'Dada' blamed by Australian media

Sydney, Oct 14 (UNI) The Australian media has accused that former India skipper Sourav Ganguly had indulged in 'delaying tactics' to ensure that the Bangalore Test ended in a draw.

''Serial offender Sourav Ganguly firstly persuaded the umpires to go off. Then when play resumed, Ganguly made Australia's fielders and partner VVS Laxman wait an eternity because he'd apparently forgotten to put his thigh pad on. Please! Can't you be timed out in this game?'' a member of the 'National Nine News' sports team wrote in his coloumn.

The coloumn went on to blame the light rule for denying Australia a victory in first Test of the four-match series.

The writer also blamed umpires Asad Rauf and Rudy Koertzen for contributing to the delay and ending all hopes of a result.

''With the match in the balance, a crucial hour of play on the final day was lost, with not one, but two stoppages for bad light - when at times the sun was shining!'' he said. ''Umpires strutted about like Emperor Penguins, holding out their light metres, a device that - like performance enhancing drugs - should be banned.'' ''One not-so-crowded hour robbed the tourists of any chance at victory, and denied the hosts respect for gallantly saving the game,'' he added.

According to the writer, Test matches will have to start producing results to retain their charm among the fans.

''The poor fans among the crowd paid 150 rupees (AU). For many, a full day's wage. They could've witnessed a thrilling victory like Australia's last summer in Sydney or India's in Perth. Instead this match was ruined. Death in the afternoon: a great game killed off by three (two light stoppages then stumps) farcical finishes,'' he stated.

''If Test cricket continues to produce farcical finishes like this one in Bangalore, this great game's Bradmans, Gavaskars, Tendulkars and Pontings will also be soon forgotten ... even by their mothers-in-law!'' UNI XC AB CS SSC1601