I think the media on both sides has played a big role in making things look much worse than they have been. They generated many rumors, suggested things that never existed. Unfortunately the high quality cricket played throughout the series has been over shadowed by silly controversies. Mathew Hayden apparently gave an interview to some Australian news channel calling Harbhajan Singh an "obnoxious little weed" and Indian news channels have been running that story constantly.

__________________
My computer can beat me at chess.....but its no match for me at kick boxing.

What do you mean one's punished harshly and one gets away with it? One broke the 'Spirit of the Laws of Cricket' and one did not, would that explain what happened more accurately?

It is against the Spirit of the Laws of Cricket to gesture to the pavillion when you have dismissed a batsman - and that's why Sharma was punished. As far as the Laws are concerned Symonds did nothing wrong - regardless of what you or anyone else might think.

When are the BCCI and Indian players going to understand that the Australians are doing it deliberately?

It's all part of their 'mental disintegration' tactics which they've used since Steve Waugh brought the expression into the game. They're trying to get under players skins so they forget about what they're meant to be doing and play poor cricket as a result. They're testing the players mental ability as much as their technical playing ability, because they know damned well that the step up to International Cricket is all mental.

Why are you surprised that they test out Sharma, being relatively new to the International Cricket scene? Why don't they test out someone like Dravid or Ganguly in the same way?

It's all tactics and it seems to be working beautifully doesn't it?

Australia are not as strong a side as they once were - they know it and so do everyone else. India and I'll be fair and honest here are a pretty decent International Cricket side in all forms of the game and their only real weakness is in their seam bowling department and I'm sure many would even dispute that - they still have some decent seamers in their ranks.

Australia see the threat that India provide and because they can't boss them the way they would with most other sides with their skill and ability because they're weaker now, they'll attack them with mental disintegration tactics instead - particularly the vulnerable players.

The Australian 'win-psyche' is particularly powerful in them and it's one of the reasons they are and have been so successful. Not just because they have strong players which they do, but because all their players are mentally strong.

Take it as a compliment they're trying to 'get under players skins' because then you know they're fearful of winning with skill and ability alone. But what the Indian players musn't do is react to them - ignore it and concentrate on what they're there to do and don't behave like school children with sayings like Shah's "The Australians started it."

This is International Cricket and not some backstreet playground.

Right said. This has been their strategy. I wonder if it is working the right way for India.

In England the players (Prior and company) started the Jelly beans incident followed by some verbal abuse through out. It fired up Zaheer and the other Indians so much that they destroyed the England team not only in that match, but even won the series.

In Australia again it was the Harbhajan incident that produced great cricket. Indian went on the win the next one against all predictions.

So, may be its working in the right way for India.

But I agree with you when you say that people like Sharma and Bhajji should be more careful and should control themselves. I am sure Sharma will learn the mental games with time. Its a new thing for the Indians and they will take some time to learn it.

__________________
My computer can beat me at chess.....but its no match for me at kick boxing.

I think Ishant Sharma is a talented cricketer who can go a long way in Indian cricket if he keeps his head. Irrespective of tits and tats (pun not intended), he should not be one of those going down the drain of controversy. I am not saying that he or anyone else should show the other cheek when slapped, but keeping oneself in control and prioritising the game will benefit the player more than anything else.

I agree Nostromo

Ishant seems to progressing way to fast through the University of sledging. Allthough I suspect his getting ultra agressive has probably helped his game becuase he is bowling very well.

Maybe he needs a bit of niggle and atmosphere to bring out the best in him likewise Symonds to an extent.

I saw an interveiw with Sreenath the other day and my pre concieved idea about him changed totally after watching it.

I saw a thoughtful intelligent young man explain that when on the feild he plays aggressive takes in the atmosphere and reacts. But he reminded us that was what he does on the feild not off it.

The Australians have brought the game to disrepute the most in the past 15 odd years or so and yet their cricketers have got away with virtually anything and everything. In my opinion Australias record in the past 15 odd years should be deleted from records and all their current players (barring a couple of players) should be banned for life.