A step down would be a step up

Indian cricket, in the ultimate analysis, may owe Mike Denness a deep sense of gratitude. His decision to slap various penalties on six Indian players has succeeded in uniting the Indian cricketing fraternity ­ and even those not interested in the game ­ into one cohesive family.

Never before has this sort of oneness been felt; in this case, it is against a ruling that, to put it mildly, is harsh, arbitrary, and makes no sense at all. It is said that adversity brings out the best in men, and the maxim was proved right when, against odds, and with the freshly imposed unjust penalties on their minds, the Indian team comfortably saved the second Test with a sterling batting display.

One's mind goes back 20 years to Melbourne, when a wrong decision by umpire Rex Whitehead against Sunil Gavaskar ­ followed by Dennis Lillee's unnecessarily needling - so ignited the Indian captain that he galvanized the Indian team into a fighting unit as they converted a 182-run first-innings deficit into arguably one of the most dramatic victories in Test cricket.

The Indians have long felt, and with good reason, that they have got the short end of the stick from umpires and match referees, while players from other countries have gotten away scot-free for much worse misdemeanours. But then again, patience, tolerance and forbearance have been qualities associated with the Indian philosophy of life, and this has perhaps percolated down to the Indian cricketing mind-set.

However, there is a limit to one's patience. All hell has now broken loose and pent-up feelings have exploded like a volcano. The former England captain has gone too far, and I am afraid that he does not know the magnitude of the problem he has created. The Indian attitude today is "we are mad as hell, and we are not going to take this anymore," to paraphrase Peter Finch's famous line in Sidney Lumet's film 'Network.'

The reaction in this country has been anything but an over-reaction. The letters and mails have flown fast and thick in condemnation of Denness' ruling. Commentators and critics are ranting about his decision and have called for him to step down, just as he had once voluntarily stepped down as England captain in Australia in 1974-75 due to a personal lack of form. His decision was then hailed as one of character and conviction, for admittedly it is not every time that a captain willingly steps down, taking responsibility.

How fitting it would be if Denness again shows that rare strength of character, admits that he made a mistake, and steps down as match referee. It would be an act through which he would redeem himself in the eyes of the cricketing public the world over, for, at the moment, there is little doubt that his reputation is in tatters. After all, he has not only toyed with players' careers, but has acted in a high-handed manner, besides bringing disrepute to the game. But maybe expecting him to quit is asking for too much; after all, 25 years ago, cricket was still very much a gentleman's game.

One must put in a word of praise for Jagmohan Dalmiya and the Indian Cricket Board. Quickly sizing up the gravity of the situation, Dalmiya got cracking, and his tough talk must have given Denness a sleepless night and the International Cricket Council enough food for thought. As far as the ICC is concerned, it has a speedy role to play if it is serious about solving what has already snowballed into a major controversy.

For starters, they have a lot to do to reshape the role and image of the match referee. There is nothing wrong with the post per se; indeed, given the increasing boorish behaviour of players these days, match referees have become necessary. But they have to be given certain yardsticks, told that they must be consistent in their rulings, and should be allowed to explain their stands. They must be informed that they are accountable and can be sacked if their work is found to be unsatisfactory. After all, even a notorious criminal is told why he is being sentenced to death or life imprisonment, or why certain penalties are being slapped upon him. Tuesday's farcical press conference, where Denness just sat mum and refused to answer questions, showed the ICC in poor light. Worse still, it did nothing for cricket's image. One must not forget that the game has already taken a beating as a result of the match-fixing scandal. In taking decisive steps, the ICC would do well to remind the match referees of the age-old adage that still holds ­ the punishment must fit the crime.