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Crowe Calls For Oz To Tone Down Aggression

Friday 9th May 2008

Martin Crowe has called for Australia to tone down their "aggressive, in-the-face style" in the wake of controversies during India's recent tour Down Under.

The former New Zealand captain, who is currently the chief cricket officer of the Bangalore Royal Challengers in the Indian Premier League, believes the number one side in the ICC rankings sometimes "gets carried away".

Ricky Ponting's team earlier this year equalled the Australian record of 16 consecutive Test victories during the series against India.

The wild celebrations by the Australian players to mark the accomplishment of the feat in Sydney drew wide criticism, especially as it came after a couple of mid-game controversies, including the now infamous race row between India spinner Harbhajan Singh and Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds.

"I'd like him (Ponting) to soften not necessarily the competitive spirit but the aggressive in-the-face style of the Australians," the stylish right-hander, who led the Black Caps to the semi-final of the 1992 World Cup, told The Telegraph.

"They get carried away at times and it's not a pretty sight."

In contrast, Crowe heaped praise on India's Test skipper Anil Kumble for the way he conducted himself during the controversy-marred series, hailing him as "a stand-out captain".

The 45-year-old, who has scored more than 10,000 runs in Tests and one-day internationals, said: "I watched the series from a distance and Kumble was a stand-out captain.

"Kumble, I thought, showed great integrity and dignity. He was a bit unlucky early on in that series but came through as a class act."