Bhajji slap-gate: Oz media reacts

That Harbhajan Singh continues to evoke strong emotion in this part of the globe was evident again as the Australian media reacted with glee after the volatile off-spinner was suspended for slapping S Sreesanth in an Indian Premier League match.
The Courier Mail published a photograph of the temperamental Indian, titled "What a slapper!"
It was a file photograph of Harbhajan in Team India colours -- his arms spread wide and tongue out in a wild celebration.
The daily chose the occasion to remind its readers that the offie was initially banned for three Tests for his alleged racist remarks against Andrew Symonds before he was "let off" with a lesser fine.
Sydney Morning Herald too took note of the event and remarked, "The IPL was supposed to divide the cricketing world. Instead, it's bringing an end to racial hostilities. All they need to do now is get Harbhajan Singh to stop slapping his fellow Indians around."
"Singh slap shocker" screamed a headline in the Herald Sun, which said how the spat "rocked" the Indian Premier League.
The Daily Telegraph also gave its version of how the "Harby turmoil" had rocked cricket world.
The daily did not miss the occasion to point out that "The 27-year-old spinner has had a poor disciplinary record since making his India debut in 1998."

Gilchrist gives Hyderabad their first win

A whirlwind unbeaten 109 from Adam Gilchrist ensured Deccan Chargers a comfortable 10-wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League match at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday.
The Australian, who recently retired from international cricket, hit nine boundaries and 10 huge hits over the fence in his 48-ball knock to make the match a virtual no contest. Chasing 155 for a win, the Chargers reached their target with more than seven overs to spare.
Gilchrist was involved in a 155-run first-wicket partnership with captain VVS Laxman, unbeaten 36 (who gladly played a supporting role) and that sealed the Shaun Pollock-led team's fate.
This was the Hyderabad team's first win in four matches and moved them up from the bottom of the table. The Mumbai team, with its fourth straight defeat in as many matches, now occupy the bottom place in the table.
Earlier, it was left to the two seniormost pros, Sanath Jayasuriya (18) and Pollock, who hit three fours and a six, to repair the damage after the Mumbai Indians were reduced to 27 for three.
The duo tried to ensure that the team batted out the full quota of overs and carried the score forward mainly through singles with the occasional boundary hit.
But when it looked as if the fourth-wicket pair was well entrenched, Jayasuriya made an exit by mistiming a flick and skied Afridi to backward of square for Rohit Sharma to take a well-judged catch. In all he faced 21 balls and struck two fours.
Pollock tried to keep his team in the hunt. He paddle swept Kalyankrishna and off drove Bangar for fours. He then swung a full toss from the latter over long-on before being bowled neck and crop attempting a repeat to leave Mumbai tottering at 79 for five in the 14th over.
Pollock's departure brought together Nayar, the hard-hitting local left-hander, with attacking West Indian all-rounder Bravo.
The former struck the ball cleanly and even swung Kalyankrishna and Afridi for sixes over the square leg area as the 100 came in 15.1 overs.
Bravo took over the attacking reins after Nayar was caught top edging a hook and slammed a few fours after putting on 43 runs in only 19 balls with Nayar.
The late assault by the duo helped the home seeking their first victory in the event to finish with a plus-150 score, which looked beyond their scope when half their side was back for 79.
For the visitors, R P Singh, Bangar and Afridi grabbed two scalps apiece to emerge as the main wicket-takers.

Punjab beat Delhi to win second straight match

A superlative 52-ball 75 by Australian Simon Katich and aggressive 40 not out by captain Yuvraj Singh helped Kings XI Punjab beat Delhi Daredevils by four wickets in the Indian Premier League match in Mohali on Sunday.
It was the Mohali team's second win in the competition in four matches and the Delhi team's first defeat in three matches.
Katich's aggressive knock included 11 boundaries and a six while Yuvraj's innings contained three fours and two huge sixes.
The Australian, in the team in place of West Indian Ramnaresh Sarwan , was also involved in two crucial partnerships. His 58-run stand for the third wicket with Mahela Jayawardene (15) helped Kings XI recover from a shabby start which saw them lose two wickets with just 11 runs on board.
And his 50-run partnership with Yuvraj set his team en route to their second staright win. Glenn McGrath, Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Malik took a wicket each but Delhi never had enough runs on the board.
Earlier, a brilliant effort by their paceman helped Kings XI Punjab restrict Delhi Daredevils to a modest 158 for eight.
Having electing to bat, the Delhi team had a poor start as skipper Virender Sehwag was sent back by Irfan Pathan in the second over of the innings.
The top-order collapsed soon as four more batsmen were cooling their heels in the pavilion with the scorecard reading just 54, courtesy the pace trio of VRV Singh (3/29), Brett Lee (1/33) and Pathan (2/26).
The Bengal batsman Manoj Tiwary (39) and Dinesh Karthik (24) then played useful knocks to repair the innings.
Delhi middle order's lack of exposure in the tournament was evident as their openers had dominated in their earlier wins in the tournament.
On the other hand, the Yuvraj Singh-led team looked unfazed by the row between their pacer S Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh which resulted in the latter's suspension from the IPL, on Saturday.
They looked determined on the field and have earned themselves a chance to register their second successive win.

Camera did catch Bhajji slapping Sree: Modi

Video footage in Monday's crucial disciplinary hearing is certain to go against Harbhajan Singh, who allegedly punched S Sreesanth, with IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi on Sunday disclosing that the camera did "pick up something".
"Yes, cameras were rolling. We have this thing of camera rolling out for 10 minutes even after the match. Yes, it did pick up something," Modi told NDTV.
Harbhajan continues to be in the headlines for all the wrong reasons and last time he featured in the Sydney racism row that involved Andrew Symonds, the BCCI had to employ all its energy to save him.
Modi, however, did not find the slapping row involving the volatile spinner an embarrassment for the Board. Not ready to equate both incidents, Modi said, "I think you can't muddle both things. There it was one player against another. Here Harbhajan is not saying he has not done anything. He's saying he has been provoked.
"See, even (Manchester duo Wayne) Rooney and (Cristian) Ronaldo had difference when they played for their respective countries," he argued. Modi even went on to derive something positive out of the slapping row.
"It's important to understand that here (at IPL), players play for the team not just for the sake of it. It just goes to show that they take it to heart and want to win.
"However, they have pledged the MCC Spirit of Cricket and you can't assault another player. You just can't cross the line," he added.

Camera did catch Bhajji slapping Sree: Modi

Video footage in Monday's crucial disciplinary hearing is certain to go against Harbhajan Singh, who allegedly punched S Sreesanth, with IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi on Sunday disclosing that the camera did "pick up something".
"Yes, cameras were rolling. We have this thing of camera rolling out for 10 minutes even after the match. Yes, it did pick up something," Modi told NDTV.
Harbhajan continues to be in the headlines for all the wrong reasons and last time he featured in the Sydney racism row that involved Andrew Symonds, the BCCI had to employ all its energy to save him.
Modi, however, did not find the slapping row involving the volatile spinner an embarrassment for the Board. Not ready to equate both incidents, Modi said, "I think you can't muddle both things. There it was one player against another. Here Harbhajan is not saying he has not done anything. He's saying he has been provoked.
"See, even (Manchester duo Wayne) Rooney and (Cristian) Ronaldo had difference when they played for their respective countries," he argued. Modi even went on to derive something positive out of the slapping row.
"It's important to understand that here (at IPL), players play for the team not just for the sake of it. It just goes to show that they take it to heart and want to win.
"However, they have pledged the MCC Spirit of Cricket and you can't assault another player. You just can't cross the line," he added.