The Monkey and Your Mother

Justice John Hansen's judgment following Harbhajan Singh's appeal hearing in Adelaide runs to 22 pages and 8040 words. As is the case with most legal documents, it's not easy to read, but the salient points are there for anyone to come across.

First, Hansen tries to establish what led to the incident between Harbhajan and Andrew Symonds. "It is clear that Mr Lee bowled an excellent yorker to Mr Singh who was fortunate to play the ball to fine leg," he writes.

"As he passed Mr Lee while completing a single Mr Singh patted Mr Lee on the backside.  Anyone observing this incident would take it to be a clear acknowledgement of 'well bowled'."

An innocuous incident and certainly nothing to spark off a row that nearly resulted in the series being called off. Unfortunately though, it wasn't innocuous for one man.

"However Mr Symonds took objection to this and at the end of the 116th over he approached Mr Singh telling him he had no friends among the Australians in foul and abusive language," says Hansen.  "Mr Singh became angry and responded in kind.  It was accepted by Mr Symonds that some of Mr Singh’s response was in his native language."

When questioned by VR Manohar, counsel for Harbhajan, Symonds couldn't assert with any certainty what was said. "I put it to you that apart from the other Indian abuses he said to you the words “teri maki [Your mother]”? asks Manohar. "Possibly," says Symonds. "I don’t recall, I don’t speak that language."

Hansen then examines the role of the witnesses or those that had claimed to have heard the exchange. He zeroes in on Sachin Tendulkar, batting with Harbhajan at the time. "Contrary to reports that Mr Tendulkar heard nothing, he told me he heard a heated exchange and wished to calm Mr Singh down," writes Hansen. "His evidence was that there was swearing between the two.  It was initiated by Mr Symonds. That he did not hear the word “monkey” or “big monkey” but he did say he heard Mr Singh use a term in his native tongue “teri maki” which appears to be pronounced with a “n”.  He said this is a term that sounds like “monkey” and could be misinterpreted for it." 

The Australians - Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke and Symonds himself - keep mentioning "big monkey", but there appears to be collective amnesia when it comes to what else was said.

Those are the facts of the matter. As you read through it, the spotlight slowly shifts away from Harbhajan and on to Symonds himself. He was the one that took umbrage, after an incident that Lee himself thought nothing of. There were unsubstantiated rumours too that Symonds used a homophobic slur while initially abusing Harbhajan.

That forces us to take a look at the Code of Conduct. While no civilised human being would approve of racial abuse, are other kinds acceptable on the field of play or anywhere else? Why should homophobic slurs be kosher when racist ones are not? Is referring to an opponent's wife as a two-dollar hooker less offensive than calling someone a monkey? 

The friction between Symonds and Harbhajan dated back to the one-day tour of India in October, one that Symonds started with a chapter right out of How to Win Friends and Influence People. "The feeling has come from the carry-on that surrounded India’s Twenty20 world Cup win," he said in a column that Sydney's Daily Telegraph titled We Won't Take a Backward Step. "When we got here, it was just everywhere. Our blokes thought it was over the top. Some of the things their players have been given and the way they are treated, it’s like they are rock stars and princes. The Indian government gave them a heap of money. Yuvraj Singh got a Porsche. Blokes are getting houses and blocks of land."

Many that read the article would find it both pathetic and amusing at the same time, not to mention tinged with envy. The celebrations were undoubtedly over the top, hijacked by jingoistic elements in the media and on the streets, but it also had to be remembered that India's improbable win had come just six months after the national team bombed out of the World Cup in the opening round.

So what if Yuvraj got a Porsche and others got houses? New Zealand's All Blacks are feted like rock stars, as are Brazil's footballers and Canada's ice hockey players. Did Symonds have an issue with all of them as well? 

Hansen also refers to a deal made between the two during that tour when they agreed not to provoke each other on the field. He goes on to say: "It makes sense to me and it would be more likely that it was a two way agreement that they would not speak on the field and this was initially breached by Mr Symonds’ provocative abuse."

The trigger for that abuse? A friendly pat on the back[side]. When Manohar asked him if he objected to the pat on the back, Symonds replied: "Did I have an objection to it –  my objection was that a Test match is no place to be friendly with an opposition player, is my objection.”

The last word should go to Hansen, who refers to the Symonds remark: "If that is his view I hope it is not one shared by all international cricketers.  It would be a sad day for cricket if it is."

Amen.

Comments

[sankalp]

As the war between bhajji have taken a serious turn.All are saying that it was fault of symond and the australian skipper again interfered in the matter i don't know why he is always there for the war.Now due to that big fault of symond's that day 6 months ago the day will be celebrated as black day in cricket
..................
sankalp
outsourcing

[Ann]

"2. India cannot win much on the field", we were told in this thread on 2 February. I knew at the time that someone would have to eat their words (or their hat) pretty soon.

[Benny]

Mmmm... I dunno... the bottomline [nothing to do with Lee here, I must stress] seems to be that Oz is okay being called MF, but not 'monkey'. That IS weird!

[rahul]

Judge Hansen's comments kind of sweeps the moral high ground from right under the Aussie teams feet doesnt it. I thought singling Symonds out as the instigator was a particularly damning verdict. If Bhajji said the M word, he should be punished accordingly, but turning a blind eye to the provocation was a little surprising. Murder is an act punishable by hanging, but pleading self defence can get you acquitted even on that charge. If Symonds is feeling particularly aggrieved with the turn of events he should do well to reflect on Hansen's retort on his own belief system.

It is amusing though that some Aussies resort to sweeping attacks on Indian players, officials, the general state of the Indian republic. Wasnt that supposed to be realm of the shrill effigy burning Indians?

[Sick of this]

What I have taken from this incident and many of the comments are:

1. Many Indian cricketers, officials and fans like being called monkeys. Something I (and probably Andrew Symonds) would find insulting, but different cultures have different views.

2. India cannot win much on the field, but can manipulate hearings and maybe they should just concentrate on that.

3. if they don't like the result, Indian fans and commentators who have little imagination can justify their own poor sportsmanship by dredging up colonialism. Australia never colonised India, but was a colony itself. I do not believe that India has been a colony for the past 60 years and maybe it should look to moving on. In 60 years countries like Japan have recovered from complete decimation.

4. Racism is abhorrent, but for many Indian fans and officials it only counts when it is done by whites. I don't agree with that, but it is certainly the message I get from the Indian and Australian tours and commentary.

5. Many commentators are not very impressive and will write or say anything for a dollar. There are many "identities" desperate to ingratiate themselves to the Indian crowds and money. Tony Greig and Peter Roebuck are two who spring to mind.

6. It is OK to show poor sportsmanship provided you are not Australian. The slow overs, the treatment of Clarke in Adelaide, Singh(s) repeat offending over the years, not walking when given out, the excessive and blatant appealing (e.g. appealing against Clarke for caught out in Adelaide when Dhoni went off his head, but couldn't even see the ball). These are all features of the Indian game. The missing features from the Indian game appear to be playing as a team and winning regularly.

7. people like to criticize Australian players for being aggressive, but it is OK in the reverse. This smacks of double standards to me.

I feel sorry for Andrew Symonds. He was racially vilified in India. Kumble and the BCCI were too weak (or perhaps their actions had other motives) to do anything. They are supposed to lead and do not. Indian fans owe Symonds and apology and no wonder he is annoyed. Symonds crime prior to the Indian tour was apparently writing a column that said he thought the Indian players rewards for winning a 20/20 tournament were excessive. Perhaps they were excessive and maybe the players should be rewarded for winning a test match series or a 50 overs world cup against good sides.

Many Indian cricket fans, officials and players need to get the chip off their shoulder and stop blaming others for their own teams poor performance and faults. The days of the colony are long over. It is time to move on. With the population, money and enthusiasm for cricket in India, they should already dominate world cricket. The fact they do not is a sad indictment of the administration and players.

[Sanjoy Das, Kansas]

Oscar the Grouch:
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So Sanjoy, it’s interesting to hear you believe racism is less offensive than the term bastard.
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I merely said that "monkey" is less offensive than "bastard" WITHIN THE INDIAN CONTEXT. No, that does not exonerate Harbhajan of racism. That he is, and that is what I clearly said before. Savvy now?

It does take quite a lot of effort to knock some sense into you folks, doesn't it?

The Indian crowd behaved disgracefully. Further, the Indian media and the BCCI acted unprofessionally. But so did the Australian media and the Aussie cricket fans.

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If Australia was racist to the core then how do you explain this migration?
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A. The international pressure on Australia would be far too high if Australia restricted immigration. Further, Australia has far too much land and resources. The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights specifically addresses immigration (Articles 13, 14, & 15 cover it).

B. By far the largest immigrant community in Australia are British. Even the number of Italians and Chinese are roughly the same, while the population of Italy is only a tiny fraction of that of China. Clearly your immigration policy favors white immigration over non-white immigration.

C. Further, skimming the top talent off developing countries actually benefits you a lot - a profitable trade-off for white Austalia.

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Peter B was right in taking you to task over MABO, WOOMERA CONCENTRATION CAMPS, STOLEN GENERATIONS, or TENT EMBASSIES.
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The way debates usually work is by refuting an argument with a counter-argument. Merely saying so-and-so is right does not work! And Peter's sophomoric argument have been refuted.

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All countries have a small percentage of racists but it doesn’t make them racist to the core – you’d do well to remember that.
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Every single person is a racist (that's evolutionary psychologt 101 for you!). The Australian over-reaction to Indian cricket domination being a case to point! The Australian cricket fans and the press would have been perfectly happy had the UK been dominated cricket.

The problem is that Australian racism manifests itself throughout the world. India does not have troops in Iraq, Australia does. Australia is the one that didn't sign the UN declaration rights indigenous peoples.

The bottomline is this:

A. Australia has a disgraceful history of racism & discrimination. Australians were shooting native Tasmanians for target practice. How shameful is that?

B. Australia still refuses to redress its past crimes against humanity. Have you given financial compensation to all the victims of the stolen generations? Have you granted land back to the indigenous Australians?

C. The Australian government still practices racist policies! Even today, the indigenous people of Australia live wretched lives, comparable to parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Australia sends troops to slaughter Iraqis. Australians contribute the highest per capita to global warming, but refuse to accept the residents of Tuvalu.

As I said before, the way you people and your media are reacting to BCCI's domination, I strongly doubt if you would have reacted the same way, had - say - England been dominating instead of India.

The same newspaper (SMH) that screamed "Cricket's day of shame" was also the same one that totally ignored the Sept 14 and Jan 28 polls about a million plus Iraqi deaths!

[vish]

In all what has happened in the 'maaki' business, the issue I woud say is not racism in the least. An abuse is an abuse - and to a sane person any abuse is equally hurting - You decide whether 'M- F-' is a greater abuse than 'M-'. Foul mouthed people utter all sorts of abuses at any given time.

What really hurts is discrimination - racial or otherwise. Officials appointed by the ICC have a great responsibility in holding up the game in white and coloured dresses.

[Oscar the Grouch]

Dileep - understand your feelings but you have failed to connect all the dots here. You have also been somewhat selective in your commenting on the Hansen judgement.

Let's start out by everybody accepting that Symonds should never have got involved in the Harbhajan - Lee incident; Brett is a big boy and able to look after himself. However, as stated by Hansen, the whole damn thing started with Harbhajan's action, so any comments that it was somehow cooked up as a plot by the Aussies is ridiculous. Be objective - Harbhajan is not renowned for congratulating bowlers on their performance, the video evidence of the incident with Pietersen makes that clear. Hansen's conclusion of what is 'acceptable' intrusion into another person's personal space is somewhat gratuitous and is a statement of his own feelings on the matter, not a legal fact. It does not alter the fact that it was the initiating action for the events that followed.

Symonds gave Harbhajan a spray, Harbhajan gave a spray back. At that point the incident was still not the cause of the reporting by the Australians and the game resumed without any 'running to the umpires' etc. I quote from the Hansen judgement: 'Singh used
similar language to Symonds and neither took offence at that stage.'

Then Harbhajan called Symonds over to him and added a further spray, which was the one that led to the complaint. Again let me quote from Hansen: 'However the exchange caused Singh to become angry and he motioned to Symonds to come towards him. Singh then said something to Symonds. There is a dispute as to what was said.' It was from this further exchange - brought on by Harbhajan - that the complaint arose. Sorry, Dileep, but if you are going to use Hansen's words as the Bible, then you have to accept that the complaint arose because Harbhajan deliberately chose to continue the spat beyond a quick flash of choice words between Symonds and himself. Yes, Symonds had opened the account, but as Hansen states, it was Harbhajan who chose to carry it further and it was during that second exchange that the contested wording was used.

Harbhajan has stated that he used the term 'maaki' which is phoenetically almost identical with 'monkey' - a word agreed by the BCCI to be racist when used towards someone of Symond's ethnic origins. It was agreed between the teams prior to the series that racial vilification would be reported.

If all this was so clear-cut, please tell us why Tendulkar, Kumble and indeed Harbhajan did not IMMEDIATELY reveal that the word used was 'maaki'. Why was that fact not presented to Procter, but only emerged many days later?. That it WAS used is read into evidence in the Hansen judgement.

Dileep, will you stand hand on heart and state that, had an Australian player used a term amazingly similar to one on an agreed banned list and had Ponting approached Kumble to 'sort it out on the field', you would not have suggested that Ponting was trying to subvert the agreement?

Your point about the qualitative difference between merely 'highly offensive' and 'racial' is a fair one - both should be totally banned. However, the ICC does make a clear distinction - hence the reduced penalty for Harbhajan. Neither Ponting nor Kumble made up the ICC Code of Conduct, but both are required to abide by it.

As for the actual term - I'll accept the postulated relative insignificance of it IF - and only IF - in the event Barack Obama is elected President of the United States, you will call him a monkey to his face. Will you undertake to do that?

[Shayne]

So Sanjoy, it’s interesting to hear you believe racism is less offensive than the term bastard. I wonder if all of you SA racial apologists would feel the same way if it was Ricky Ponting calling Harbhajan a monkey. Australians would demand that he stand down as captain and most probably the team, not have CA petulantly threaten to end the series and sack some umpires.

The Indian crowds behaved disgracefully towards Symonds with the monkey chanting and Harbhajan is a repeat offender. Behaviour of this nature at a sporting event in Australia leads to immediate eviction and probable criminal charges.

Australia is far from a racist country and steps forward are being made every day. Immigration from non-white countries (plenty of South Asians in Australia!) has seen Australia move towards one of the most racially diverse countries in the world. If Australia was racist to the core then how do you explain this migration?

Peter B was right in taking you to task over MABO, WOOMERA CONCENTRATION CAMPS, STOLEN GENERATIONS, or TENT EMBASSIES.

All countries have a small percentage of racists but it doesn’t make them racist to the core – you’d do well to remember that.

[Rusty]

It's astonishing reading all the India fans' derisive jeers at stupid Symonds. If you are the civilized cultured race you purport to be, why is it that your main responses to him are effigy-burning, throwing rotten tomatoes and jumping up and down scratching your armpits? i have yet to see any insightful or reflective comment from any Indian on this sad chapter in cricket history. Only peanuts.

[Sanjoy Das]

Peter B:
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Just a few corrections and an modest attempt to lessen your ignorance.
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Wrong on all counts. Your ignorance about your own country shows.

1. Mabo: We all know about the shameful Terra Nullius. Tragically nothing is being done to correct past mistakes. Mabo is just a minor correction!

2. Woomera: A brazen lie. Woomera "detention" facilty existed until 2003 or 2004. Its practices were condemned by the UN, Amnesty Intl, etc. for torture and child abuse.

3. Stolen Generation:
It is shocking to hear how you dismiss a crime against humanity as "an appalling mistake".

4. Tent Embassy - "Permitting" tent embassies by native australians in their own land is mere gimmickry. None of their demands have been met.

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The concept of 20 million bullying 1 Billion is ridiculous.
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When did I ever say anything like that? Kindly understand my comment before replying.

[John]

Quote from Justice Hansens findings.
“But in my view even if he had used the words ‘alleged’ an ‘ordinary person’ standing in the shoes of Mr Symonds who had launched an unprovoked and unnecessary invective-laden attack would not be offended or insulted or humiliated in terms of 3.3 (racist language on the ICC charge sheet).”
Justice Hansen has found that calling a black man "big monkey" is not racially offensive. The Australians are therefore wrong and Harbhajan and Indian fans are now free to continue calling Symonds this name as often as they wish.
Wonderful. The question now is. Why did the Indians try to defend him by claiming he said something in Hindi that was merely offensive, thus getting him a fine? They should have stuck with the line that he did call Symonds a "big monkey". This is quite acceptable according to Justice Hansen, and carries no penalty.

[John Jorrocks]

May I ask how you are so sure, dear "Andrew", that Tendulkar was as "judicious with the truth" as Clarke? Hansen didn't seem to think so and, whatever you think of his judgment, the chances are that he was in possession of more pertinent information than you.

[OrwellG]

raykkool,
I felt the same thing, but more with the parallel to Orwell's Burmese Days...especially with respect to CA and ICC...the incompetents still making a last ditch attempt to hold on to what they think is theirs and make it exclusive.

[dove]

No offense ROHIT but, rugby players are nowhere near as petulant, abusive, deceiving or disgusting as the average international cricketer. You would never get this kind of verbal abuse on a Rugby field. About the worst things ever said on the field are things like '4 more years boys' or 'this isn't tiddlywinks'. When terrible decisions made by the ref accounted for the All Blacks losing the quarter-finals there were NO on field antics and next to nothing mentioned after the game. This is standard. Rugby, a thug's game played by gentleman. Cricket, a gentleman's game played by thugs.

if the findings of this case coupled with the testimonies made by the Aussies don't damn them in their public's eyes Aussie jingoism knows no bounds. Singh tried to be friendly, Symonds acted like a pr%ck breaking the pact and his own word in the process, Singh the hot head reacted in his own tongue, Hayden came in to do some intimidating and acted arrogantly by dissmissing what Harbajahn had to say Ponting then reports it to the Umpire without evidence etc, etc.

I agree why weren't any of the Aussies punished when they were caught on tape doing exactly what Singh did?

[Arun K.Shanker]

After reading and watching all this with passion all this year
I did not see the boxing day match guess that was one sided
Here are a few Jokes I made up in about the last half hour
without any harmful intent
Some Jokes on the cricket scence.. No harmful intent?
Fictitious paper headlines...
1. Cricket Aus (CA) may have the "baggy Green" but BCCI has "bags of green"
2. SUtherland's counter part in BCCI quoted as saying "This is international political and financial game ,its not "tiddlywinks" in response to the report the Punter is furious that Bhajji got off
3. Symonds Quote " a Test match is no place to be friendly to an opposition player" after the hearing he clarifies
"I was only talking about test matches mate I never said anything about the T-20 and ODIs did I?"
4. Headlines " Punter and Symmo ready to go to any length to protect Lee's ***"
5. English Tabloid to his Paperatzi staff " I want you to get all the dope on this Symmond and Lee affair" get up close I want photos...

[David]

I would suggest that Symonds be suspended for a season from all forms of cricket and association with the game. Then, assuming that he is not capable of finding other employment, he might come to realise that he should learn to conduct himself honestly and decently. Obviously, his upbringing has not taught him those principles. Perhaps we should feel sorry for him really.

[raykkool]

A SECOND PASSAGE TO INDIA

The saga of Harbhajan Singh and Co. seems to be running amazingly parallel to E M Forster's most famous (if not greatest) work - A Passage to India. That none of the current sports writers have picked up on the similarities surely says volumes about the current standards of liberal arts education.I have listed only the most striking symmetries below....

(1) What really happened in the Caves....OR what did Harbhajan really say ?

(2) Adela Quested's Amnesia in Court..OR Andrew Symond's lack of clarity in front of Judge Hansen

(3)Contradictory Evidence of Miss Derek..OR Michael Clarke's weak testimony

(4)The surprising judgement and release of Dr. Aziz....OR Harbhajan's escape

(5)The excessive reaction of the Indians....OR the excessive reaction of the Indians

(6)The turning of the tide and condemnation of Adela Quested OR..Judge Hansen's condemnation of Andrew Symonds

HOW COULD THIS STILL HAPPEN AFTER 75 YEARS ?

Perhaps we have learnt nothing for those who forget history are condemned to repeat it.Just as the British Rulers of India assumed that it was natural for the colored Aziz to try and rape the white Adela Quested (who he thought was ugly),a rich westernized Australia now assumes that it was only natural that Harbhajan Singh, who is just a random sample drawn from the billion strong India that haggles and cheats tourists,accepts bribes and looks the other way when shown a mirror to its corruption and horrible lack of equality, is very likely to cheat and lie when he plays cricket.

Perhaps,by some very Chekovian logic, despite all the global travel, interaction and the mixing of cultures,proximity only serves to harden the stereotype.Perphaps it is better to keep the distance and think of Australia as blue seas and sheep and and India as the land of Gandhi and snake-charmers.

Perhaps, like Forster would like to say, all invitations must proceed from heaven, perhaps it is futile for men to initiate their own unity.Surely no earthly invitation can now embrace Ponting and his men when they visitIndia in October.

England and Australia were opposed to neutral umpires for many years - the idea of an Indian or Pakistani in control ofthe imperial game on the field was strange.And now,as the BCCI flexes its newly acquired financial muscles with ease,things are surely getting out of hand.The entire Austrlian media and cricketing fraternity is today screaming the Forsterian rant of - No, No this is going too far, we must exclude these people from our gathering or we will be left with nothing.

India is not far behind in their raving. A billion indians are probably thinking like Aziz did on that eventful horse ride with Fielding - We may hate one another but we hate the cheating and swearing Australians the most.

If I directed the SECOND PASSAGE, I would show Ponting and Kumble shaking hands outside Hansen's court and the media on both sides yelling...No Not yet...No not there

[andrew]

BT - you assert that a tap on the bum with a cricket bat is the equivalent of sexual abuse or "groping someone's pivate parts" are you being serious. Clearly you have never played cricket. You sound a little homophobic as well. Its the softest part of the body -apart from peraps YOUR head. Also Shayne who says Australians take racism extremely seriously - bollocks - I lived in Sydney for three years and the racism I encountered their (especially towards Cinese and Asians was as bad as any I've come across. There is blame on both sides with both Tendulkar and Clarke being judicious with the tuth. Bottom line though Symonds is an arrogant tosser - ask anyone who has played cricket against him

[Paps]

Even if Symonds provoked the issue, and thats well settled now, I think BCCI should also fine Harbajan because he used abusive language in the field and this should be an act to bring better civilised behaviour in the field... after all its an international arena where India is displayed or rather exposed!!!

As for Symonds, maybe cricket Australia is all about sledging and provoking but thats not our matter now. We should be happy that atleast Hansen mentioned that. Of course, CA should ask the players to behave better in the field... after all, it seems only Australia is doing this....!!

[Benny]

Nah, it's no longer about monkeys & mothers... probably never was. An appeal to the Oz Government & people: please treat your players like rock-stars... nay, Gods; gift them land, villas, Porsches & Ferraris; mmm... you'll see, it's such a soothing balm; all will be forgiven... and forgotten. On-field tempers will hardly flare. Basically, the itch is that BCCI and its groupies have so much money that they call the shots... sit, jump, beg, roll over. It hurts being splattered by a passing limo. But we DO plan to take care of it, eh?!?! A warm welcome to all Oz players who are planning to join our league.
PLAY !!

[Shayne]

Australians take racism extremely seriously, which partly explains the strong reaction to the bungled finding.

Singh should have been suspended, and the judge has since agreed that this would have been the case had the ICC presented all of the evidence.

The fact is that the threat to end the tour, which occurred on two separate occasions, intimidated the ICC into yet again capitulating to the demands of the BCCI.

Umpires make mistakes and they always will. Burning effigies of them in the street and dragging donkeys around by the ears with the names of the umpires on them is a sign of the immaturity with which we’re dealing. Again the ICC blink and yield to the BCCI demands by removing the umpire.

[PB]

One would hope that the facts in the article speak for themselves. No more conjecture, no more guessing - this is what happened, and clearly the person at fault is Symonds. Go hound him if you must have a pound of flesh, but better still would be if we all moved on.

Oh! Indians are, of course racist, just as most races are. There is ignorance there as there is elsewhere. The difference is that India has no history of abuse to match the "enlightened" Western powers. Let's not have the pot calling the kettle a monkey... or abusing its mother. HS made no racist comments. The same cannot be said of the Indian crowd's behaviour in the recent past, but let's not mix the two issues together. The BCCI do need to grow up, but of the two teams, it was the Aussies who were the ones who didn't uphold the spirit of the game.

[Leon Viti]

For as long as I remember, I have been a staunch admirer of Australian Cricket and its cricketers. Why? Because they have shown us how to win and also be winners. But now, they are showing us how not to lose. They have become so used to winning that any other outcome simply gives way to rage and revenge. I have held people like Waugh and Warne in the highest esteem but this uncouth Ponting is nowhere near their class so he tries to rise to their level with his own brand of 'play hard'. Time, Australia begins to think what kind of leaders they are producing. If I were to describe whatever australians are trying to dish out to the world by way of justification then it would just be one word : SHAMEFUL.

[Dilip]

Indians are all bad sports.

Everyone around the world knows that.

Lets all hail the world champion Australia cricket team. They will be world champion for a long time too.

Lucky Harbi-jarn didn't get ruled out for the 4th test, lucky for Australia. 0-140 and Banji was just aweful.

He may or not be a racist but he is an ordinary bowler.

[Alan]

Where now for the icc's anti-racism initiative.

Andrew Symonds reported what he believed was a racist remark and has been publicly vilified for it.

It seems unlikely that any cricketer that believes they have been racially abused in future will risk the public humiliation and abuse that Symonds has received by making an official report (even Justice Hansen has had a pop at the bloke).

It seems certain that the icc will never again accept the word of a player that claims to have been abused without corroborating evidence from an umpire or stump mike.....

The morale of the story appears to be that racism is acceptable. Just don't do it in front of the umpire.

[BT]

Issue: Tap an opposition player on the bum, someone may take offense. I would, I don't want random opposition cricketers thinking it's okay to grope my private parts when they feel like it.

Reason: If you are trying to ignore this, go out and play a game of cricket at the highest level and tap an opponent on the bum, I bet they won't buy you a beer and if you want to get technical, that could be seen as sexual abuse.

Symonds: Wow, probably the only honest guy in the whole incident, and suprisingly the most scrutinised player as well (Even after Singh and Tendulkar failed to state the truth, or should I say what is now considered the truth, about the abusive language when the issue first came to hand).

Lesson learnt: Symonds will now learn to lie to media and officials in order to get justice (You can blame yourselves for that, the way he is being treated is a crime that is going unpunished)

Result: The way that this whole incident has been handled and the actions of the ICC, BCCI, Indian natives and media has left a bitter taste in many Australian.

[Peter b]

Part of Post by Sanjoy Das of Kansas

"Do the terms MABO, WOOMERA CONCENTRATION CAMPS, STOLEN GENERATIONS, or TENT EMBASSIES ring a bell? "

Just a few corrections and an modest attempt to lessen your ignorance.

MABO- A law case that established land rights for indigenous australians recognising native title. A racist society wouldn't have even allowed the case to go to court let alone fund it, argue it & then use it as a basis of legislation. It is not the end of the process but part of a continuation to right admitted wrongs

2) There were no Woomera Concentration Camps. never has been & hopefully never will by. Woomera was a Rocket testing facility. In a secure area common sense would prove that nobady would be settled there
3) Stolen Generation. An appalling mistake driven by misguided motives. It is a process we are working through and is a wrong that can never be righted.

4) Tent Embassy. A voluntary event to high light an issue. Again a racist society would have not allowed it however it was permitted to continue for as long as the protesters wanted.

Yes there are racist in Australia & there are things in our past that were wrong but we are resolving them. That is why issue of racial vilification is so different from mere personal abuse.It is this endeavour to stamp out racism that makes it such a sensitive issue in Australia

I could just as easily make adverse comments about India's past, such as what happened to widows & ex-wives but that is no longer of representative of Indian society (I hope) if it ever was.

So Sanjoy,

Grow up, get a brain and look at what really happened.

The concept of 20 million bullying 1 Billion is ridiculous. Aussies think they are good but odds of 50 to 1 are a bit high.

The Indian reaction is just a sign of immaturity

[Mallika Das]

to Sean Robinson::
The fact is- there was NO CASE. Fact also is that the aussie witnesses did not perform well during the cross-examination .

It is really amusing how 'rabid' aussie nationalists like yourself have not once criticised champion sledgers Symmonds or Ponting who are without doubt(based on EVIDENCE and FACTs)-the MOST at fault for not only the INSTIGATION, but ALSO the ESCALATION OF this whole mess.
Instead, you, and biased Aussie fans/media choose to harp on the unfounded racism allegation, and when the verdict is NOT guilty,(as it had to be in any reasonable court)-try to paint it as a sell-out; using nothing but media speculation. That is showing just as much DISRESPECT for the court of law/authorities as you accuse BCCI of doing with having their plane ready etc. OOH-that stench of hypocrisy is strong.

Meanwhile, Justice Hansen has categorically stated that plane or no plane- his decision would have been NOT GUILTY on the racism charge EVEN IF THE WORD 'MONKEY' HAD BEEN USED based on the circumstances of the case. But of course you and AUS media ignore THAT.

Justice Hansen also said Singh's penalty for his 2.8 level offence might have been more severe if he had known of Bhajjii's history. THAT statement has been gleefully seized by the aussie media, twisted out of context all over - along with the rubbish about the charter plane etc.If that is not biased journalism and thinking then what is?

Oh..and before this hearing
All the aussie media have happily labeled( 'found' they say)Singh guilty based on the laughable stupidity of Procter's decision, and treated him as such before the appeal hearing....but that isn't biased now is it?

And you criticise the writer of this article as being biased?

Nobody was without blame here. Bhajji was fined for his verbal abuse. In fact Symonds and Ponting escaped when they really deserved punishment;Thats in keeping with the long history of subcontinental teams being more harshly reprimanded for committing offenses that aussies and SA players get away scott-free on. What is the basis for that discrimination? I'd like to hear you answer that. Nobody seems to like addressing that issue. They all just happily accept it and 'sweep it under the carpet'; and then cry 'FOUL' based on mere semantics and political correctness- while turning a blind eye to the facts and real problems. However excitable Sreesanth or Bhajji may be, the Indian Team have certainly showed a greater degree of maturity & sportsmanship than Symonds or Ponting right throughout this saga. The detailed transcripts of the hearing that were released, esp Symonds' statements, only portray the aussie team in deservedly poorer light than before.

Mr. Sean Robinson,
EVERY opinion is biased. What matters is whether you are biased towards the side that is guilty of the 'lesser evil'...because no one is completely blameless...

This is a playground case- Aussie bullies started it- and an excitable Indian retorted. Then the Ausies ran home and dobbed -or maybe connived and misrepresented/misinterpreted what was said and attempted to capitalise on it. That move backfired when India called their bluff.And so the ruckus.

The audio transcripts PROVE that Hayden was not even willing to listen to Bhajjii. Did the Aussies give him a chance to explain?? The tape clearly shows NOT. Kumble also tried to resolve it on-field, like a good captain should. But the Aussies were in NO frame of mind to try to RESOLVE the matter, EVEN though Symonds was the aggressor and provocateur in chief. And then he pretends to be the victim? And the Aussies criticise BCCI for flexing muscle to get justice??

This whole episode is pathetic to the extreme- and supporters in denial like yourself, with your bogus arguments and one-eyed vision are doing as much harm to Australia's international image as the emotional Indian public who burn effigies,(often of their own countrymen) do for India.

[sean, perth australia]

Judging by some of these rambling tirades, a few people need to take a deep breath and calm down. No-one, not Symonds, not Singh, nor the BCCI, the ICCI or the Australian Cricket Board have come out of this very well. A few Australian cricket players need to have a hard look at themselves and their behaviour, and someone needs to pull Singh into line before he gets worse. Ban sledging and the next time the Indians threaten to go home if they don't get their way, let them.

[suresh]

Why was Symonds let go scott free. If it is proved that he did utter bad words, he equally should have desered punishement and forfeight of 50% match fee.

[krishnadev calamur]

this shameful episode should lead india to examine how it deals with issues of race and discrimination. harbhajan's comments -- whatever it is he said -- is reflective of a larger problem in the country, as evidenced by the crowd's disgraceful monkey chants against symonds last year. the idea that this was some sort of an impromptu prayer to hanuman is laughable. australia's conduct is not the issue here. their team's boorish behavior is no excuse for our own.

[AusieJatt]

I've been living in Australia for 20yrs and giving it back to them and they never liked it. And another thing is no matter how bad their own people r they will always try to find the fault in the opposition so can cover their own bad deeds. As far as Bhajji's case is concerned they both are not saints but Symonds is the one who fuelled the situation why even fine Bhajji anything. Symonds is the one broke the handshake pact so he should have been fined

[jim, sydney]

The verdict is that several players, but particularly Symonds and Singh, acted like chumps (not chimps).

[Sean Robinson]

How does this biased author get a role commenting on this fiasco? The Indians had already thrown their toys out of the pram, chartered a plane and were ready to head back home if the decision went against them. The term "spoilt brats" comes to mind. Singh can count himself extremely luck his comment was not picked up on the microphones.

[John Jorrocks]

Fairness compels me to point out that this observation - "Very little differences between Australians and a bunch of fornicating baboons" - is no less reprehensible than the allusion to "wankers" and the "Kwik-E-Mart."
These remarks by Indians and Australians make one glad to be an English cricket fan. And that, of course, doesn't happen often. So, many thanks, and keep up the good work.

[Sanjoy Das, Kansas, USA]

---
Harbhajan is a racist no matter what that kangaroo court says.
He has histroy.
THE BCCI are the Nazis of cricket
---
Get a grip! From a South Asian standpoint where parents are revered, the term "Bastard" is more abusive than “Monkey”.

Australia was practicing WHITE AUSTRALIA policy 25 years after the Indian constitution outlawed racism in all forms. Do the terms MABO, WOOMERA CONCENTRATION CAMPS, STOLEN GENERATIONS, or TENT EMBASSIES ring a bell? You just hide Australia’s utterly disgraceful, shameful past with superficially political correctness, which you impose on non-Westerners.

Australia is racist to the core even today. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has condemned Australia’s discriminatory policies.

Harbhajan is a racist all right. But the fact is that you ain’t living in a white-dominated world anymore. Deal with it!

[John Jorrocks]

Wankers? The Kwik-E mart? I must say that with friends like you, Australian cricketers should be looking for enemies.

[Lawls]

Has anyone else noted that in the stump microphone transcript, the only hard evidence in this whole thing, when Harbhajan is confronted with the specific allegation that he called Symonds a monkey, and that it is a racial vilification, he doesn't deny it, merely says Sydmonds started it? If not guilty of the accusation I would've thought he might have said something along the lines of "what are you talking about? I never did"

[Arup Vidyerthy]

India should have pulled out of the series straightaway. ICC is run by bunch of muppets anyway - so, why anyone with their sanity intact will listen to them in the first place?

Envy is a terrible thing!! Big Symonds!!! Even your mother knows that!!

[OCCAM]

Hello Clint old chap ...
Fancy a bit of time travel ... Oz in the 1960's should suit you right down to the ground. Whites only and all that ... you'd be right at home!
Toodle pip old fruit !

[Clint]

Harbhajan is a racist no matter what that kangaroo court says.

He has histroy.

THE BCCI are the Nazis of cricket

[Rohit]

Symonds thinks that Test cricket is no place to have a friendly pat. He just proved that he belongs on a rugby field or perhaps boxing ring. The guy lacks basic cricketing principles. Are Aussies really proud of his statement and think that he has been victimised? Thank God that the Don is dead and doesn't have to witness this stupidity.

Did Aussie team really have secret consultations with lawyers during the last test? Based on the big Mo's statement it is evident that the lawyers didn't prep him well and CA should ask their lawyers to refund the fees. If the lawyers did prep him they must not have known how opaque Mr. Mo's brain is. What a moron!

I hope people really don't think that cricket's image hinges on stupid characters like Bhajji and big Mo and their so called dignity. That will be a pathetic delusion.

[Mallika Das]

Am with TT

[TT]

I would like to know who this unidentified Australian player is who stated "The Aussie guys aren't going to make it (the accusation) up."
I think this coward should come forward. Because he is the real culprit here. The Aussie guys aren't going to make it up. Just like they don't make up false catches and coerce the umpires to give out false catches. I would like to know who this coward is and he should be reprimanded.

[Kap]

A great article, it says it all. I admit on hearing of the verdict I did wonder if a deal had been done but the published judgement clearly shows the logic (or the law) at work. It will be interesting to read the Aussie media's take on it because yesterday they all but called Singh a racist. Reading between the lines Symonds, Clarke and Hayden do not come out of this with any credit. I wonder if Gilchrist's absence from the hearing (Illness or more likely hang over)was a subconscious attempt to distance himself?

[saurabh]

AAAHHHHHH!!! Wow! what a beautiful feeling this gives me. FINALLY someone acknowledged that Andrew Symonds isn't the angel that he wishes everyone thought he was. That interview after the 20/20 WC you talk about Dileep, thats the one that has been hurting me, personally. It has even prevented me from enjoying the great contest, rooting chauvinistically for India, irrespective of who plays better. Such a PETTY outlook. He could have looked at the antics in India and laughed, I did. I daresay a lot of Indians did, knowing full well that the next time Australia or South Africa had the Indian team on the mat these same players' houses would be stoned, and effigies burnt. But Mr. Symonds refused to even acknowledge the Indian team's good fortune, let alone their skill. And then he wonders why the Indian spectators jeered at him, and did not applaud his game.
And this time he does it again with Harbhajan, starting a spat and then accusing him of racism. And expects the Indian public and the Indian cricket board to take his word for it. What does he think he is? I for one am not watching any IPL match that he is in... (this is very cathartic actually.)

[Mallika Das]

To Peter and like-minded Aussie Whiners:
If there was evidence of RACISM....Singh WOULD have been crucified- else Ponting's team would have suffered a severe hit to their already tarnished name. The BCCI is flexing its muscle- to get a just decision and support its own player. SO WHAT? If BCCI wanted, it could have flexed its muscle in demanding that aussie players be meted the same punishment that is randomly handed out to subcontinental players-even in absence of evidence. BCCI really ought to sue Symmonds and Ponting for defamation.
Why is Symmonds not charged for obscene abuse? What of 'provocation?' Why did he get involved in the first place? Brett Lee was not upset at Harbhajan. Symmonds is no saint-everyone knows that. Neither is Bhajii. But the racism card is just CHEAP-
Why does nobody (in the Australian press) question Procter's inconsistent match refereeing? Evidence is out there.(Pak Captain grassed catch = 5 match ban vs Ponting's grassed catch=nought...and there are many more).Oh and Peter- that ball-tampering charge on Tendulkar was proven by cameras to be bulls***. Huge differences in treatment of players from different teams- this is the history of International Cricket- and it reeks of discrimination of some sort.
Expletives muttered in the heat of battle, esp. AFTER provocation should be left on the field- which Symmonds and Ponting failed to do.
Incessant sledging by aussie teams over the past two decades has gone unpunished. Why? Because the teams at the receiving end generally display far more grace and sportsmanship and 'let things go'. Aus sledges- and can't take it on the chin- plain and simple.
Aus have NO credibility to claim the high moral ground and be the first to report on-field verbal abuse. For the team of a non-white former colony (a colony that has suffered racism and fought it at home for centuries and even in SA) , to be the first disciplined for a trumped-up racial abuse charge, reported by a foul-mouthed white team(the LAST team to stop playing SA in protest against apartheid, lets not forget aboriginal rights) and found guilty by a white South African offical,(whose consistency and fairness in decisions is more than questionable) is an abuse of the spirit and intention of this new policy.
Hansen got it right.
peter and like-minded:
Start directing some of your blinded anger to Symmonds, who was obviously largely more at fault than Singh in this fiasco.

[Karan Kapoor]

The likes of Peter are typical of the Aussies that cannot stand the fact that India is growing fast and its people growing more confident. Aussies have always been bullies, who thought that they were above the law, or interpreted it in their favor. Tough but fair, my a..e. Your umpires have been the worst in the world. Your players call bumped catches fair, and don't walk after edging to first slip. Finally mate, India is bigger and more powerful than you are. Get used to the reality as it is only going to be more glaring in the future. Your nation of 20 million, working 4 days a week cannot sustain for long. Once your natural resources run out, all you will be left with will be the outback.

[Karan Kapoor]

So the truth is out. Symonds abused Harbhajan and was paid back in the same coin. Clarke and Hayden are liars, as it is clear from their testimony that they were not close enough to hear the conversation. They could have only heard Symonds accuse Harbhajan and then assumed it happened. Anyway if Symonds started the whole thing and abused Harbhajan, why does he get away with no penalty? Symonds has shown himself to be a jealous boor, burning with envy at the monetary benefits enjoyed by the Indian criketors. Dileep, did you read Peter lalor's column in the Australian; do you still feel that he is not a biased jingoistic hack? He wites that he is surprised that the judge criticised Symonds. Why is that so? Do the Australians have a God given right to be abusive.

[Nick Jaggi]

Wow, Harbhajan appreciated Lee and look what did he land hinself into!!

If any one is being spineless or wrong after this judgement its ICC and Australian board as they should now start proceedings against Symonds and the other liars like Ponting.

[cricfan]

Peter,

The likes of you can dish it out but can't take it. You are just bullies.

Keep believing in Bump Catch Clarke and Integrity Ponting, who cares?

Telling me to go back to the Kwik-E-Mart shows you are a loser and always will be.

[Peter]

Like everyone else I´m all for leaving it on the ground. Just remember my Indian friends next time you're on the end of a jolly good verbal tirade. You can't have your cake and eat it. Dear (One-eyed), Cricfan; you obviously saw nothing of the incident because they were changing ends after the completion of an over. Clarke and Hayden only came into earshot as they walked up the pitch from their spots in slips. As Symonds spoke first, it's fairly obvious they did not hear what he said. Don't try and justify Harbajarn's actions with your wanker quotes. He's got a history mate and I am not talking just with Symonds. Intimidating umpires ring a bell???? And don't try and tell me Tendulkar is a goody-two shoes. He's been done for ball tampering, the worst form of cheating in the game. I know whose word I believe. Back to the Kwik-E-Mart buddy.

[cricfan]

A better excerpt:

Mr Singh had innocently, and in the tradition, of the game acknowledged the quality of Mr Lee’s bowling. That interchange had nothing to do with Mr Symonds but he determined to get involved and as a result was abusive towards Mr Singh. Mr Singh was, not surprisingly, abusive back. He accepts that his language was such as to be offensive
under 2.8. But in my view even if he had used the words “alleged” an “ordinary person” standing in the shoes of Mr Symonds who had launched an unprovoked and
unnecessary invective laden attack would not be offended or insulted or humiliated in terms of 3.3.

[58] So on that alternative basis I would also have been satisfied that the requirements of 3.3 were not met. So as to summarise that ground. Firstly, Mr Symonds through counsel accepts he was not offended in a 3.3 sense. Secondly on an objective basis I do not consider the response transgressed against 3.3.

[Tony]

For years the Australians had no truck in dishing out tirades of insults whilst on the field - but when it is returned with interest they buckle like playground bullies. Good that India has been vindicated and perhaps those Australians involved will hang their heads in shame at trying to bring false charges against an innocent player.

[Dominic]

Quite right - now Symonds should be under investigation for INITIALLY making false allegations about another player.

The Australian team have dropped even lower morally in the eyes of the world after this nonsense.

[cricfan]

What is really interesting is that the Aussie players claim to hear Harbhajan use the "M" word but didn't hear anything that Symonds said.

Michael Clarke just appears to be a cheat - which is OK, they all are including the Indians, but don't expect us to take your word for anything, Pup. Waits for Bucknor to mess it up on the edge to slip, claims a bump catch when his fingers are pointing down fielding the ball (when you catch your fingers are parallel to the ground getting under the ball), and now he can't hear anything Symonds said, only stuff that Harbhajan purportedly said.

From Cricinfo:

Michael Clarke's account was critical, considering that it did not coincide favourably with the rest. "It is not without significance that the Australian players maintain other than Mr Symonds that they did not hear any other words spoken, only the ones that are said to be of significance to this hearing," Hansen said.

"This is a little surprising in the context where there was a reasonably prolonged heated exchange. Indeed Mr Clarke went so far as to say that he did not hear Mr Symonds say anything. Given Mr Symonds' own acceptance that he initiated the exchange and was abusive towards Mr Singh, that is surprising. This failure to identify any other words could be because some of what they were hearing was not in English."