it's unfortunate that most people participating in this debate (tht includes a lot of columnists as well) have shown an utter lack of objectivity while discussing the issue...............almost everyone's voiced his side's grievances while conveniently ignoring the points which may weaken his own stand...

here's my take on the issue....it's difficult to convince nyone in this charged atmosphere...but, it's 2 tempting so, i'll give it a shot............

firstly, i think ponting and his team can't b questioned for not walking even when they know it's out..... i dont think ny team can claim the moral high ground on this issue...........
however, when you decide by mutual consent to let the skippers decide whether a catch was clean or not, then claiming a dropped catch is definitely questionable..........

kinshuk, mumbai,

A question to all, after seeing images of Indian supporters who feel wronged burning effigies and asking for the death of the Australian captain should Australia feel safe touring India later in the year or should they boycott the Indian tour?

I don't see Australian supporters burring effigies of Harbhajan and calling for his death. I feel I'm probably like many Australians and have great respect for Harbhajan's incredible talent, and yes it would be a shame for Harbhajan not to play the next test, but if he is guilty of making a racist comment then he should be punished. Please let the ICC make a fair and unbiased decision on the hearing of racism against Harbhajan without either side putting pressure on the ICC. If the ICC cave under pressure, I cannot see how they can be taken seriously in the future.

Ben, Adelaide, Australia

As a child playing backyard cricket, we learn that we must accept the umpires decision. Spoilt children who throw the bat and storm off refusing to play when given out, are never rewarded. One wonderes if this is a lesson learnt in India. With the ICC once again falling over themselves to appease a sub-continent team, and all other teams and officials once again copping the "real" blame; I fear the spoilt child is tuning into a very spoilt teenager.

Brendan, Melbourne, Australia

It is all Australia's fault! If they had held their catches, Gilchrist dropped four, the Second Test would have been over with a day to spare (again).

This 'crisis' deflects the point that India are simply not up to taking on the Australians. Net practice rather than beach volleyball would seem more appropriate for a struggling team.

If Hogg is out for Perth a chap by the name of Tait, will most likely play. Perhaps the tourists (guests?) may have been better served by keeping their own counsel.

John T, Melbourne, Australia

What we're saying here is that it's fine to abuse someone just as long as you do it in a way that isn't picked up by anyone else. If you are picked up on it get the rest of the team to chuck their toys out of the cot and you'll be OK. Esp if your country happens to have the benefit of being the biggest cash cow for the ICC. Oh and if your loosing, even to the most dominant team (said through gritted teeth - I'm English), in the game then threaten to go home and the ICC will cave in like a card house in a storm to accomodate you. Time the ICC worked out if they or the Indians are in charge of world cricket and made a stand against the rise in the current practise of demanding the umpires heads if you lose a game. This is threatening the game of cricket and it's future. You expect F1 to be settled off the track (or pitch) not Cricket.

Francis Valentine, Glasgow,

bucknors finances need to be verified just to ally the fears that his mistakes were motivated?The icc needs to check if the match fixers have found another route to have their way, seeing that the players are under strict scuritiny. Even Boycots mum would not have made so many mistakes if she had been officiating!!

J.S.Tiwana, delhi, india

Why should this be surprising if the "fans" back in India made the monkey gestures and nothing was done? Surely after a four hour hearing chaired by an "impartial" South African,this guy should just hold his hands up and accept the punishment and apologize. These guys should not hold the "gentleman's" game to ransom. Why not own up and simply say that it happened during the heat of the moment? After all, we have heard these flimsy excuses before.

George Timuri, Bradford, UK

All the Australians here believe that Indians are bad losers and all the Indians believe that the world is against them.
Could England please persuade Sachin Tendulkar to emigrate? He could come in at no. 4 for England for the next twenty years. Please?

John Jorrocks, Prague, The Czech Republic

Here we go again - no sooner does India protest some gross inequity, than some bloke (and in such cases, a couple of English journalists and Robert Craddock from Australia are the usual suspects) will harangue the world about how India should not be allowed to control cricket.
Apparently what happened in Australia over the course of the Sydney Test and in its immediate aftermath is, in the eyes of some at least, an Indian end run for world domination - and if that doesn't strike you as hilarious even as you read it, your sense of humor needs fine-tuning.
Here is the crux of Craddock's latest argument in support of his pet theory:
INDIA must not be allowed to run the game, and the International Cricket Council now faces one of the biggest days in its 98-year existence - when it simply must seize control of the game.
India's threat to boycott the Australian tour has come down to a battle of who runs cricket: India or the ICC
ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed should give ground

Utopian, New Delhi, India

An Open Letter to The ICC

http://anilvari.wordpress.com/2008/01/08/an-open-letter-to-the-icc/

Anil, Bangalore, India

Think Australia should call the Indians bluff, and if they spit the dummy and go, so be it. They lost, decisions went against both sides, but they the 'poor losers'. If sachin been given LBW wgen he plumb out at 30 or so, Indian wouldnt have got near Oz total, and all this would have been academic. Game would have been over in 4 days. Australia celebrated hard, but then they always do, just as india did when they won 20/20. Indians spoling for a fight to flex their muscle in game. Love to see Shaun Tait bowling to the Indians in Perth though, could be a lot of fun!

mark, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England

Racism must stamped out in cricket. Calling a person a "monkey" in public is a racist statement. The ICC must come down hard on any racist comments. Confirming that the comments were made should be by more than one player and supported by a sworn oath.
Racism does exist in Indian society and throughout Asia. The Indians would do better to set an example, suspend this player and him home if beyond all reasonable doubt he is found to have stated this offence word.
The umpiring decision should be taken independently of this charge.

Giles Wynne, Lincoln, UK

India has managed to blackmail its way back into this series. Its not the first time the Indian cricket board has used strong arm tactics and black mail to get what it wants. They are still saying that if the racism issue isn't resolved in their favour that they will pull out of the remaining games. Now if that alone isn't blatant cheating we need to redefine the word cheat.
India might have won the battle with the ICC but they can't force fans to turn up in Perth, be hillarious if the only sounds coming from the stands was the "chirping" of a few lonely crickets

Udo, Melbourne, Australia

India should go home. They have refused to accept the umpires decisions both on and off the field. They have then had the temerity to accuse Australia of ignoring the "spirit" of the game. The first "spirit" law is to accept the umpires decision. The ICC has fallen over themselves to appease every complaint. At home the Indian cricketers could at least work on their lazy, sloppy cricket and get fitter. Then they might win.

John, Melbourne, Australia

There has to be proof, not word of two players against two others. If the stump mike or umpires didn't hear it, case cannot be proven.

Funny how Ponting gains most personally from Harbijan not playing, and he was one of those who "witnessed" the incident

Andrew, Cambridge,

Proctor may be south african, but he did not show any fairness or intelligence in his judgement. Show me the proof of the crime, Mr. Proctor! Also, you never thought how badly this will affect the game.

Manas, Dallas, USA