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"We walked out in the field normal. I don't think many of them were aware of what exactly had happened. So there was no such discussion within the team," Ganguly said after the fourth day's play in the second Test.
Applauding Harbhajan Singh's competitive streak despite being under pressure, Ganguly said the off-spinner has shown his class by not letting the incident affect his on-field performance.
"He's a competitor, he's got a lot of quality in him, quality players will always produce their best under pressure," Ganguly said.
Harbhajan picked up just one wicket but it was the prized scalp of Australian skipper Ricky Ponting. His celebration took everyone by surprise, running towards the pavilion, hand held high and then doing a couple of somersaults in front of the members' stand.
"Good that he stayed on the ground. For a second I thought he was going inside the dressing room!" said Ganguly to the utter merriment of the assembled media.
"All men can't be the same. It's not right for me to say that's the way it should be. That's the way he is and that's the way we all are. We are different, we react differently to different situations. As human being we will have to accept it," Ganguly said.
Australian opener Matthew Hayden, who struck his 29th century during the day, echoed Ganguly's views on Harbhajan's celebrations.
"I think it's perfect. I don't think anyone complained even though it (celebration) was more than when I got my hundred."
"That's just the intensity of our game. Celebration is always an important part of our cricket. Some people celebrate with enormous pride and great passion," he said.
Harbhajan got Ponting again in the second innings to go with his first, and this coupled with his dismissal of the Australian captain in the Melbourne Test means he still has the measure of the right hander.
"Ponting is a good player. It's good that we are getting him out early. It doesn't matter who gets him out," remarked Ganguly.
"In the Australian side, if we can get Ponting, and we can get Hayden, I think we can put them under lot of pressure."
Ganguly though was quick to dismiss the suggestion that it would mean increased pressure on the Australian captain whenever he comes up against the Indian off-spinner from now on.
Hayden too held similar view on his skipper's ability to deal with Harbhajan.
"Harbhajan is doing well against Ricky but he would come out and have his day out in the sun as well very soon," said Hayden.
"Ricky has got too many runs for Australia to get caught in this all."
On India's chances in the match, Ganguly rated the SCG track as a good batting wicket despite being four days old.
"It's still a good wicket. There is little turn but it's not dangerous."
India's second innings will still be a big test for Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni who have failed completely so far.
"I would only like to say that all of you don't make people champion in two games and don't put them down in two games," Ganguly retorted when asked about the duo's woeful run so far.
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RatingGoing by the saying there is no fire without a smoke, Indian bowler, Harbhajan Singh should sincerely ponder over the controversy blaming him of a charge of racism against Aussie cricketer symonds. On an earlier occasion also, Harbhajan Singh in the company of Indian pace bowler Sreesanth was blamed for passing indecent remarks against Symond for which he was admonished. Without creating any unnecessry row and maintaining cordiality with the ICCI, BCCI should patch up the issue by warning Harbhjan Singh to be more careful and disciplined on the cricket pitch in future.
How much more cheating is India going to put up with? Will the incompetent lot at BCCI ever wake up and fight for India's pride? The Indian team should just come back rather than put up with bucknoor's cheating.
the racism row has been kicked by the aussies only to deflect action from the string of wrong umpiring decision in their favour. there are no greater racist that australians themselves. has anyone heard of the case of an indian doctor, who was falsely implicated in the british bombblast case by the aussies only on the basis of some hearsay and his religion
I think Australian cricket team is afraid of Harbhazan. It is the mind game they played to raise racism slur against Bhaji.One thing is also for sure that Ricky Ponting purposely became runner for Hayden so that he can see Bhaji very closely and remove his fear to against turban.No one is uttering the words when Brett Lee says the "F"word against Indians which is so clearly understandable when we see itin TV. Ponting was no different when he was not captain. Mcgrath was the same. They are putting pressure so that India gets pressurised to snub Bhaji and Australia gets upper hand. It is the time that our BCCI takes a tough stand against unsportingness and cruelty of Aussie cricket team.
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