04 January,2009 07:34 AM IST | | Sanjjeev K Samyal
Two bad! Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds and India offie Harbhajan Singh during the Sydney Test last year. pic/ap
Exactly a year after the infamous Sydney Test, Sunday MiD DAY finds that the men in question, Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds have not exactly emerged better cricketers
ONE wonders what New Year resolution will Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds adopt this time. They certainly would not like a repeat of the events of last year. The year 2008 could not have started on a more inauspicious note for them, when exactly 12 months ago to this day, the two got embroiled in the infamous racism controversy Sydneygate.
The incidents of the Third Day of the second Test at Sydney triggered off one of the most ugly episodes in the game's history, when Symonds accused Harbhajan of a racial slur during an on-field argument.
It snowballed into a situation where the series was in danger of being scrapped as India threatened to return home if the charge was not withdrawn.
Fortunately, better sense prevailed. But looking back at how these two cricketers have gone about their business since, no one is surprised that the two were at the centre of the ugly controversy.
Symonds' charge against Harbhajan was not proven, but the Indian offie seemed to learn little from the reprieve. He continued his maverick ways. His volatile temperament was to the fore again in the Indian Premier League in April. He crossed all limits when he slapped his India teammate and Kings XI Punjab player S Sreesanth after an IPL match in Mohali. What was even more shocking was that he was the captain of the Mumbai Indians team in that game and was expected to set an example for his team.
He served a long period of suspension from the IPL and international cricket. He lost out on a hefty monetary amount as well for missing the rest of the IPL games. He has proved himself as a useful lower-order batsman and while his bowling success has been average, more is expected of him now as the leader of India's spin bowling attack after Anil Kumble's retirement.
On the other hand, Symonds has not been wiser after his experience either. He messed up his career gravely through his heavy drinking binges and disciplinary issues.
When he decided to skip a team meeting for a fishing trip in Darwin before the Bangladesh ODI series, it appeared that Cricket Australia
would call time on Symonds' career. It was also reported that he had a blow-up in a hotel bar in the Caribbean with vice-captain Michael Clarke.
As part of his punishment and rehab, he missed the India tour. Recalled for the New Zealand series, the burly all-rounder was again in the news for the wrong reasons when he was involved in an incident with a fan in a Brisbane bar.
Symonds and Harbhajan are clearly treading on thin ice. One more mistake and the repercussions could be grave.
One hopes, to stay away from controversies is part of their New Year resolutions. For the two biggest hot heads in world cricket, it is time to cool off. After all, they want to be remembered for their skill and not for their misdemeanors.
