India in South Africa

The ICC's rejected the BCCI demand that the English match referee for the ongoing Test series be replaced.

This will certainly stir up an already boiling pot of emotions and outrage at the inconsistencies of the concerned match referee and his rulings during the Port Elizabeth Test.

The ICC has also turned down the request of the BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya that the rulings of the match referee be kept in abeyance.

The ICC statement said that Mike Denness was respected figure, former Test captain and a very experienced match-referee. During his career so far of refereeing Test and one-day international matches his record has been one fair and consistent. He has refereed 9 matches where India have been involved and has not penalized any Indian player until now.

The ICC statement further explained that that there was clearly defined process for appointing match-referees for a Test series that has been in force for the last ten years.

It is clearly understood by all the ICC member boards that there is no right of appeal against the decision of a match-referee. It has never been seriously suggested by any board that there should be such a right of appeal.

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Reactions...
Australian skipper Steve Waugh
Waugh said that he felt no one was above the law and if Tendulkar had done something wrong he must be punished for what he has done. Nothing or no one is above the game he added

Ramakant Achrekar (Tendulkar's coach)
"I will not tolerate any allegations against Sachin" thundered the coach who is said to have spotted and trained the master batsman in his school days. "It hurts me these are baseless allegations and can't be tolerated"

Pakistani cricketers Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram
The two Pakistani fast bowlers came out in support of the Indian maestro saying the ball tampering laws need to be clarified. It has to be the prerogative of the on field umpire to decide if the ball has been tampered with or not. The Pakistani skipper Waqar Younis questioned the logic of the match referee's decision to ban Tendulkar inspite of not receiving any complaints from the on field umpire.
Kirti Azad (Former international cricketer and now parliamentarian)
Expressing his shock at the entire episode Azad said that India should not take it lying down and call of the tour immediately. He promised to take up the issue of humiliation of national sentiment in parliament.

Piloo Reporter (former India and international umpire)
The former umpire said Sachin's action did not look as serious to as it was made out to be. He added that removing the dirt from the seam was allowed as per the rules of the game but should have been done in the presence of the on field umpire.
He also felt the match referee should have taken the view point of the on field umpire before making his ruling. it was unfair on the referee's part to penalize only one team for excessive appealing when it was pretty obvious that there were vociferous appeals from the home team as well.

Uma Bharati (Sports Minister)
The minister said the Indian government had asked for a detailed report on the entire incident and if it was felt that the spirit of apartheid inspired the whole episode, then it was unfortunate. This would result in the Indian government protesting strongly.
South African media
The South African media gave elaborate and extensive coverage of the entire episode and most papers carried front page articles on the debatable punishments.
The Cape Times headlines screamed out "Come home and to hell with the consequences". Former South African players now in the media including Pat Symcox, Dave Richardson all came out is support of the harsh and inconsistent decision.
Former wicket keeper Dave Richardson said the Indians could even resort to legal action for the blemish caused to their names and reputations.
The South African national radio station catering to South African people of Indian origin, Radio Lotus, was flooded with angry calls from listeners during a talk show egging the Indian team to pack their bags and leave. "They shouldn't accept this type of treatment," callers are said to have said.

British media
The British press reportedly hit out against the BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya for demanding the sacking of English match referee Mike Denness following his controversial punishments of Indian cricketers. Most headlines appeared scornful about the demand of the Indian Board President to replace Denness as referee for the third Test. Most mediamen felt the entire episode will strain the already delicate relations between the Indian and English Cricket Boards over various other matters.

The Indian people
Reports of protests and angry demonstrations have come in from all parts of the country especially from Mumbai and Kolkata the homes of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly over the entire episode. People have been outraged and the seemingly racist overtones of the match referees decision to punish half the Indian side allowing the South Africans to go sot free for similar offences. People took to the streets holding up posters and effigies against the English match referee Mike Denness for his unjust punishments.

England in India

The English touring party gears up in Hyderabad for their first, first-class match of the tour against the Board President XI.
A team that is led by Baroda's Jacob Martin and full of hopeful's and aspirants is expected to put on a good show against the tourists.
For the tourists, Ashley Giles is likely to play the first match of the tour after a long lay off following an Achilles Tendon injury and consequent surgery, as practice before the first test begins.
Andrew Flintoff the Lancashire all rounder who was sent for on second thoughts may also be given an outing today.

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The England cricket team in the meanwhile have been told besides other things told to sport a two day stubble. Clean shaving could result in the straps of the helmet cutting into the skin of the players in the heat they have been told

New Zealand in Australia

The verbal war between the Australian and Kiwi skipper continued as the second Test began in Hobart.
Stephen Fleming, the disappointed Kiwi skipper, who just missed scoring a remarkable victory over the home team in the first Test said he saw the stress on Steve Waugh's face while the Kiwis were gallantly chasing and derived great pleasure from it.

West Indies in Sri Lanka

Leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine was the only one who managed to prevent the powerful Sri Lankan batting line up from from feasting on a weak West Indian attack on the first day of the second cricket Test that began in Kandy on Wednesday.
Ramnarine finished with 3-54 as the hosts reached 193-5 when rain prevented the possibility of any play after tea on an eventuful opening day. Hashan Tillakaratne was unbeaten on 60 and Thilan Samaraweera was on four.

Miscellaneous

Indian opening batsman S Ramesh and middle order Batsmen Hemang Badani have passed the fitness tests conducted by the BCCI in Mumbai. The BCCI's doctor Anant Joshi conducted the Tests and ruled that the Tamil Nadu duo had completely recovered from their injuries.

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Sri Lanka could come to the rescue of English cricket authorities by agreeing to play an additional Test when they tour England next summer.
India have reportedly turned down the ECB's request to play four Test matches mainly because the English Board refused to comply with the Indian Board request of playing an additional ODI on the current tour.
Sri Lanka may save the ECB a £5m loss in ticket sales, sponsorship and television money.

SCORES AT A GLANCE

West Indies vs Sri Lanka (2nd Test, Day 2)
Played at Kandy
Toss: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: 193-5 (M Jayawardene 88, H Tillekeratne 60 not out; D Ramnaraine 3-54)

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