Expressindia> Sports
Group Websites
Expressindia
Indian Express
Financial Express
Screen
Loksatta
Channels
Blogs
Astrology
Shopping
Hotels
Tenders
Classifieds
ExpressQnA


MOST READ

Ads by Google



Font Size - -A +A

Umpiring, not Oz behaviour, caused Sydney furore: Lee

Agencies

Posted online: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 1420 hrs IST
      

New Delhi, January 23:: Australian pace spearhead feels the Sydney Test furore that almost derailed India's cricket tour Down Under was a result of ‘contentious umpiring’ and the world champions' much-cricticised behaviour was in no way responsible for the controversy.

In an e-mail interview from Adelaide, Lee emphasised that the nail-biting finish of the Test added to the bitterness that was also attributed to Australian players' ‘win at all costs’ aggressive attitude.

It required peace talks, brokered by the ICC, between rival captains Ricky Ponting and Anil Kumble to diffuse the spiralling tension

"Whilst I don't feel we conducted ourselves poorly, the closeness of the match coupled with a few contentious umpiring decisions magnified the issues and these may have a been 'the straw that broke the camel's back'. Hence, it snowballed into a crisis," Lee asserted.

West Indian veteran Steve Bucknor, who stood along with Englishman Mark Benson in the ill-tempered match, was subsequently sacked from the series after India's complaint against his poor umpiring.

Lee felt the acrimonious episode still had a few positives to offer as it made the two teams more understanding of each other.

"The aftermath of the Sydney Test was disappointing. If I can see a positive out of it I am sure the two teams have more of an appreciation of (each other's) cultures," he pointed out.

The 31-year-old speedster, who is an active campaigner for the ICC's Spirit of Cricket initiative, said except for a few incidents he has always tried to remain calm even in pressure situations and avoids getting into any verbal altercation with opposition teams for the sake of his own game.

"I have lost my cool but I am pleased to say not all that often. It is a game and I enjoy playing it. Every now and again someone plays a good shot, there is no harm in acknowledging that," he said.

"I enjoy playing and I hope that comes through on television," Lee added.

The speedster said he met Anil Kumble and the rest of the Indian team after the visitors' historic win in the third Test in Perth and felt it helped him in getting to know them better.

"I caught up with Anil and the boys in their dressing room after their win in Perth and got to know these guys pretty well," he recalled.

Lee, who has inculcated a sizeable fan following in India by learning a bit of Hindi, endorsing products like American watch giants Timex and singing a duet with the legendary Asha Bhonsle, said though he gets along well with the entire Indian team, he is particularly fond of master batsman Sachin Tendulkar and stylish right-hander VVS Laxman's company.

"I enjoy the company of Sachin, Laxman and Rahul Dravid. They are good blokes and I have spent a lot of time with them off the field, particularly Sachin and Laxman. It would be fair to say we enjoy each others' company," he said.

Ads by Google
Rate this article
 
Post Comment :
Name * Message *
Email ID *
Subject *
TERMS OF USE:
The views represented here are not neccesarily endorsed by www.expressindia.com and its allied websites. All messages will be moderated and no message that has inflammatory, abusive, derogatory language or any language deemed unfit for publication by the editor will be displayed. Though it will be endeavoured that as many messages as possible be displayed, there will be time lag between the submission and publication of the messages. The website reserves the right to publish or reject any message.
I agree to the terms of use.
  • Comments
    Hide Comments
Aussie behaviour was indeed bad!
by Venkat on 2008-01-23 22:00:53.752698+05:30
Which match Brett Lee was watcing or playing! The scrapping of agreement of Accepting Fielder's claim, by Kumble is DUE to the behaviour of the Aussies! Kumble and the Indian team no longer trust the Aussies after their behaviour in Sydney! Lee knows the truth but wants to pull a faster one. By the way the umpiring by the blind and deaf Bucknor as well as the incompetent Benson did not help the matters either.
Reply | Forword | Report Abuse
Aussies are angels compared to India
by Rob on 2008-01-24 01:48:09.721715+05:30
Aussie's should trust India? You're famous for ball tampering, excessive appealing and numerous other infringements. In fact the worst in the world. Blaming umpires doesn't change the fact that your players are the worst cheats in history.
Reply | Forword | Report Abuse
Ausses angels??!!
by Venkat on 2008-01-24 01:59:11.954858+05:30
Well, it was Kumble who broke the deal and not Ponting; Aussies still wanted the deal means they still trusted Indians!!
Reply | Forword | Report Abuse
Lee's comments of Perth Test
by K. N. Krishna Moorthy on 2008-01-23 15:27:33.643738+05:30
Yes. Umpiring added to the woes of the Australians. Lee must realise that their victory at Sydney also was a gift from the umpires. Otherwise, India would have beaten them square.
Reply | Forword | Report Abuse
Featured Ads
© 2008 Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd. All rights reserved
The Indian Express Group | Advertise With Us | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Work With Us | Site Map