Trial by Australian media

Australian Media ahead Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25
Australian Media ahead Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 (PC: X)

“The Bangalore bloodbath has taken another volatile twist, with revelations Indian coach Anil Kumble stormed into the umpires room to lodge a mid-innings please explain.” This was an article on the Australian Daily Telegraph after the India versus Australia Test in Bangalore in 2017.

It went on: “As Virat Kohli left a tornado of destruction behind him in the Indian dressing room, fuming he had been given out lbw, it’s understood Kumble went to seek immediate clarification from match officials as to why his irate skipper was given out at a key moment of the second Test.”

The report also accused Kohli of hurling a Gatorade bottle towards an Australian official. “Kohli might be the aggressor in the brazen campaign India is running against Australia’s integrity — even striking an Australian official with an orange Gatorade bottle — but coach Kumble, one of the main instigators of the Monkeygate fiasco, would appear to have reclaimed his role as the puppeteer behind the scenes.”

The series was attritional. India lost the first Test in Pune, but bounced back to win it 2-1. The Bangalore Test witnessed Steve Smith’s “brainfade” moment, as he seemingly sought assistance from the dressing-room after being given out leg-before, thinking whether to take the DRS. Later, at the press conference, Kohli had hit out at Smith, just stopping short of calling the then Australia skipper a cheat. “I saw that two times (Australia seeking assistance from the dressing-room) when I was batting,” said the then India captain. “I told the umpires then, which is why they intervened this time. We told the match referee as well. We make sure we (Indian team) don’t cross the line. Sledging and all is one thing, I don’t want to use the word, but this falls under that bracket. I wouldn’t do something like this on the cricket field.”

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Australian Media about Virat Kohli
Australian Media about Virat Kohli (PC: X)

As it their wont, instead of calling out Smith, a section of the Australian media went after Kohli and then India head coach Kumble.

Make no mistake, this article doesn’t intend to run down the Australian media. This correspondent has friends in the Australian cricket press. At the same time, some of their hacks lose objectivity, and at times become an extension of their cricket team to put pressure on the opponents.

This has been the trend. Remember the ‘Monkeygate’ during the second Test between Australia and India in Sydney in 2008? To this day, it remains one of the most controversial games in Test cricket’s history. Andrew Symonds had accused Harbhajan Singh of hurling a racial slur at him, which the latter denied. The entire Indian team, especially Sachin Tendulkar, stood by the off-spinner, and it was his testimony that helped clear Harbhajan’s name of the charge.

Eventually, the cricket world moved on, but the Australian media held a grudge. In 2011-12, as India were touring Australia again, it targeted Tendulkar on the eve of the Sydney Test. “While the cricket world is abuzz with anticipation that the Little Master will score his 100th international century during the second Test in Sydney, beginning tomorrow, some recent Australian players have not forgiven his role in the Andrew Symonds ‘Monkeygate’ scandal,” wrote Malcolm Conn.

Australian Media on Virat Kohli
Australian Media on Virat Kohli (PC: X)

Rewind to India’s tour of Australia in 1980-81, and Sunil Gavaskar’s infamous walkout at the MCG after falling prey to an atrocious lbw decision from umpire Rex Whitehead. India were at the receiving end of some dubious umpiring throughout the series and in Melbourne, after that dismissal, all hell broke loose. Later, Gavaskar clarified that Dennis Lillee’s verbal abuse and the way his teammates behaved made him take the extreme step.

“The misconception is that I was upset at the lbw decision,” Gavaskar told 7Cricket. “Yes, it was upsetting. But the walk-off happened only because, as I had gone past Chetan (Chauhan) on the way to the change-room, the Australians had given me a spray. They told me to get lost, which is where I have come back and asked Chetan to walk off with me.”

India’s team manager Shahid Durrani’s intervention calmed the situation. He asked Chauhan to continue playing, rather than India forfeiting the game and the tourists went on to win the Test. But as usual, almost the entire Australian media, including some venerable voices, sided with Lillee.

India are going to Australia this time for a five-Test series, on the back of a home series whitewash against New Zealand. The Aussies have lost the previous two Test series at home against India. Don’t be surprised if their media goes into overdrive to make things difficult for the visitors.

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