Leigh: "...the Indians, an arrogant race if ever there was one"

"Bagaric retains a Baltic chip on the shoulder"

If Leigh's Australian, I can't imagine why anybody'd think we're prone to racism.

Leigh seems not only deeply racist, but geographically challenged as well - he did mean "Balkan" didn't he?

EasyTimes, this is the classic excuse for cheating.

>>if every batsman took your advice the only time the batsman wont walk will be when he generally did not hit it. Even then he maybe given out by the umpire thus making things unbalanced<<

On the other hand, if it was the normal practice to walk, the umpire wouldn't be called upon so often. It is only because he is challenged by the batsman to make the decision in the first place.

I saw a replay of part of the West Indies vs South Africa game last night in the pub. One of the WI batsmen got a thin edge to the keeper, but instead of standing his ground and staring at the umpire, he walked straight off without even looking up. He knew he was out.

>>I think it is a noble thing to walk but if you stand your ground you have every right too.<<

Nobility has nothing to do with it. Playing cricket has everything to do with it.

In the grade of cricket I play every week, the batting side provides the umpires and the scorers. It is the only way those essential functions can be fulfilled, given we are playing "park cricket". The conventions that are adhered to, week in and week out, given that the game relies upon them, are simple.

The scorers do not cheat. They record only the runs that are made.

The umpires do not cheat. It is well understood by the fielding side that an lbw decision is going to be pretty hard to acquire, but those that are "plumb" are given.

The batsman doesn't cheat. He walks when he is out. Those who don't are not admired for their commitment to winning, they are told - frequently and forcefully - that they are cheats.

And no-one is in any doubt that this is the way cricket is played.

Cricket is Australias national sport. It is played by both sexes in every state and territory in Australia by people of all color and creeds.

Why are we criticising the epitome of our cricketers when they win?

An umpire made wrong decisions. So what? The Indians lost. Stop the whining, cop it on the chin and move onto the next game.

Remember the Aussie saying

'Winners are grinners and losers ... well ... they can please themselves.'

Any sympathy I held for the Indian team following the non-dismissal of Andrew Symonds quickly dissappeared after witnessing such a disgraceful display of petulant ungracious behaviour by a bunch of visitors to this country. I've never seen the likes of it ever before.

Harbhajan Singh is a racist. He's been found out. Why doesn't he do what any decent person would. Apologise, accept his error, cop the suspension on the chin and move on. Just as did that Aussie cricketer who made a public apology and was suspended for five matches after calling other cricketers a bunch of 'black c...s' in the privacy of the dressing room after unfairly being given out. Now who was that? Hardly anyone would be able to recall the man's name but everyone will remember Harbhajan Singh for years to come... but not because he could bowl fast balls.

In light of the protestation coming from the Board of Cricket Control in India about 'monkey' not being a term of abuse I wonder how they'd react if I said they and all Indians are behaving like a bunch of animated chattering chimps ... or chumps.

Nawhhhh they are just a bunch of whining sore losers

Agree - third umpire.

"Aboriginal people in Australia under the same constitution have no real property or civil rights than an illegal immigrant, with any proposed changes to that being met with hostility by the mainly white australian community."

Where does this utter rubbish come from? Aboriginal people have exactly the same civil rights (including the right to own property) as anyone else. Illegal immigrants don't. That's because they're illegal immigrants.

Look, if you really want to see racism in action, take a walk through some of the outer suburbs of Paris and see how the Africans are treated. Try being black and working in China. It's a no go.

Pericles – Your park cricket is different to competitive cricket. Sure I have played cricket for many years and even if you get the tiniest snick you still feel it on your bat. That said we are dealing with people and when the “human” factor is taken into account not everybody is as honest as you. So you can walk all you like but in the end its to your disadvantage and seeing that the other team has the same option when playing competitively bending the rules in your favour can be the difference between winning and loosing. (See second test Australia vs India 2008). And when you win or loose it can decide whether or not you get a big fat pay cheque or a tiny little one it could also mean whether or not you are selected to go to England and play for the ashes or whether you stay at home and watch it on the couch.

Stuart Clark, the Australian medium fast bowler of mixed Indian/ Anglo- Aust. descent is today quoted as saying that the notorious second test was played in good spirit, and has commented on bemusement within the team at Kumble's post match reaction.

Our Afro-Anglo all-rounder at the centre of the upset must be wondering what it is like to be a b_____er c_____ round about now.

Pericles, cricket teams mirror the mores of their times. That a society like ours throws up a group as enthusiastic and willing as our First Eleven is a great thing. That they pay little heed to civilised niceties that mask more vigorous attitudes shouldn't be surprising or even remarkable.

Why not judge them for their brash confidence that enables them to hit through the line of the ball with a regularity unmatched since the '20's and '30's? They have rewritten the cricketing worlds expectations on run rates, made fabulously athletic fielding a norm rather than an exception, and all but banished the draw from their lexicon.

And batsmen who do not walk have been around for a very long time now.