The International Cricket Council's (ICC) Code of Conduct forbids players from commenting on umpiring decisions. It also prevents them from making remarks on controversial incidents on the field. Without contravening the Code, Anil Kumble made his displeasure clear at not merely the umpiring decisions but also the manner in which Australia conjured a 122-run victory in the second Test here on Sunday.
“It's very disappointing the way the result went,” the Indian captain said. “A fair result would have been a draw. On the first day, we were right on top and right in the series. The best result for us would have been a win. But It's for everybody to see what has happened. We could have probably shown a bit more fight and saved the game,” he conceded.
“We put up a brave fight, got a lead after giving Australia 450 runs. I'm proud of the way my team-mates played. Yes, we didn't get the result, but if we keep playing like this, we will.”
Umpiring decisions apart, the match was soured by Michael Clarke standing his ground despite edging to slip, and by the same man asserting that he had taken a clean catch when TV replays confirmed that he had taken the ball on the bounce and then grounded it as he rolled over to get rid of Sourav Ganguly.
“It's there for all to see,” Kumble reiterated. “When you nick it, you do stand there for the umpire to give a decision. But when you nick to first slip and then wait, it says it all.”
On the pre-series agreement between the two captains on going by players' words on close catches, Kumble offered, “We did decide initially that players will be honest whenever a catch is taken. The player says a catch is taken, the umpire nods his head and the player walks off. We'd like to play hard on the field and expect that from Australia as well. I've played my cricket very sincerely and honestly, that's the approach my team takes. But sometimes, it happens that in the heat of the moment, you take those chances and then probably don't say anything on that. It's a part of the game. As a team, we're doubly focussed now to play really, really good cricket in Perth.
 “It's tough when you've played not just Test cricket, but all forms of cricket for the last 25 years. It does affect you,” he added, for good measure.
 So, is a review of that agreement on the cards? “It's something we will probably decide. I'm sure we will have to review it,” Kumble replied.
 Asked how he kept his poise despite all the disappointment, the skipper was philosophical.
“Things have happened, it's gone, it's over. It's a sport, and you try and take it sportingly. It hurts a lot when you lose like this, especially when you have a chance to square the series. But you have played enough cricket to understand it's a game after all. You can't take things so seriously that it starts affecting your life. It's important you move on and go forward, it's important we play better cricket.”