Debutant opener Ed Cowan handed out some strong advice to cricket’s ruling body after Australia were left fuming following two controversial umpiring decisions on the first day of the first Test against India.
Cowan (68) and veteran Mike Hussey (0) both trudged off the MCG shaking their heads on Monday after being given out caught behind despite not appearing to hit the ball and having no avenue of appeal.
After winning the toss in overcast conditions, Australia showed familiar weaknesses in their top six before finishing 6-277 in front of a record crowd of 70,068.
The dismissals of Cowan and Hussey highlighted the problems caused by the Indian board’s refusal to use the technology of the Decision Review System (DRS) during this four-Test series.
“You saw the replay. You saw my reaction,” Cowan told a news conference when asked about his dismissal.
“You can join the dots.
“As someone who loves their cricket and who has watched a lot of cricket, I just don’t understand why it can’t be handed down by the ICC (International Cricket Council) to be uniform in all games.
“Today momentum went against us because of it. Two of your top six.
“But that’s the game and we’ll take the good with the bad.”
Cowan said the dismissal of Hussey was a massive moment in the game.
“We felt we were half an hour away from really nailing them, grinding them into the dust,” said Cowan, 29.
“We get through that Zaheer Khan spell unscathed and it’s a completely different complexion to the day’s play.”
Australia recovered from 6-214 as Brad Haddin (21 not out) and tailender Peter Siddle (34 not out) shared a 63-run stand.
Ex-skipper Ricky Ponting had earlier played a determined knock of 62 in a third-wicket partnership of 113 with Cowan, who showed great powers of concentration in his five-hour innings.
The 37-year-old Ponting was twice hit on the gloves by Ishant Sharma before fending a short ball to second slip off the bowling of Umesh Yadav (3-96) with the score on 159.
Australia had reached 2-68 at lunch for the loss of David Warner (37) and Shaun Marsh (0), who both fell to Yadav.
The home side were comfortably placed after tea at 3-205 before Zaheer (2-49) struck twice in two balls in the 65th over, removing Michael Clarke who played onto his stumps for 31 and Hussey.
Hussey showed the pressure of having his spot in the side under scrutiny as he appeared to let fly with the word “bullshit” several times on his way off the field after South African umpire Marais Erasmus gave him out caught behind.
Cowan was sixth man out at 214 as Australia lost 3-9. His dismissal, caught behind off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, was also dubious according to TV replays.
India also appeared to be victims of the lack of the DRS when a strong lbw appeal by Zaheer was turned down by Erasmus with Haddin on 19.
A confused-looking Yadav told reporters he did not know why the DRS was not used in this series.
“If it is a bad decision or a good decision, that is part of the game,” he added.
The crowd figure of 70,068 was a record for Australia-India Test matches in Australia.
Cowan said he was confident Australia had their noses in front at 6-277.
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