India in Australia: No love lost in this modern-day rivalry
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Sunday, 7 December 2014 By Unknown
There is no love lost when it is India vs Australia. On-field animosity goes up a few notches, exchange of words is never pleasant, heated moments are way too regular and sarcasm from close-in fielders is at its best to make the Australian summer more scorching.
It's not just the contest between bat and ball that places India vs Australia second only to Indo-Pak in cricketing rivalries, with the latter touching many more frontiers than just the gentleman's game.
There is no dearth of controversies, especially when India tour Australia. Here, we picked five that remain fresh in the mind of fans.
When Gavaskar walked out with his batting partner
Melbourne Test, 1981: After the batting maestro thought he was wrongly given out LBW by umpire Rex Whitehead, an unhappy Gavaskar walked off the field taking his fellow opener Chetan Chauhan along. After India manager Shahid Durrani asked about the issue, Gavaskar clarified that it wasn't the dismissal but the personal abuse from Australia pacer Dennis Lillee that made him leave the field.
McGrath vs Tendulkar
Adelaide Test, 1999: The 1999 series is majorly known as the series of Sachin Tendulkar vs Glenn McGrath. Tendulkar was adjudged lbw by umpire Daryl Harper while ducking to avoid a low-rising bouncer from McGrath. The ball rapped him on the shoulder but umpire Harper raised his finger without any hesitation, giving Sachin out LBW. After Tendulkar's dodgy dismissal, the media and former players slammed Harper's umpiring.
Monkeygate Controversy
Sydney Test, 2008: The 'Monkeygate' controversy is perhaps the biggest face-off ever between the two countries. The argument between Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds started when the Indian offsppinner was accused by the former Australian allrounder for calling him a "monkey". The spat between the two took dangerous turn as a disciplinary committee by the court was set up to look into the matter as a case of racial abuse, while India - captained by Anil Kumble - threatened to boycott the tour if any action taken against Harbhajan who denied the allegations and had the backing of Tendulkar, who was at the crease during the heated argument. Harbhajan, as punishment, was given a three-match ban that was later revoked after India's strong objection.
Ganguly vs Ponting:
Sydney Test, 2008: After the Monkeygate scandal, the Sydney Test was marred by another controversy. Ganguly was caught by Michael Clarke in the slips. Replays were inconclusive as to whether the catch was taken cleanly but Clarke said he did. Captain Ponting supported Clarke and raised his finger towards Ganguly asking him to walk off as he was out. Ganguly, after the match, said Ponting was no one to decide for the dismissal. Supporting Ganguly, Kumble also slammed Ponting and the Australian team saying "only one team played in the spirit of the game."
Virat Kohli's 'finger salute'
Sydney Test, 2012: India's star batsman Virat Kohli is the latest to feature in the list of controversies between India and Australia, ending India's 4-0 humiliation on a sour note.
Fielding at the boundary, Kohli raised his middle finger after being sick of the sledging from the crowd. Kohli was fined 50 per cent of his match for his action.
Kohli then used Twitter to present his personal viewpoint on the matter. "I agree cricketers don't have to retaliate, what when the crowd says the worst things about your mother and sister, the worst I've heard," he tweeted.
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