indianexpress.com :: Sydney Row: ‘That’s just the way Australia operates’

Sydney Row: ‘That’s just the way Australia operates’

Agencies

Posted online: Friday, January 25, 2008 at 1457 hrs IST

New Delhi, January 25:
Former Australian coach John Buchanan sees nothing wrong in the ‘aggressive’ attitude of the world champions and feels it is the Indian team which should have been better prepared for hostile episodes like the Sydney furore Down Under.

"In Australia, we tend to test people and observe how they respond. So we have a go at the people and then rate them as good, bad or midway," Buchanan said in an interview in the latest issue of The Week, which hits the stands on Saturday.

"If someone is not good enough to take it, we give more stick. That is just the way Australia operates. I would expect India to understand that as some of the current players have been here once or twice before. They should have explained to their team about how the rival team works off and on the field," he added.

The Sydney Test, which was marred by poor umpiring and racism row involving Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds, also led to widespread criticism of Australia's overtly aggressive approach.

The controversy put India's tour in jeopardy before the ICC stepped in to broker peace between the two sides.

But Buchanan felt the matter was a minor one before being blown out of proportion by a hyperactive media.

"Most Aussies are aggressive in the way they play cricket. However, I think the media has exaggerated notions of aggression and racism beyond that was acceptable before," he said.

Buchanan felt cultural differences between the two teams also had a part to play in the controversy snowballing into a crisis.

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Sydney Row: ‘That’s just the way Australia operates’ Agencies Posted online: Friday, January 25, 2008 at 1457 hrs IST New Delhi, January 25: Former Australian coach John Buchanan sees nothing wrong in the ‘aggressive’ attitude of the world champions and feels it is the Indian team which should have been better prepared for hostile episodes like the Sydney furore Down Under. "In Australia, we tend to test people and observe how they respond. So we have a go at the people and then rate them as good, bad or midway," Buchanan said in an interview in the latest issue of The Week, which hits the stands on Saturday. "If someone is not good enough to take it, we give more stick. That is just the way Australia operates. I would expect India to understand that as some of the current players have been here once or twice before. They should have explained to their team about how the rival team works off and on the field," he added. The Sydney Test, which was marred by poor umpiring and racism row involving Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds, also led to widespread criticism of Australia's overtly aggressive approach. The controversy put India's tour in jeopardy before the ICC stepped in to broker peace between the two sides. But Buchanan felt the matter was a minor one before being blown out of proportion by a hyperactive media. "Most Aussies are aggressive in the way they play cricket. However, I think the media has exaggerated notions of aggression and racism beyond that was acceptable before," he said. Buchanan felt cultural differences between the two teams also had a part to play in the controversy snowballing into a crisis.