Controversies and umpiring blunders left 2008 Sydney Test in a 'poor taste': VVS Laxman

Australia and India are currently locking horns with each other for the four-match Test series, wherein the next Test is set to be played in Sydney on January 7. The series is currently leveled at 1-1 after India displayed a brilliant show in MCG. Moving to Next Test and its history, the Indian team have an extremely dismal record in Sydney, and they haven’t won a Test at SCG since 1978. However, they came too close to winning in the year 2008.

In the same light, VVS Laxman recalled a sour memory from the game as they lost the match due to controversial umpiring. He admitted that some of the events that happened in the match were in “poor taste.” However, now Laxman feels that India have a great chance of winning at SCG after their extraordinary show in the Melbourne Test.

“I wouldn’t call it the Aussie arrogance. But I just feel after losing the Melbourne Test, we had a great chance of winning the Sydney Test match. Yes, it will be remembered more for the Monkeygate, but I thought we had a great chance of winning that Test match,” said Laxman on Star Sports’ Cricket Connected show.

Match witnessed some controversial moments as umpires overlooked the dismissals of Australian batters. On the other hand, Indians became victims of their poor umpiring. Laxman added that Andrew Symonds was benefitted from umpiring howlers various times in the same Test.

“The bowlers, especially when we started bowling in the first innings took early wickets. Australia were under pressure, and then Andrew Symonds, I think he was out two or three times, and the umpires made huge blunders. I cannot ever forget the way I think, RP Singh got the nick of Symonds.

“There was a big sound, but the umpire ruled not out. Unfortunately, that led to Andrew Symonds getting a big hundred, and after that, what followed, especially on the last day, the way Sourav and Rahul were out, I think was in very poor taste,” added Laxman.