On this day in 2008, Australia won a cricket match against India by 122 runs, equalizing their record of 16 straight Test wins. However, the match was filled with arguments about bad umpiring and claims of racial insults. The Sydney Test became one of the most talked-about matches in cricket history.
Australia batted first and scored a strong total of 463 runs. Andrew Symonds played a key role, making 162 not out. This achievement was later marred when Symonds admitted he had edged a ball early in his innings, but the umpires didn’t see it.
In reply, India scored 532 runs, with legend Sachin Tendulkar brilliantly scoring 154 not out. The match seemed headed for a draw until Australia declared their second innings at 401 for 7, setting India a challenging target of 333 runs. Unfortunately for India, they managed only 210 runs, giving Australia a thrilling victory in the last moments of the fifth day.
Umpiring Controversies
The match was filled with poor decisions from the umpires, Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson. Some key moments included:
– Andrew Symonds’ Edge: Symonds edged a ball to the wicketkeeper, which the umpires missed, allowing him to score his important runs.
– Michael Clarke’s Catch: Clarke was given not out after edging a ball to second slip and later caught Sourav Ganguly in a disputed decision. The umpires believed Clarke’s word, following an agreement made before the series.
– Other Errors: There were many more incorrect decisions, leading to a lot of complaints.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was unhappy and filed an official complaint, resulting in the International Cricket Council (ICC) replacing Steve Bucknor for the next Test.
‘Monkeygate’ Scandal
A big issue during the match was the exchange between Indian bowler Harbhajan Singh and Australian player Andrew Symonds. Symonds accused Harbhajan of making a racist comment, saying he was called a “monkey.” Match referee Mike Procter investigated and initially banned Harbhajan for three matches. This upset the Indian team, who even thought about stopping the tour. After an appeal and some misunderstandings came to light, the ban was lifted, and instead, Harbhajan was fined 50% of his match fee.