In the India versus Australia crisis arising out of umpiring blunders and allegations of players abusing each other, the wind in the last 24 hours is suddenly blowing India's way. A rigid International Cricket Council, which in recent years has rarely been a 'friend' of India, has suddenly been obliging Sharad Pawar and Company with decisions that should make the Indian cricket board content. The decision to oust Steve Bucknor from the third Test at Perth, to slap level 3 charges against an offensive Bradd Hogg and then appointing Ranjan Madugalle to oversee the functioning of match referee Mike Procter, clearly indicate a change in track by the ICC bosses. Apparently, India found support from unexpected quarters during Tuesday's ICC teleconference among Test-playing nations.
Till about the wee hours of Tuesday, the ICC was adamant that Bucknor would stand in the Perth Test. ICC was categoric that as per convention, member nations had no business to complain after match officials were appointed. So Bucknor was apparently safe. By lunchtime, ICC was swallowing all its authority – Bucknor replaced by New Zealander Billy Bowden. Sources reveal ICC officials (read: Malcolm Speed) was snubbed by almost all Test playing nations during a teleconference to discuss the crisis in Australia. By virtue of the fact that India and Australia were two nations directly involved with the happenings during the Sydney Test, they played "passive" roles. But the BCCI officials had obviously done their homework better.
Sri Lanka were vociferous about the umpiring. It was expected because the Lankans are now headed by a man – Arjuna Ranatunga - who hates Aussie dominance and arrogance from the core of his heart. Pakistan were equally critical of the umpiring. Australia’s dilly-dallying to play a series in Pakistan in March in the wake of Benazir Bhutto's assassination hardly helping matters for the world champions. ICC increasingly went on the backfoot when virtually every nation slammed Bucknor and Mark Benson's blunders that cost India a crucial Test match. But what really clinched India’s cause was England’s startling support. Speed and Company were sunk when England said the "blunders hit the spirit of the game" and corrective measures were a must. The ICC got its message.
Lanka also insisted that chief match referee Madugalle keep an eye on Procter, whose "neutrality" is being doubted by the Indian team management. This is the first time when a match referee will be under surveillance. The effect was instant. Hogg was hauled up for abusing Anil Kumble and MS Dhoni. It balanced out the three-Test ban on Harbhajan which in all practical purposes will go to the ICC Appeals Commission – another setback of sorts for the ICC.
Tailpiece: The show will go on!