Australia anger Kumble

6 January 2008

The Australians celebrate victory in the highly-charged second Test © Getty Images

India captain Anil Kumble accused Australia of a lack of sportsmanship at the end of a fiery second Test in Sydney.

A late India collapse saw the home side claim a record-equalling 16th consecutive Test win with a 122-run triumph at the SCG.

But the match was marred by a series of controversial incidents, with players seemingly not adhering to a pre-series pledge to take the fielder’s word on whether a catch had been taken legitimately.

“Only one team was playing within the spirit of the game, that's all I can say,” said Kumble.

“You try and take it sportingly but it hurts a lot when you lose like this. It’s for everyone to see what has happened.”

He was particularly unhappy with Michael Clarke, who waited for the umpire to raise his finger despite clearly edging Kumble to Rahul Dravid at slip in Australia’s second innings.

“When you nick it, yes you stand there for the umpire to give a decision. But when you nick it to first slip and you wait... I guess that says it all," Kumble added.

“We had decided we would be honest. We like to play hard on the field and we expect that from Australia as well.

“I've played my cricket very honestly and very sincerely and that's the approach my team takes and I expect that from the Australians as well."

Harbhajan Singh cuts a dejected figure as India's tail crumbles © Getty Images

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Australia skipper Ricky Ponting denied accusations that his side had been guilty of foul play.

“(There is) absolutely no doubt about this match being played in the right spirit," he said. “The spirit between both teams in both Tests has been excellent.

“Anil and I, before the series started, got together and said that's the way we'd be playing the series.

“If there's a contentious decision – unless the fielder is 100 per cent sure he caught it – the captains would let the umpires know either way.”

The tension between the sides escalated on day three when India spinner Harbhajan Singh was accused of making inflammatory remarks to Andrew Symonds. A disciplinary hearing into the matter is due to be held on Monday.

The International Cricket Council will also analyse the performance of match umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson, both of whom made crucial mistakes, the majority of which benefited the home side.

Two key decisions went the way of Australia on day five. Dravid was given out caught behind when the ball clearly struck the pad, while Sourav Ganguly departed in controversial circumstances when Benson took Ponting’s word that the ball had carried to Clarke at second slip.

India manager Chetan Chauhan said: “The way the umpiring was, the team is agitated and upset," he said. “A lot of decisions have gone against us.

"Of course a few went against the Australians also. Had some of the decisions - I would say 50 per cent of them - gone in our favour, the result would have been different.

“It really affected us. We're not saying this because we have lost the game. It was for everybody to see.”