PTI
Melbourne, Jan 9: It's not only the Indians who feel that the current Australian cricket team is arrogant. Even a former Aussie player believes that the players don't play in the spirit of the game and they need 'counselling'.
According to Geoff Lawson, the Australians are considered to be 'arrogant' by the rest of the cricket world and it's time that the players behave properly on and off the cricket pitch.
Lawson, currently coaching the Pakistan team, has also claimed that the Australians did not play within the spirit of the game in their 122-run second Test win over India at the Sydney Cricket Ground last week.
"There's certainly been a lot of feeling from ex-players who think the baggy green has been disrespected. Some of these (current) players need to be spoken to. I certainly don't agree with dragging (Ricky) Ponting's captaincy, I just think a bit of counselling needs to be done with how these players perceive themselves."
"As an ex-Australian player I was pretty disappointed. Perception is everything and the outside world thinks that this Australian team is arrogant and not well behaved."
"Whether the team themselves think that is another issue, but I can guarantee you the rest of the cricket world certainly feel that about this cricket team," The Daily Telegraph in Sydney quoted Lawson as saying.
Appreciating the International Cricket Council's handling of the current crisis, Lawson said that the panel made a 'common sense solution' in sacking umpire Steve Bucknor from the third Test in Perth.
However, he believes the fallout from the Harbhajan Singh racism charge and the subsequent allegations of on-field verbal abuse by Australia's Brad Hogg could change the cricketing landscape.
Lawson said the tit-for-tat nature of the sledging allegations could open the floodgates to match referee charges and lead to the end of all on-field banter. "Maybe this is a bit of a watershed in what is said on the field."
"Chat on the field has gone on forever but I've got a feeling what's happened here and particularly the counter charging against Brad Hogg I think from now on teams will actually have to be totally silent on the field because otherwise everyone is going to get reported and the match referee will be having hearings everyday."
Kumble says he still respects Australian players
Sydney: India captain Anil Kumble says he harbours no ill feelings towards Australia's players after last week's bad-tempered second Test and wants to meet with Ricky Ponting to clear up any differences.
Kumble admitted he was upset at some of the actions of Australia's players during the match but did not hold any grudges. "It was only meant for the Sydney game," he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. "I have great respect and regard for all the players who play for Australia.’’
"It was just one of those incidents which everybody has seen."
Kumble accused the Australians of breaching the spirit of cricket in a comment that evoked memories of Bill Woodfull's claims against the English in the 1932-33 Bodyline series.
The Australians have defended their actions, saying they played the game hard but fair, and have been backed up by Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland.
The International Cricket Council has appointed a mediator to speak with Kumble and Ponting before the next match but the Indian said he was more than happy to meet with him.
"It's important that Ricky and I get together and address it," he said.
"On behalf of my team, I can assure that we will play in the right spirit. It will be a hard-fought match. It's important that whatever cricket that we play is remembered."
ICC appoints Hansen to hear Harbhajan appeal
Reuters
Mumbai: New Zealand High Court judge John Hansen has been appointed as commissioner to hear India spinner Harbhajan Singh's code of conduct appeal, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Wednesday.
Off-spinner Harbhajan was handed a three-Test ban for allegedly racially abusing Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the second Test in Sydney that ended in an acrimonious defeat for the touring Indians.
The Indian board appealed against match referee Mike Procter's decision after Harbhajan pleaded not guilty to the charge and initially suspended their tour of Australia.
Harbhajan has been allowed to continue playing pending the verdict of the appeal. "No time, date or venue for the appeal have yet been fixed," the ICC said in a statement.
"The process indicates that the appeal should be heard within seven days of the commissioner being appointed. However, this time period may be extended if circumstances dictate."
The Indian board announced after an emergency meeting on Tuesday they will resume the tour but would continue to protest against the charge against Harbhajan.
Their decision came after the ICC sacked umpire Steve Bucknor from next week's third Test follow widespread criticism of his performance in Sydney. "Under the provisions of the ICC code of conduct, Justice Hansen has the power to increase, decrease, amend or otherwise substitute his own decision from that made at the previous hearing, and his decision is final and binding," the ICC said in a statement said.