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The popular belief here is that Australia were destined to win the Bangalore Test but the existing light rule, coupled with Ganguly's delaying tactics, denied Ricky Ponting's men victory in the first of the four-match Test series.
A member of the 'National Nine News' sports team took a potshot at anyone and everyone but was particularly harsh on Ganguly, whom he described as a "serial offender".
"Serial offender Sourav Ganguly firstly persuaded the umpires to go off. Then when play resumed, Ganguly made Australia's fielders and partner VVS Laxman wait an eternity because he'd apparently 'forgotten to put his thigh pad on'.
"Please! Can't you be timed out in this game?" he wrote.
According to him, the spectators were the obvious losers in the entire exercise.
"The players got something out of it. Pedantic officials got their moment of the glory. But billions of fans and more importantly - the game itself - got nothing out of this farcical finish in Bangalore," he remarked.
Criticising umpire Asad Rauf and Rudy Koertzen, the writer said, "With the match in the balance, a crucial hour's play on the final day was lost, with not one, but two stoppages for bad light - when at times the sun was shining!
"Umpires strutted about like Emperor Penguins, holding out their light metres - a device that like performance enhancing drugs should be banned." Asserting that such finishes would do no good to the game, he went on to say, "If Test cricket continues to produce farcical finishes like this one in Bangalore, this great game's Bradmans, Gavaskars, Tendulkars and Pontings will also be soon forgotten... Even by their mothers-in-law!"
Meanwhile, a 'Fox Sports' cricket commentator went on to demand amendments in International Cricket Council's existing light rules.
"I thought the light was fine and they really need to change the rules regarding that aspect of the game," he said.
"There has to be some pressure placed on the ICC over this as there was no danger at all out there. I'm standing out here half an hour after play has finished, and while it's getting a bit dark now, it was fine half an hour ago and they first came off several hours ago. People come to the ground to watch Test cricket and the light was pretty good and not dangerous at all," he asserted.
'Fox Sports' also invited readers to comment whether poor light should be allowed to influence the outcome of a game and whether India played the match in the right spirit.
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Just imagine what the Oz media would have said if the Aussies were batting last! Its a joke.
Its really a joke to expect True Spirit/Sportmanship from Aussies, which has been proved time and again.They are the worst when it comes to True Spirit of the Game.The best example is the Sydney Test.Why did the aussie media not criticise their home team for unfair play during the Sydney Test?
We have seen Indian sportsmanship, Slap (assault) your team mates. One thing we have seen Australia do is win 4 Test series in India, soon to be 5, we have yet to see India win any Tests series in Australia.
exactly- this shows how desperate you guys can get to win! talking about looking at mirrors, i doubt if you have one. But never mind, just ask the south africans, west indians, sri-lankans, etc. etc. for a report on the aussie "sportsmanship". Be thankful that aussies have not been slapped yet (i hear their soccer team and tennis stars were spat on) for their continued antics out of desperation. Looks like there is a pattern here.
Australia has nothing to prove, we have been the best cricket team in both Test and ODI formats for the last 15 years, it is India who are desperate to prove something and with their test record of the last few years they need to do something, because India are only 2 points ahead of Australia in the 20/20 Rankings and we are determined to leave India with all three Titles.
It's a joke to think that the aussies had any chance of winning in Bangalore. These aussie journos from silly tabloids are like despos jumping up and down screaming their heads off. Don't they have anything better to do? At other times these same shameless tabloids justify everything that their players do on and off the field - take for example hayden calling Bhajji "obnoxious weed". Almost everyone in the aussie camp start to look like an obnoxious weed once they know they are not winning.
It's a joke to think that the aussies had any chance of winning in Bangalore. If they wanted a competitive game, they would not have set a target of 300 and played on even on the last day!. These despo journos from silly tabloids who jump up and down screaming like like their backsides are on fire then go on to justify everything that their players do on and off the field.
The Aussie's are whingers. When they can't cheat to win, they whinge by calling others as cheats.
Cricket was a Gentlemen,s game ,now its spirit is just not there.It is not cricket to criticize umpires.
Australian players and media both are so idiotic that one wonders whether any country should play with them at all. Just look at the run rate of Australian team in the first inning, was it some thing to boast about, it was less than India. Secondly, when in their life Australina have played for the game? They want every one to play in such a way so that they can win. Ponting is sick and will remain sick.
Interesting, Melbourne's leading newspaper makes no mention of Ganguly at all.http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/cricketI believe this paper's so called journalists are irresponsibly trying to create a situation. I feel sorry for the readers of this newspaper.
Calling a spade a spade is only good when it is not selective. Ganguly knows how not to loose within the rules of the game so are the aussies who were his teachers when he was learning to play Cricket as a boy. Cricket as a game has too many ifs and buts and there are many grey areas which need to be looked at.Ganguly did what he knew best as a former skipper to take the bull by horn and taunt by delaying the flow of the game which played in the minds of aussie players so the Great Steve waugh theory comes in play of mental disintegration again an Indian student and and Australian teacher.Ganguly knew there was amatch either to be last or drawn and he did everything within the rule of Cricket to draw the match without being extremely nasty like the underarm bowling episode which will always be a dark spot on Cricket particulatly Aussie Cricket.
Sad to see your paper reporting "crap" from Australian media! The Aussie media is out to put pressure on Ganguly as he has been defiant in both innings! This is part of their game plan - to help their team as much as possible.And you people are falling right into their trap by publicising their reports! Now the TV channels will chase this story and it will become a circus and Ganguly will be interviewed for his comment!Who will be under pressure -Indian players or Australians? As if a few minutes of wasted time would have got Australia the remaining 6 wickets! Give me a break!Don't be anti-indian by sensationalising such garbage!
The OZs are poor loosers ! They cannot praise any genuine effort on part of the batsman to save the game.If rules are there for the batsman when there is bad light, I wonder given the same light would the OZs go and bat? They need to be reminded of the Sydney test where "sporting OZs " denied the Indians a very well deserved victory.Cheer up Ponting and his men !
Whoa Whoa Whooaa Whoooaaa Whoooaaaa ....Sob Sob Sob Sob ....Bad bully Ganguly ....
I love Ganguly - he has the knack of getting under the aussie skin - The Fab 4 makes the Aussies nervous - they tried their best to get them removed - But the Fab 4 is such a string presence that the mighty Australia is no match for them I pray God to give Fab 4 several years more of cricket
Do these writers play cricket at the level the cricketers they have named. Let them face one over from the Bret Lees etc. in light that they favour or describe as good!
aussies really creating pain for the cricket policy i hope that aussies should ignore and think that they are the part of the game not the conquorers pls put tis mattar in every ones mind what australaia is thinking in thier favour is extremely wrong and stupid aussies if they want to play the series they have to be obedient and sincere, lets wait and see remaining 3 test to come what really ponting views,
We had seen Austrelin Players Spirits of the game last year in SYDNY, Do you remember?
Ganguly and the umpires deserve the brickbats the Oz media is giving! I agree with them. Light meters are most comical objects on the field; to determine what is crystal clear through a device is so funny!Vikas Gupta, JNUNew Delhi
If Australians claim to be KINGS of the game, why are they acting like usurpers. A king is a king whether he wins or looses. Aussie are no kings at this rate.
Why cant people leave Sourav alone.he is what he is,he has served the country well,as a matter of fact better than many previouse captain and players.He is accused of rubbing the opposition wrong way around,well he is giving their medicine back to them.
why do you have a view of a jerk in Australia,writing for australian press in indian newspaper. It is nothing positive for Ganguly or Indians is it.
WAW, what a cheap mobility OZ!!! you guys alone with umpires in austarlia played nasty game and did not allow India win the test, has media forgotten this?
Should on field umpiring decisions be taken by journalists or umpires!
They could not get Bajjy and Jahir out in first inning,How they could finish all 10 players in 60 overs?.We should behave tit for tat with them.Our media should also suport our players.Gone are the days when vishwanath would call back player when umpire given him out and we lost the game to England Nobody remembers that gesture.He should do it delibrately,Greg chapal asked to throw under arm,nobody from Australia feels shame about it,then why should we care them.Now we are cricket gaints even in terms of money.Dont forget bothom telling India is place where Mother in law should be sent .Now all are ready to come to india and may even clean our streets if they get good money.
Could we please have these reporters bat in the fading light whilst facing Brett Lee before they write these comments ? We can then discuss this issue further. Clearly the reporters suggest that the poor umpires conspired with the Indians to deprive Australia of victory. Ha Ha Ha !!!
I cannot understand what morality does the Australians have to point a finger on Indian Cricketers. If you remember not so long ago the same Ricky Ponting directed the umpire to lift his finger for a catch taken under suspecious ciscumstances. Ricky and his men or in that case the AUSTRALIANS does not have any right. They just wan't to win the game by hook or croock. Ganguly did just the right thing and it is within the rules of ICC. The Australians are aggressive team but need to have some cooooool brain and most importantly.. RICKY DON'T YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS A GENTLEMAN'S GAME. I feel pitty on the Australians as they CRIB for victory like Small kids complaining to their mother