Team India ready to take on favourite rival Australia

THE INDIA-PAKISTAN series is over now. India won both the One-day and Test series against Pakistan at home after more than two decades. This is being said that India and Pakistan are playing each other at short intervals and the frequent matches are abating the passion and intensity of Indo-Pak battle in ground. During the recent series, the response was different and people treated it as ‘just another series’.

One can say that this is the result of excessive cricket played between these two ‘rival’ teams. There could be some more reasons for the same. However, I do feel that the ‘focus’ on the rival has been shifted now and for India, Australia has become bigger rival team than Pakistan.

Indians feel more excitement if Team India defeats Australia anywhere in any tournament and series. Even the cricket analysts have felt the real intensity in the last two series, India-Australia series followed by India-Pakistan series. We were more passionate about defeating Australian team even by using ‘war of words’, aggression (both on and off the field) and great intensity level as well.

Australian batsman Mathew Hayden once said that he loved the silence prevailed in the stadium after hitting the boundary or winning against India in India. He also said that now India has replaced England as his favourite opposition. People still remember Sreesanth and Symonds episode happened in the India-Australia series.

Australia is said to be the most dominant as well as most arrogant team in the world. This is also being said that the Australian dominance in world cricket is actually killing the sport. The sports lover everywhere have been fed up of watching Australia winning every time in every tournament they play.

Every other team just wants to outplay Australian team at any cost. India and Pakistan, both the Asian teams, defeated Australia in the Twenty-20 World Cup this September and gave the cricket fans in the subcontinent a pleasant surprise.

Since then the rivalry between India and Australia has gone on the rise. The behaviour of the crowd during matches against Australia also came under scanner and Aussie fans have reportedly vowed to reciprocate the same to Indian team when they tour Down Under in December.

Now, the Indian team has reached Melbourne. Australian captain Ricky Ponting has already started the mental game by saying that Kumble will feel the pressure. Brett Lee has mentioned that the test series with India is at par with Ashes.

Australian ex-coach Buchanan has given a blueprint ‘how to contain Sachin Tendulkar in the series. Sourav Ganguly has said that the team is capable to do well in Australia because this is perhaps the most experienced Indian team to play Down Under.

India had given Australia a run for their money during their previous tour in 2000 under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly. India was the only team that drew the series against the world champion on their soil in past one decade.

Australia will offer some very arduous and nerve wrenching cricket this summer for sure. The emotions are running high both in India as well as Australia both. Everyone is hoping that the series will not be one-sided and Team India will receive good support in Australia. India-Australia fight on ground will not be ‘just another series’. Lets’ hope India do well in Down Under. My best wishes to Team India.

Indian cricketers angry over $1.5m tax bouncer

INDIA’S cricket tour of Australia erupted in controversy last night as its players learned they would be slugged $1.5 million by the Australian Taxation Office.

Sources said the tax grab had angered India’s superstars, including Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. Their match payments and tour fees are not taxed in India, where they are treated by financial authorities as amateurs.

The tax slug is further fuel for a potentially explosive series against Australia. The MCG is expected to be packed next Wednesday for the start of the Boxing Day Test.

Indian and Australian players clashed several times during a one-day series on the subcontinent in October, when all-rounder Andrew Symonds was labelled “monkey man” by the crowds.

India’s newfound confidence springs from its Twenty20 World Cup success this year. The Board of Cricket Control of India rewarded its stars with more than $2 million in bonuses.

Among other gifts, a Porsche 911 was handed to team hero Yuvraj Singh as a personal present from Vice-President Lalit Modi.  The Indians have not been taxed on previous tours. But a change in Australian laws since they were last here in 2003-04 has left the tourists flabbergasted.

Since July 2004, all sportspeople and entertainers who work in Australia have had to pay tax.

The BCCI tried to get an exemption, and is still investigating ways around the red tape. India’s media manager, Dr M.K. Shridhar, last night confirmed the BBCI was investigating the tax matter.

“This taxation issue is being handled by our office in Bombay,” he said. “We are taking the position of what our own tax consultants at the BCCI say.

“Cricket Australia is helping, and they will work together and come back to us with a solution. Then I am not very sure if it will still apply.”

India’s stars are treated like royalty at home, and are some of cricket’s wealthiest players. Tendulkar alone is said to be worth millions. The Indians are taxed only on sponsorship earnings in their home country.

In Australia, it is believed they will forfeit about $500,000 from the Test series, and $1 million from the one-day series and the one-off Twenty20 clash at the MCG, in tax.

Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said the board’s memorandum of understanding meant the Indians had to follow Australian laws.

“When you are in Australia, the Australian tax law applies,” he said.

The tourists will play four Tests against Australia, beginning on Boxing Day at the MCG, a Twenty20 match, and up to 11 one-day internationals before heading home in March.