajan Singh8217;s on-field outburst during the Sydney Test and said the outrage against the three-Test ban on the off spinner stems from a sense of injustice.
8220;I don8217;t believe Harbhajan was talking in a vacuum out there, knowing how the Australians play the game in the middle,8221; he said. Wright said he knew both Harbhajan and Symonds from his time as the Kent coach and he said both are lively players but 8220;good boys8221;.
8220;But it8217;s not a church out there and I can8217;t believe there was silence,8221; he said.
8220;Things are said in the heat of the moment, but it8217;s important players from both sides take a deep breath and step back,8221; Wright suggested.
On the tumultuous reaction created by the ban on Harbhajan, Wright said: 8220;I think India believes justice has not been seen to be done.8221;
Wright, who had a fruitful five-year stint with the Indian team, felt it was not the defeat, but the circumstances that led to the result, that has upset the Indians.
India have no problem in accepting a defeat but the series of umpiring howlers and the racism row have left them with a sense of injustice, said Wright.
Meanwhile, some of Australia8217;s greatest sportsmen today came out against the 8220;win at all costs8221; attitude of cricket captain Ricky Ponting and his team which was damaging the country8217;s reputation.
Former pace great Jeff Thomson was harsh in his criticism of the team and said Ponting had no business reporting Harbhajan Singh.
8220;The Aussies act like morons and bullies and they can8217;t cop criticism from someone like myself. I think it was appalling that none of the Australians went over and shook Anil Kumble8217;s hand at the end of the SCG Test. They just played up and carried on like idiots like they normally do.8221;
Ponting, however, found support from Glenn McGrath, who himself had earned a reputation for sledging during his distinguished career and gentleman cricketer Richie Benaud who counter-attacked the likes of Peter Roebuck who had demanded the sacking of 8220;arrogant8221; Ponting.
