The Australian national newspaper criticised the behaviour of the home team

The beleaguered Indian cricket team got support from unexpected quarters with the Australian media terming the behaviour of their own players as "unacceptable" and calling the standard of umpiring as poor which left a bitter taste in the mouth.

In an unexpected show of solidarity, the Australian media rallied behind the Indian team, saying poor umpiring proved to be their nemesis and the least they deserved was a draw.

The Australian national newspaper criticised the behaviour of the home team and said Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson should be called to account for their poor umpiring.

"It is shameful this splendid test match, won in such a remarkable fashion by the indomitable Australians, has left such a bitter taste," wrote Mike Coward, veteran cricket writer.

"The standard of play often was outstanding and occasionally exceptional but the standard of player behaviour was questionable and, at times, unacceptable. And the standard of umpiring was poor.

"Test cricket is not robust enough these days to withstand these failings and the protagonists and umpires Steve Bucknor, in particular, and Mark Benson should be called to account," he said.

Peter Roebuck was more stinging in his write-up for the Sydney Morning Herald, saying only "rabid nationalist" will relish such a "rotten contest."

"India have been dudded. No one with the slightest enthusiasm for cricket will take the least satisfaction from the victory secured by the local team ... that entertained spectators, provided some excellent batting but left a sour taste in the mouth," wrote Roebuck.

Former Australia captain Steve Waugh, said the already boiling situation has the potential to affect the relationship between the two countries and urged the captains and the players to get together and work out a solution.

"Perhaps a better outcome may have been for both captains, coaches and named players to get together at the end of the day's play and work out a solution before they went past the point of no return - which now has the potential to affect relations between both countries," Waugh wrote in Sydney's Daily Telegraph.

Courtesy:thehindu.com
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