No more excuses

After Sydney, Teri Maa ki or Y Tu Mama to call it by another name, came to Harbhajan Singh's rescue. After his latest misdemeanour, where he crossed the line that separates verbal abuse from its physical counterpart, that famous and trite Bollywood cliché about brothers was briefly trotted out. No one bought into it, and an 11-game ban could go a long way towards cleansing Indian cricket of bad behaviour that has become almost endemic.

It shames me when I hear people say that Harbhajan, Sreesanth and others represent the "new, aggressive" India. Each such statement usually comes with the insinuation that the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly and Kumble are somehow soft touches, that this new way is the true path to domination of the cricket world.

I don't remember Tendulkar bawling when he was struck in the face by a bouncer in his first Test match. Nor do I remember Dravid and Ganguly waving the white flag on the 2003-04 tour of Australia that India nearly won. I do, however, remember Kumble bowling with a broken jaw in Antigua six years ago, and picking up a wicket. Soft as marshmallow, the lot of them.

Contrast that with Harbhajan, the quintessential tough guy. The shenanigans in Sydney conveniently obscured the fact that he was the worst bowler in the series, a liability to a side that pushed Australia to the limit in the final three Tests. Had uber-patriotic media persons who championed his cause as though he were Gerry Conlon paused to look at his record, on and off the field, things might not have come to the pass that they did in Mohali.

Fire in the belly is one thing, downright boorishness quite another. For too long now, Harbhajan's actions have been wished away by fellow players, administrators and media alike as the explosions of a highly-strung youth. But he's 27 now, part of the generation that will soon take over from legends like Tendulkar and Kumble. Is a little maturity too much to ask for?

India have had two foreign coaches this millennium. One, John Wright, tried to work with the system and change what little he could. The other, Greg Chappell, became a pariah because he tried to overhaul a structure that was intrinsically rotten, one that merely paid lip-service to discipline, commitment and long-term planning.

When Dravid was captain, he spent almost as much time trying to control rogue elements in the dressing room as he did plotting the opposition's downfall. It didn't help that he was a model professional, the natural enemy of those that would rather rest on meagre laurels.

It's still not too late for Harbhajan. Time away from the game, and advice from a couple of sensible people, might just give him the serenity he needs to do justice to a talent that was once so exciting. Whatever punishment the BCCI hands down in addition to this, he must take it on the chin and move on. No more excuses, no more wounded martyr poses.

I found it very pleasing that the Mumbai Indians' first match following the Mohali mauling was dominated by a huge partnership between Adam Gilchrist and VVS Laxman. Two of the game's true gentlemen, they stayed in the middle after the winning runs had been struck to shake hands with every opposition player. There was no jumping up and down like a monkey on uppers, no contorted-face leers in celebration. Sometimes it's good to remind the idiots who lap it all up that nice guys can be winners too.

Comments

[richard]

clearly it's australia's fault.

that much is obvious.

But seriously what an embarrassment Harbhajan is to indian cricket.... what shame is left in his wake after the tour of australia this summer!?.. not just for the "intemperate sikh warrior" but for ALL those who supported him.

finally we realise.

[eve]

You know what's wrong with the accomplished sportsstars these days? They have too much name, fame and fortune too quickly, without any time to mature and learn basic human decent behaviour.

I live in Sydney, Australia and I was one of his greatest supporters and was more than willing to take his side re the Symonds incident, blaming it on the Aussies being bad losers. But now he makes us Indians feel the biggest losers.

Shame on you Sardarji!!!

[A]

He is mad fellow in indian team

[RamG]

Dilip, I couldn't agree with you more on this! I find the whole business of Resurgent India thing, a bit of nonsense. The problem is that these kids, Bhajji and Shreesanth don't realize that you need to perform to gain respect- which they have not! Bhajji atleast took few wickets in that last Test series when questions were asked, but he still has a distance to go before he is considered an automatic selection in the team! Sreesanth must thank Lord Guruvayoorappa becuase he has done very little in the last 18 months (since the SA tour) to walk into the Indian team! I want the BCCI to come up with their report and take stern action on both of them- unless they feel the pinch, they will not improve!!

[Nathan]

It's obvious that Steve Bucknor is to blame for this whole situation. Or maybe Ricky Ponting. Or perhaps the Australian crowds or media. Andrew Symonds was probably involved somewhere along the line too. In any event, it couldn't be Harbhajan or Sreesanth's fault in any way because we know that all indian players are blameless saints (because the indian fans and media tell us so, and they must be right)!

[PB]

All sport requires passion if you plan to play at the top. However, both players have history of crossing the line and in general that needs to be dealt with.

The broader issue of the Indian players' behaviour is a mirror of English Premier League players. Too much money, too much hero-worship and not enough control. The BCCI, however, are also complicit - the FA are not so (as they actually have very little influence on the EPL).

Money is important to the survival and growth of cricket. India is the most important piece of the jigsaw from that perspective, but that doesn not place the BCCI above the game or the game's laws. The BCCI need to understand that and the Indian players need to respect the position they're in or face losing it.

As for the cheerleaders and SRK - what a nonsense comment. Please remove trolls from discussion boards. They are as much an embarrassment to cricket as Harbhajan's latest antics.

FWIW, I still think the Imperial mentality in cricket creates many of the issues surrounding the BCCI. There is counter-balancing going on here, but that doesn't make it right. Once England, Australia and to some extent, South Africa stop acting like they're the only ones fit to run the sport, we might start to get some balance. I doubt it though - the BCCI are equally idiotic. Perhaps they deserve eachother. It's just a shame that they control this fine game.

[Ajit]

Dileep, I agree entirely with your views. It is deeply distressing, as a cricket lover, that people like Harbhajan - still find themselves a spot in the Indian team after chronic underperformance. One can be aggressive, assertive and yet civil -people like Ganguly were no pushovers. Sreesanth is following the same path. No real performance but lots of aggro and sound bytes.

On this particular issue, the BCCI should also ban Harbhajan (in addition to the 11 games for IPL)for a significant duration. Also a serious reprimand for Sreesanth for general odious behaviour. I can't believe people find such boorishness exciting. Maybe this time off will allow him to work on his game and not only on gamesmanship

[Rohit]

Dan Patel? Really the name says it all!! I may be a bubuji and everything but at least I have roots and an identity. Do you?? I think not!!

I put my case forward rationally supported with facts. You had to resort to insults and racial stereotypes. How pathetic!!!

[Norman West]

Harbhajan is just another one of lifes unpleasant people. He struts, leers, is aggressive, and I am surprised that he hasn't been dealt with off field where most of us learnt that it does not pay.

Norman West

[GA]

This is truly fantastic. Both Harbahjan and Sreesanth exposed as the petulant brats that they are. They are a blight on the proud history of Indian cricket. There is a modicum of justice here, given the amount Harbahjan got away with in Australia over the summer, with the tacit approval of a hyper-sensitive BCCI. As for Sreesanth, how can any batsman ever respect a bowler who breaks down and cries like a little girl after a love-pat from Bahji. Now, if Hayden had slapped him, he'd know about it...

[Darren]

Can anyone imagine how long Bhaji - the delicate little petal - would have lasted in the days of Imran, Kapil, Greig, Lillee, Javed, Chappell, Sir Viv and Sir Richard? Real cricketers all, and real men who played in an era when irritants like Bhaji were sorted "in-house", so to speak.

And can you begin to imagine how Malcolm Marshall, Alan Donald or Thommo would have fixed the problem? Isn't that a delicious thought?

[bunty]

very well written. i think ishant sharma represents the new india. one who is civil on the field but will let the ball talk n not get demoralised by some sledging

[Dave]

Matthew Hayden was right.

Also, seriously what is with Sreesanth crying?????

If he wants to cry I think he’s more suited to a sport like soccer.

[Nikhil , US]

Why can't you leave Harbhajan alone, which one of us has not wanted to give Sreesanth one in the face ??

[John P]

Sumit, how exactly are you justifying that Sreesanth get banned for a year? Harbhajan caused this whole incident and as far as I know, Sreesanth did nothing more at the time of the incident than to say "hard luck". I think this episode just goes to show a total lack of professional respect for Sreesanth by Harbhajan. Would Harbhajan have reacted the same way if, say, it happened to be Tendulkar instead of Sreesanth in the opposition line?

[Dan Patel]

Rohit,

Your biggest problem me thinks is that you are one of these 'babujis' who now have to exact 'revenge' on anyone and everyone who supposedly 'mistreated' you Indians in the years gone by.

Instead of blaming Dileep, why don't you focus on the fact that you Indians were a lousy third rate crickting nation!

Your assertation that Dileep is jumping on the 'western bandwagon' is utterly baseless.

Do try and and come up with something a bit original next time won't you?

Why don't you for a change write about your beloved SRK endorsing those silly cheerleaders and his fascination with anytyhing white skinned and western.

Oh, and by the way I AM an Indian but born in East Africa.

[N Mysore]

All young players who have anger problems and any player who has an history of loosing control should be made to go through a mandatory counselling sessions. Every team needs to have these counselling sessions before the begining of any of the series either domestic or international games.
I just think that Harbhajan could not control his emotions and was not in a right frame of mind after the loss. There was no need for him to comeout and shake hands with the opposition players if he was not in the right frame of mind.

[Rohit]

I don't think I agree with a lot of what you say here Dileep. Sure, loutish behaviour on the field cannot be condoned. Players probably need to rein it in a bit, I agree. However you kind of seem to imply that the new generation of Indian players are ruffians while the older generation were the model professionals who played hard. I would disagree with that. My abiding memory of the older generation is of Ponting mouthing the choicest abuse at Srinath. This after the gentlemanly Srinath had put his hand up and apologised for hitting Ponting's helmet with a bouncer. Srinath just put his head down and walked back. If that didn't advertise to the world that the Indians were soft targets then I don’t know what would.( Ponting as expected walked completely scot free. Had it been an Indian in his place... but I guess that is another debate) It was only with the advent of Ganguly as captain that the Indian's started growing a bit of spine. The latest generation are just an extension of what Ganguly's generation started. Surely there will always be bad apples (aka a Harbajan) but then to use these bad apples to discredit what is essentially a positive development is quite wrong in my opinion. In the mid 80's Botham, Lamb etc were quite the bad boys of English Cricket. Botham is even known to have assaulted a hapless passenger on a plane. I don't believe anyone then or now would suggest that such awful behaviour defined English Cricket. Why then is Harbajan touted as the model new Indian Cricketer. Why not Zaheer, who is equally aggressive, tough and his return from oblivion is really a life lesson for everybody.

So please stop jumping aboard the western press bandwagon in talking down Indian Cricket. There is a lot wrong with Indian Cricket. The newfound aggression, playing hard to win mentality amongst Indian players is NOT one of them.

[Steve]

Harbhajan is a disgrace... to his country and to his sport. That the Indian media and fans keeps making excuses for him reflects poorly on them as well, given that cricket has always been a sport of gentlemen. It also shows a complete lack of character of his teammates and coaches that they cannot put a muzzle on him.

[Kathy]

A very well-written article, and I agree with everything he says. You don't have to be boorish to win games. Let the bowling and batting do the talking, and that's what people like Tendulkar, Dravid and Kumble have been doing all this while. Let the new breed of aggressive cricketers look on them as models.

[Sumit, UK]

I think just IPL ban is still getting away with less. Both Harbhajan and Sreesanth should atleast be banned for a year from all international cricket