Harbhajan banned over Symonds abuse
Harbhajan Singh has copped a three-game ban for racially abusing Andrew Symonds. (Getty Images: Ezra Shaw)
Indian off spinner Harbhajan Singh has been banned for three Tests after the International Cricket Council ruled that he racially abused Australia's Andrew Symonds during the just-finished Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The Australians complained that Harbhajan called Symonds a "monkey" during day three of the second Test.
Match referee Mike Procter says he is satisfied that Harbhajan used the word and that he intended to offend Symonds on the basis of his race.
Harbhajan denied the charge and India says it will appeal against the decision. India lost the match in dramatic circumstances yesterday evening, with Australia taking three wickets in the final 10 minutes to secure a 122-run win.
At his post-match press conference last night India captain Anil Kumble launched an astonishing attack on Australia's cricketers, accusing them of breaching the spirit of the game.
Asked by Indian journalists about Australia's tactics, Kumble echoed something similar to the immortal line used by the Australian captain Bill Woodfull during the 1932-33 Bodyline series against England.
"Only one team was playing with the spirit of the game," Kumble said.
But Australia captain Ricky Ponting has defended his team's actions, rejecting Kumble's suggestion that they claimed questionable catches.
"Anil and I before the series started got together and we actually said that that was the way we'd be playing the series," he said.
"If there was a contentious catch, unless the fielder was 100 per cent sure that he caught it, that the captains would let the umpire know either way."