What about sportsman spirit????????

Every single individual follows some sport religiously or atleast have watched it simply for the spirit with which sport is played.The few things that comes to one's mind when one talks about the important of sports or games at a very young age is the fact that:sports instill passion,discipline,importance of working as a team,to be able to accept failure,to keep your head on your shoulders when you keep winning and above all the spirit of sportsmanship.

After seeing the final days play of the Sydney Test between Australia and India, all I thought was we do not go to the same school as the Australian cricket team(atleast with respect to sportsman spirit!!).After four days of intense cricket with some dubious umipring decisions and some racist allegations,the final day's play looked like it was going to be a great contest....and it was everything but a contest.There was this man called Adam Gilchrist, who walks when he is out and so asserts to be a very honest and gentleman cricketer..I believed so!!!He was one guy I respected in the current australian team until today. Afetr seeing Rahul Dravid's dismissal I just had my opinions turned.There was n0 one but the batsman and the wicket keeper who could have known whether the batsmen truly nicked the ball...But gilly went up and appealed......some one who claims to be a gentleman cricketer???

Sourav Ganguly's dismissal was yet another dubious umpiring decision, with the umpiring prefering to clear his doubts with the fielding side captain.Had this man Ricky Ponting walked when he was out in the first innings his words could have been taken...But a man who does not walk when he is out...how could one even take his word about a catch being taken clean.....And again,Ponting appealed or a catch that he grounded and reacted as though no umpring decision went his way....

It has been quite a while since the australian team has been given a tough fight and they have turned every stone to dent the Indian morale...racist allegations, such unhealthy appeals.A few years ago, Australia was led by this great guy called Steve Waugh and every player swore by the code of conduct he had for his team.The whole world respected Steve and his team.No one has anything against Australia or its victories.But is it fair to stoop so low to win a match?????australia have won but the game has lost.

I remember watching some great cricket moments on TV.Courtney Walsh, the great bowler from West Indies refused to mankade the last Pakistani batsman, in a World Cup(1987)League match.Remember mankading is legal in cricket.Had he done that West Indies would have won the match and booked itself a place in the semi-final but Pakistan won that match and West Indies lost.I has a year when this incident happen...but this incident has been one of the biggest incidents where the game won!!!!!I dont remember the batsman who won the match for Pakistan...but I will never be able to forget this act bt Courtney Walsh.This is why we call cricket The gentleman's game.And today cricket is everything but the gentleman's game.

I never thought a five day test could teach me so much
1. Winning is not everything....that too at the cost of one's conscience.
2.Determination and fighting spirit will take you places(Anil Kumble u are the hero of this match)
3.Accepting defeat with grace.(Even after all that happened,Anil Kumble said we must have hung in there and played better in the last session).
4.Patience is a virtue.Anil Kumble again.Minced no words, did not say a wrong word!!!And to that guy called Rahul Dravid, how long will you keep ur anger to yourself.After his dubious dismissal,all he did was give a sarcastic smile!!!If there is some medal for not showing anger, rahul wins it hands down!!!!
5.Agression is not about shouting and attacking.Watch Kumble's innings, he was just not going to get out today.

After all that is said and done, come on India we need to fight this series out and as far as this match is concerned I will remember it as the match that was played with the least spirit and this australian team does not deserve to break Steve's record wins!!!!!!!!!!