Win Forged From Furore
The Sunday Age
Sunday January 20, 2008
INDIAN captain Anil Kumble believes the furore that engulfed the team after the Sydney Test galvanised it for victory in Perth.
After an emotive and controversial week - which included a threat to withdraw from the tour, a successful move to have umpire Steve Bucknor stood down, a contesting of Harbhajan Singh's racism charge and a claim of misconduct levelled against Brad Hogg - India arrived in Perth with focus and determination. That, Kumble said, could be ascribed to team meetings in Canberra that united the side, resulting in a win he described as the greatest of his career."I don't think there was any kind of revenge or ill-feeling, but it was important we rallied around ourselves," Kumble said. "That one week in Canberra and Sydney, we all decided that it was important we all stuck together and played a good game of cricket. I'm really happy."It was important to move on from what had happened in Sydney, and all the other issues surrounding the game. When we went to Canberra it was a good thing for us, to be away from everybody. We sat down there and discussed how we would go forward, and how we could play as a team. That's when we decided we will concentrate on cricket and leave the rest of the matters to whoever needs to handle it. We focused all our efforts into concentrating on the game."Australian captain Ricky Ponting said the controversy from Sydney had no adverse effect on the focus or resolve of his team. "I stressed to the guys all week that I wanted us to play the same brand of hard-nosed, aggressive Test match cricket," Ponting said. "That's the only way we know how to play anyway and I don't think that has changed this week. Our skills let us down."It was a difficult week but I wasn't lying back in bed at night with my eyes wide open thinking my whole world was falling in around me."
© 2008 The Sunday Age
