Its Only Cricket

3rd Test: Australia wins Sydney Test (scorecard), South Africa won Test Series 2-1.. T20 & ODI series follows.
Current Cricket Series : South Africa vs Australia, West Indies vs New Zealand. Coming Up : India in NZ 2009.

Filed under Ind v Aus Delhi Match 2008

It's a game of cricket - not rugby or wrestling where athletes are allowed physical tackle against opposition.. so Gautam Gambhir, the Indian opener who was seen on video to have elbowed Australian fast bowler Shane Watson on Day 2 of this Delhi test match - deserved some kind of penalty.

I say this inspite of being a die hard Indian cricket fan.. cricket is a battle of bat & ball - nothing physical about it.

BUT, mysterious part is letting go Shane Watson along with Simon Katich + Brett Lee + Mitchell Johnson - who again & again PROVOKED Gautam Gambhir with continuous sledging while left handed batsman was proving invincible for Aussie bowlers in his marathon innings of 206.

Only 10% match fee fine is imposed on Shane Watson.

Match Referee Chris Broad - who comes from England & had fined Zaheer Khan with 80% of his match fee for sending off Mathew Hayden in the 2nd test match at Mohali, should have fined at least 100% match fee of Aussie all rounder and added an official warning to him - to make sure such level of sledging is stopped by Aussie team who repeatedly abuse opposition players when they can't get him out.

It's a crime to throw stones at someone but it's equally criminal to encourage the act. Physical tackle is not cricket - and Gambhir did go over the line, and deserved penalty but 10% fine on Shane Watson (who was all smiles as he left Match Referee's room at the end of Day 2 play) is nothing but a biased decision from Chris Broad.

Note : Gautam Gambhir was also involved in a wild spat with Pakistani Shahid Afridi and hence - it was his second fault and was charged with Level 2 offense.

Update (3pm India Time, 31st Oct 2008) : Gautam Gambhir, who was found guilty of not conducting play "within the spirit of the game as well as within the laws of cricket" but Match Referee Chris Broad, will appeal against his 1 test match ban and further decision will be taken in due course. Whether Gautam Gambhir will play India vs Australia 4th test match at Nagpur or not - is remains to be seen.

Comments : How do you see this fine on Indian opener? Post your comments and let the cricketing world know your views through itsonlycricket.com

Scorecard : India vs australia 3rd test, Delhi : 29 Oct - 2 Nov 2008

Preview : India must win series to regain Border-Gawaskar Trophy

Day 1 : Glimps of Gambhir Greatness after India win crucial toss

Day 2 : of double tons as India delay declaration

Gautam Gambhir banned for Elbowing Shane Watson

Day 3 : Aussie batters on roll, India still in control.

Day 5 : Dull draw at Delhi as Anil Kumble retires