Indians unhappy with umpires

SYDNEY, Jan 3: The touring Indians vented their anger at the umpires on Monday after they refused to take action against crowd trouble during the third Test against Australia here, reports AFP.

Umpires Darrell Hair of Australia and Ian Robinson of Zimbabwe were also targeted by the tourists for turning down their request to use sawdust near the bowlers' run-up in the afternoon session.

"A boot was thrown at Venkatesh Prasad near the boundary line, but the umpires did nothing," Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar said.

"I brought it to their notice. They only said: 'It's a boot, what can we do'.

"I think they should have taken action," he said.

Tendulkar added the umpires were also wrong not to allow sawdust to be put near the bowlers' run-up.

"We wanted the sawdust because the area was a bit damp," he said. "The wicketkeeper (Mannava Prasad) said his feet were slipping.

"I told the umpires we needed the sawdust, but they just refused. I don't think they should have refused."

An Australian Cricket Board spokesman said later the umpires believed it was a "trivial request".

"If no sawdust was needed at the start of play, when the field may have been wet because of overnight rain, surely it was not needed in the afternoon," the spokesman said.

Tendulkar did not agree with that argument.

"In the morning, the wicketkeeper was standing further back because the ball was new," he said.

"He came closer to the wicket when the ball became older and that's when he realised it was slippery."

The outburst came after the Indians had several appeals turned down as Australia amassed 331-4 by stumps on the second day. India made a modest 150 in their first innings.

Asked if he had reported the umpires' behaviour, Tendulkar said: "We have to make a report after the match is over."

The Indians have been unhappy with umpiring decisions during the series, but International Cricket Council rules prohibit teams from speaking out against them.

Tendulkar, India's main batting hope, fell twice to contentious decisions by Australian umpire Daryl Harper during the first Test.