The Australian Team is headed for more trouble than just the imminent defeat in the second test against India. They are up for a shameful loss by a huge margin which will set them back by 1-0 in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Cup. However, there are more consequential issues that are gnawing at the Aussie guts demanding immediate attention. The rumored spat between skipper Ricky Ponting and leading pacer Brett Lee is proving detrimental to the world champions.

The acrimony became evident on Day 4 of the Second Match. The Indian batsmen were on an all-out mission to lambaste the Aussie bowling and Ponting could do little to rein in. He chose the diluted Mike Hussey over Lee, his most experienced pacer in the team even as Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag went on to pile runs. At the time for bowling change soon afterwards, Lee and Ponting were spotted having a heated face-off. Lee kept walking away from him while Ponting looked shocked at his outrageous behavior, as he flailed his arms around. 

Lee made his distaste for this ignoring behavior pretty obvious. Ponting sent Cameron White to bowl before lunch and finally got success in sending lethal Gambhir back. Ponting tried talking to Lee in the celebratory huddle that formed after Gambhir’s dismissal but to no avail. Lee was enraged already and kept running away from his captain. 

Lee was given the ball after lunch but he failed to halt the accelerating Indian run rate. Lee’s form in this tour has been dismal and has been enough of a headache for his team. Officially, with 292 wickets, lee is the fourth most successful bowler in Australian history. However, he has taken only four wickets in two tests averaging 59.25. Juxtapose this with debutant Peter Siddle’s performance. The humble spinner had 4-176 in the first test match, averaging 51.75.

This Australian side has been touted and now established as the weakest side to tour India in recent times. Their most-feared pacers Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Damien Fleming have retired. This is probably Ponting’s last tour to India and he seems sold-out to win it, by whatever measures. Lee has divorced recently and such cold treatment is only going to aggravate his mental agony.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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