India 'rabble without redeeming features': Aus newspaper

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An Australian newspaper on Monday slammed the Indian cricket team as a 'rabble with no redeeming features' and lashed out at Sachin Tendulkar's remonstration of being blocked by Brett Lee in his run-out in the triangular series match as 'woeful'.

A write-up in 'Daily Telegraph' said that the Indians should be ashamed of themselves as they had 'treated the greater game with scant respect'.

"Thank goodness the game against Sri Lanka in Hobart will be India's last on this tour -- barring some major mathematical quirk of results which will see them make the finals. India cannot go home soon enough to their bulging bank accounts and flat, grassless wickets," the write-up said.

"Sachin Tendulkar's run out for 14 at the SCG typified India's tour. Pathetic. To remonstrate that he had been blocked by Brett Lee when they barely touched was just woeful. Tendulkar was not forced to alter course and he gave up attempting to make his ground.

"He may once have been the greatest modern cricketer in the world and India the new arrogant financial force in the game, but on and off the field this rabble will go home with no redeeming features. It was yet another example of India treating the greater game with scant respect," it said.

The writer said that it was hard to believe that India was the number one Test team in the world for 20 months and won the World Cup last year.

"Instead, Australia has been presented with the same under-prepared shambles who lost top place on the Test table with a 4-0 flogging in England mid-year. This over-paid, over-indulged, over-aged bunch of prima-donnas should be ashamed of themselves," the write-up said.

Another article in 'Sydney Morning Herald' brought out the difference in opinion among cricket experts on the controversial turning down of 'obstructing the field' appeal of Australian batsman David Hussey.

According to the newspaper, Indian commentators Ravi Shastri and Sanjay Manjrekar were among those in support for David while Australian Ian Chappell and Englishman Tony Greig believed the batsman should have been given out.

"Former Indian batsmen Ravi Shastri and Sanjay Manjrekar, commentating on ESPN, were among those in support for Hussey while Ian Chappell and Tony Greig believed the Australian should have been given out," the newspaper said.

Regarding the controversy of Tendulkar being apparently blocked by Brett Lee, leading to his run-out, the newspaper said, "Tendulkar was run out after being unintentionally hampered by Lee chasing a single."

"He (Tendulkar) lost momentum as he tried to avoid Lee, who did not appear to be aware of the batsman's presence, and was caught short by a direct hit from David Warner."