India and Australia have often treated fans to some memorable encounters on the cricket field in their rich history of playing against each other. However, no single game has been able to match the intensity of the infamous Sydney Test in 2008. Several controversies, faulty umpiring, allegations of racial abuse and a display of questionable sportsmanship from hosts Australia marred the game.

It all started on January 2, 2008, when Australia entered the game on the back of an emphatic 337-run win in the first Test in Melbourne. After Australia captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first, India made early inroads into the Australian batting line-up as RP Singh dismissed both openers to leave Australia on 27/2.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting came in at number 3 and was given an early life in the innings when he was caught at leg by wicketkeeper MS Dhoni. However, umpire Steve Bucknor did not lift the finger, allowing Ponting to put on a 92-run partnership with Michael Hussey until he was eventually dismissed on 55. After the dismissal, India managed to get three more wickets, quickly leaving Australia reeling at 134/ 6.

Andrew Symonds survives three layoffs

Then came the second controversial moment of Day 1 when Ishant Sharma managed to find a thick edge off Symonds’ bat which was taken by Dhoni behind the stumps. However, umpire Bucknor was again adamant and Australia’s batsman continued his country’s culture of not walking despite the fact that the ball passed.

At the time of the appeal, Australia were 193/6 and Symonds was given two more lives on the same day and umpire Bucknor does not take Dhoni’s appeal seriously and refuses to send him upstairs to the third umpire.

Replays showed that the Aussie batsman was short on both occasions. Casual umpiring cost India dearly as Symonds went on to score 162*, taking Australia to a massive score of 463. In reply, India posted a massive 532 on the board with centuries from Sachin Tendulkar (154) and VVS Laxman (109 ).

The Harbhajan-Symonds showdown

There was more drama in the Indian innings as Harbhajan Singh had a go at Symonds, who misinterpreted a Hindi insult for “monkey” and claimed that An Indian cricketer had racially abused him. Referees Mark Benson and Bucknor also entered the game and the situation was resolved after the match.

However, there was more drama to follow in the second innings, trailing by 69 runs, Australia scored a massive 401/7 in the second innings and set India a target of 333 in the fourth innings.

During Australia’s second innings, Michael Clarke was scrutinized for not walking despite cutting the ball to slip against Anil Kumble and the Indian players had to beg referee to make him raise his finger. The fourth innings of the match witnessed the most intense moments of the game as India were once again on the wrong end of controversial calls.

Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting claim catches down the ground

Rahul Dravid was caught despite having a good gap between bat and ball against Andrew Symonds. A few overs later came the most controversial call of the match as Sourav Ganguly was caught at second slip against Brett Lee. The India batsman waited a few seconds to confirm with the umpires whether the catch was taken cleanly and umpire Mark Benson he raised his finger after accepting captain Ricky Ponting’s word.

The Australia captain raised his finger to signal that Clarke had taken the ball neatly. However, replays showed that the Aussie bowler had ground the ball, leaving Ganguly and former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar fuming in the commentary box.

Ponting was also in the limelight as he claimed that MS Dhoni took a silly catch at point but the India batsman survived thanks to a rare good call by the umpire as the ball did not hit his bat. Replays further showed that the Australian captain had also grounded the ball, but he still made a vehement appeal for the dismissal.

India went on to lose the game in a thrilling final over with Michael Clarke taking three wickets in the over. As a result, Australia won by 122 runs and emulated their feat of winning 16 consecutive Test matches, being applauded by the home crowd for their performance on the field. The Australian players were also in droves ecstatically celebrating their victory led by their captain Ricky Ponting, completely oblivious to the measures they took to secure that victory.

Anil Kumble’s powerful words after the Test

As expected, a war of words ensued after the match from both camps, with Indian captain Anil Kumble walking out and openly saying that there is only one team that plays in the spirit of the game. Ponting, on the other hand, continued to defend his and his teammate’s actions, but was visibly frustrated when an Indian journalist asked him if he had taken Dhoni’s catch clean.

The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) also got into the game and complained to the ICC about poor refereeing. As a result, both Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson were dropped from the umpiring panel for the remainder of the series. Effigies of Australian captain Ricky Ponting were also burnt in India by a selection of fans who openly condemned Australia’s on-field antics.

Following the Test at Syndey, India responded in style with their performances on the field as they won the next Test in Perth and the Commonwealth Bank ODI tri-series.