"Cricket is a most precarious profession; it is called a team game but, in fact, no one is so lonely as a batsman facing a bowler supported by ten fieldsmen and observed by two umpires to ensure that his error does not go unpunished” - John Arlott, An Eye for Cricket

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear” - Nelson Mandela

“It is far more than a game, this Cricket” - Sir Neville Cardus

South Africa’s admitted doctoring of the recent 3rd test pitch, which backfired on them and ended in their defeat while India scored a glorious triumph, was just “not cricket”. Giving South Africa the benefit of the heavy roller on the morning of the last day, in addition to using it at the beginning of South Africa’s second innings, compounded the umpires’ bias and indecisions in this game, not least their efforts to bring a premature draw to this test. Captain Faf du Plessis brazenly confessed to ordering pitches, to the point of wanting someone to oversee national grounds so they can work on a “common strategy”. Faf has learned that old lesson that, “you have to be careful what you wish for.”

Allowing host teams to overreach and escape responsibility and accountability in overdoing pitch preparation is wrong. Cricket is a gentlemanly sport, and must be played in the right spirit, especially at the highest level. Trying to wrest the No.1 test ranking from another side, which is what South Africa tried to heist from India, is no excuse for the unsportsmanlike and deceitful conduct they employed. The ICC, including its umpires, must make this clear to all host countries-you will be responsible for the pitches you prepare and what is good for the goose is good for the gander!

Moreover, any consideration of abandoning the test by the umpires and officials should have been considered before India batted in the second innings. Instead, they made it clear that they were more concerned about the welfare of the South Africans than they were of the Indians who batted on the same wicket a second time, in an obvious attempt to save South Africa the improbable ordeal of having to make the highest innings total to win the test!

Is the same Albert Baldeo a Guyanese jailed in New York for obstruction of justice?

Was he watching the match?

What’s your he evidence of bias?

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

In reply to Drapsey

Not all are cut out to be doctors..

So the Wiffies dead-rubberists thought nothing about the test, but the Saffies were hell bent on winning at all cost. But whenever them come to crunch time, them is the #1 Chokers, away and at home.

Yeah, allyuh talk nah!

In reply to Drapsey... did it backfire? As SA has never beaten India at this ground.

In reply to doublecentury

This is "Indo Guyanese" racism, plain and simple.

What in earth will motivate an "Indo Guyanese" to write this garbage about two neutral cricket teams and to bring up WI v India of 1976.

If it was Australia V SA or England V NZ or Pak V Ind, would he have write it?

It is article and opinions like these which gives us an eye to how they think, how they view themselves and it tells us how this Anti Black racism is alive and well.

I could have understood it in the 1970's but not today. It is sad, real sad.