Sachin Tendulkar’s autobiography, Playing It My Way, has not been kind to some of Australian cricket’s biggest names.
After accusing former Australian captain Greg Chappell of a deceitful behind-the-scenes power push while coaching the Indian team, Wednesday’s official release has seen Tendulkar point the finger at another former captain, Ricky Ponting, for his role in the infamous ‘Monkeygate’ scandal while also critiquing some of Australia’s legendary contemporary captains.
Tendulkar admitted to leading a near boycott of India’s tour of Australia in 2008 after Ponting’s side complained that all-rounder Andrew Symonds had been racially abused by Harbhajan Singh during the second Test.
The batting maestro still stands by Singh, who Tendulkar says was misunderstood when he used a northern Indian sledge ‘Teri maa ki’, meaning ‘Your mother’, and was undeserving of the three-match suspension later handed to the off spinner.
“What surprised me most was the haste with which the Australians had lodged their complaint,” Tendulkar wrote of Ponting’s decision to report the incident to the match referee following directions issued to Ponting by Cricket Australia prior to the Test.
“Even so, I still believe that the matter would not have been blown so out of proportion if Ponting had discussed it with the captain Anil Kumble, Harbhajan and the Indian team management before reporting the incident to Mike Procter, the match referee.”
In addition to questioning the Australian team’s honesty on multiple occasions, Tendulkar rated Michael Clarke as the best captain of the modern Australian cricketing era, but still below the standard set by former England skipper Nasser Hussain.
“Among the Australians, I rate Clarke as the best captain I played against,” he said.
“While I was too young to judge Allan Border in 1992, Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting benefited from having some of the greatest players of our generation in their teams.
“With so many matchwinners, the role of the captain is automatically reduced.
“He had to rebuild the Australian team from scratch and to do so in such a short time speaks volumes for his ability as leader.”
Playing It My Way questioned the honesty appeals from Adam Gilchrist, Ponting and Clarke during crucial on-field clashes during the tour.
Photo: Hamish Blair/Getty Images
