Whitey Flanagan in today's Age:
My good news story of the week? An interview with Harbhajan Singh as he was leaving. The Indian media's response to the one-day finals has not been encouraging — headlines such as "A Victory over Australian Pride and Prejudice" — but the Sikh who calls himself "a fighting cricketer" said he wanted to play again in Australia.
"It wasn't that everyone hated me," he said. "Whenever I went out, people would come and meet me." So that's how our summer of tumult ends. With Harbhajan Singh as the voice of reason.
Today's Herald Sun:
Harbhajan blasts Hayden, Gilchrist as rift widens
CONTROVERSIAL spinner Harbhajan Singh has further deepened the animosity between India and Australia, calling Matthew Hayden "a big liar" and Adam Gilchrist "no saint"...
Harbhajan said he was upset when Hayden and wicketkeeper-batsman Gilchrist both supported Symonds in the racial row.
"Don't talk about Hayden's credibility, he is a big liar," Harbhajan told the Delhi-based tabloid Mail Today.
"He (Gilchrist) is also not a saint. He, of course, pretends to be a saint - someone who doesn't say an offensive word on the field.
"But this is completely wrong. There are times when he doesn't let an opportunity go (to) waste," Harbhajan said, adding Gilchrist said nasty things on the field.
Next: A flat denial or extreme dudgeon at being so wickedly taken out of context, followed by a BCCI announcement that there's no case to answer.
DENIAL #
It's a denial; at least according to the India Times:
Harbhajan denies remarks against Aussie players
JALANDHAR, March 7: India's ace spinner Harbhajan Singh on Friday denied having called Australian opener Matthew Hayden a 'big liar' and wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist 'no saint'.
Harbhajan, who was at the centre of most of the controversies during the acrimonious tour of Australia, was quoted by a daily as saying "Don't talk about Hayden's credibility, he is a big liar".
The spinner, however, made it clear that he had not made such comments.
"I did not make these comments. A lot has been written in the last few days, but I have not said such things", Harbhajan said.
SPOKH TOO LATE #
Stakeholders Sutherland shuts the gate after the dolt has bolted:
Discipline Harbhajan: Australians
CRICKET Australia has finally abandoned diplomacy and demanded that India discipline Harbhajan Singh for his latest outburst after the spinner questioned the credibility of Matthew Hayden and the ethics of Adam Gilchrist.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland yesterday wrote to Indian board secretary Niranjan Singh expressing his exasperation.
"Enough is enough," Sutherland wrote. "Despite assurances that you have instructed him not to fuel this issue any more, Harbhajan continues to say whatever he wants. When will it ever end? Could you please deal with your player in regard to these comments."
Rollerboy is enjoying Indian cricket being the flavour of the month. I wonder if he is smart enough to make hay while the sun shines - because if/when he fails in the 'provincial' IPL (or in his next series), we'll see how fickle his new fans are.
Posted by: nick | 08 March 2008 at 22:21
Wow, a wicket keeper never missing an opportunity to have a sledge?
Stop the presses!
Posted by: Vindicate | 08 March 2008 at 23:37
Lose your Test Series, lose the 20/20 that only you value, bow out dismally in the ODI World Cup, but, win the finals of the CUB 50/50 and - suddenly you rule the world!
Posted by: pat | 09 March 2008 at 01:00
He shows again what a completely gutless coward he is.... says it all when he's back in india and doesn't have to face the people he is slandering face to face. He was probably cowering behind his mothers sari when he said it too. Hayden was right he is an obnoxious little weed.
Posted by: joe | 09 March 2008 at 06:03
Response to Joe:
Hiding behind Mom's Sari is better than taking cover under Mike Procters underwear or Brisbane Radio Jockey's panties like the shameless idiots Symonds and Hayden did!
Posted by: Vikram | 09 March 2008 at 19:56
says it all about the series really.
Disappointing all round.
My youngest was on a hat-trick on saturday and his third ball hit offstump but the bail didn't move!!1
Posted by: No | 10 March 2008 at 12:49
No: Same thing happened in a Puras match on the weekend. (Can't remember which match it was.) The fielding side went up for a caught behind which was turned down. Further inspection - do the Pura commentators have access to a TV feed? - revealed that the ball had clipped off peg, but hadn't dislodged the bail.
Posted by: Tony T | 10 March 2008 at 13:03
Both the Indian and Aussie teams need to sit around, have a few beers, tea or whatever they drink and watch the Poms in action against NZ. It will improve the mood in both camps immensely. "Harmison just bowled another wide, no way?!", "Some no name called Mills got 4 wickets in 3 overs, no way?!"
Posted by: RT | 10 March 2008 at 13:25
GBH: Generally Bloody Harmless.
Posted by: Tony T | 10 March 2008 at 13:27
Generally Bloody Homesick.
What a waste. Maybe he should shack up with Paper Cut and Jesse Ryder.
Posted by: nick | 10 March 2008 at 17:08
Sutherland is puffing his chest out when he knows there's no chance of conflict or him having to actually stand up for anything.
He's India's bitch and he knows it. If the gutless little gimp had stood up to the lying extortionists when they were in the country then I might have been impressed.
Posted by: Murph | 10 March 2008 at 21:30
Ooh, good comeback Vikram.
Looks like Tony's attracted another bitter little troll. Everybody say 'hello' to Vikram...
Posted by: Murph | 10 March 2008 at 21:35
Nah - fvck off Vicki!
Posted by: 13th Man | 10 March 2008 at 22:47
After Haydo's comment on the wahless I now refer to Harbajan as Hymenachne. It's a nationally significant weed.
All the Indian players have a weed-name.
Posted by: The Mongrel | 11 March 2008 at 23:35