The ‘Monkeygate’ quarrel between Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Simandas, which led to the breakdown of India-Australia cricket relations
In fact, along with the quarrel between these two, there was more that heroated the atmosphere. Let’s go straight on that test:
Which test was: Second Test of the series, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, 2-6 January 2008, Australia Tour of Guest Team India
Australia 463 (Andrew Symonds 162, Brad Hog 79, Kumble 4-106, RP Singh 4-124) and 401-7 (Mike Hussey 145*, Matthew Hayden 123, Andrew Symonds 61, Kumble 4-148)
India 532 (Sachin Tendulkar 154*, VVS Laxman 109, Harbhajan 63, Brat Lee 5-119) and 210 (Sourav Ganguly 51, Michael Clarke 3-5, Andrew Symonds 3-51)
Match of the match Andrew Symonds
What happened: Ricky Ponting’s Australia team was 1-0 in the series with a big win of 337 runs in the first Test in Melbourne and now the eyes were on the 16th consecutive Test win to equal the records of Steve Waugh’s team. So Australia became more special in the Test played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 2, the victory of 122 runs a few minutes before the Test ended on the fifth day. This is not just this, and whatever happened was bigger than this. See :
* Umpires Steve Bakner and Mark Banson gave several controversial decisions, most of them, India suffered losses and became partners in defeat.
* After 12 years from the Test, Ricky Ponting admitted that some big and wrong umpiring decisions in the match went against India.
* In the same year, Steve Bakner accepted two of his mistakes from which India lost the Test.
* Australian players and Harbhajan Singh’s sportsmanship, the test was very infamous due to poor behavior.
* This victory confirmed Australia’s authority over the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The biggest case was of Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh. On the third day of the Test, India began to play 216-3, but Ganguly (67 off 78) was staggering after being dismissed. Harbhajan finally stood with Tendulkar and the 8th wicket partnership increased to more than 100. Australian players, especially Symonds, started sledging in the fury of not being dismissed by Harbhajan. There was a debate in this, umpire Banson calmed the atmosphere but did not stop all this and alleged that in his anger, Harbhajan called Andrew Symonds ‘monkey’. Anger erupted. It was considered a comment of racism and a complaint was made. Just after that the atmosphere got worse and the mistakes of the umpires put ghee in the fire.
After the Test was over, when Team India was going out of the Ground, Team India’s hooting was involved in the noise of the Australian team. India boys an angry presentation. Anil Kumble commented- ‘Only one team is playing with the spirit of the game.’ On the other hand, Ponting got upset over the questions of Indian media.
What happened after this: Now come on the issue of that ‘monkey’. The controversy added a black chapter in cricket between India and Australia. Andrew Symonds threw a lot of racial comments and everyone knew that in such a case there is a great punishment. The debate also started at the international level. Now Harbhajan clarified that he had said ‘Teri Maa Ki …’. Since Tendulkar was at the crease then his testimony became special. See what happened next:
* Tendulkar sent a message to the BCCI that Harbhajan is innocent and the board should support it.
* In the investigation, Harbhajan was convicted of not playing with sportsmanship and punished him.
* BCCI complained to Australian spinner Brad Hogg- alleged Captain Anil Kumble and Vice-captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni called ‘Harami’.
Who got punishment: Banson and Bakner complained to Harbhajan’s match referee Mike Proctor. Despite Harbhajan’s refusal to say ‘Monkey’ and the support of captain Anil Kumble, Harbhajan was banned for three Tests. The Indian team protested on this and threatened to leave the tour in the middle. Very bitterness was born. The tour stopped until the outcome of the appeal against the ban. Canbara did not go to the next match to play the next match and kept waiting for several hours on the tour. Finally stopped in Sydney. Seeing the matter getting worse, the ICC had to come in the middle. ICC CEO Malcolm Speed said that he would appoint a commissioner to hear the appeal. When the appeal could not be heard by the next Test, the ICC allowed Harbhajan to play recently. On the other hand, the ICC appointed John Hansen, Judge of New Zealand High Court for the appeal. The hearing was scheduled on 29 and 30 January after the fourth Test in Adelaide. It is different that Harbhajan did not play in the third Test in Perth (because the same spinner fed Kumble) but returned to the team for the fourth Test in Adelaide.
Finally on January 28, in Adelaide, John Hansen said after hearing that Harbhajan Singh was ‘not perfect’ and thus lifted the ban of 3 Tests. Yes, 50% of the match fee was fined for using derogatory language.
It is necessary to mention here that in 2011, there was such a coincidence that both of them were in the team of Mumbai Indians for the IPL. Andrew Symonds befriended Harbhajan on the champagne bottle.
