Even as India drew the first Test against Australia at the 'Gabba' in Brisbane, the Australian media was clamouring for higher standards in the art of umpiring.
The world of cricket has undergone a sea change in recent years, but the responsibilities of the men in white coats and the way they go about doing things have remained essentially unchanged.
Robert Craddock of The Daily Telegraph, Sydney, said, 'World cricket does not need electronic help to sort out lbw decisions ... it just needs better umpiring.'
The media were, in particular, incensed by the raw deal given to Sachin Tendulkar in Australia. Chloe Saltau of The Age, Melbourne, pointed out that it had been 'an inauspicious match for [Steve] Bucknor, who has stood in 83 Tests since his first in 1988-89. He has now made four apparently incorrect decisions for lbw in this Test, three of them "not outs" that denied wickets to India'.
But what made everyone stand up and take notice was Sourav Ganguly's stunning knock. Last time round in 1999-2000, when Tendulkar had got a dubious decision in the first Test at Adelaide, India had collapsed to 110 all out. This time they scored 409.
Malcolm Conn of The Weekend Australian was especially effusive in his praise for the Indian skipper. 'Highlighted by cover drives from a bat which appeared impenetrably wide and cuts open-faced left-handers play in their sleep, Ganguly's blazing innings lasted almost five hours, consumed 196 balls, and included 18 fours.'
Ben Dorries and Michael Crutcher of The Advertiser, Adelaide, spoke to Ravi Shastri and Greg Chappell and got their views on the Tendulkar dismissal. 'The former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri branded Sachin Tendulkar's dismissal a disgrace and demanded umpires be given electronic assistance for lbw decisions, but his view was countered by Greg Chappell who expressed deep reservations about the use of technology for lbw decisions.'
Tangentially, the Indian assault on the Australian bowling gave the nation a glimpse of what to expect once Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne decide to retire.
The Herald Sun reckoned that 'if 33 year-old Bichel is overlooked for Adelaide, his career will be on the brink because he will not necessarily go to the head of the fast-bowling replacement queue'.
While Australia's bowling worries certainly increased during the Test, they will be happy to learn that Brett Lee has declared himself fit for the second Test.
Lee made his return for New South Wales in the ING Cup one-dayer against Victoria at the MCG, completing 10 overs for 41 runs, with two maidens, and almost trapping opener Matthew Elliott leg before wicket first ball.
"I think I'm definitely ready to play. I knew that if I was to get through these 10 overs and do it well," said Lee in The Age.
