Comments like ‘Tendulkar is only good, not best’ was given by a senior cricketer. Shane Warne warned the Australian team that they have to prove their supremacy. But on Thursday (October 23), former Australian wicket keeper Adam Gilchrist questioned the honesty of Tendulkar during the Sydney Test in Harbhajan – Symonds spat.

Gilchrist in his autobiography has said that Tendulkar was a sore loser and questioned his honesty in the ‘Monkeygate’ issue, reported the daily ‘The Age’. A summarised version of Gilly’s autobiography will publish in ‘Good Weekend’ magazine.

Gilchrist was particularly disappointed with Tendulkar’s behaviour. According to Gilchrist, Tendulkar had initially told the jury that he could not hear what was said. But during the appeal, which followed, Tendulkar said that Harbhajan used a Hindi term that sounded like ’monkey’ to Australian ears.

Gilchrist was convinced that Harbhajan was guilty and considered India’s threat to abandon the tour was ’a disgraceful act, holding the game to ransom unless they got their way’. He also wrote that there was vast difference in the manner the teams approached the game.

Praising the Australian mentality he said, “We play it hard and are then quick to shake hands and leave it all on the field. Some of our opponents don’t do it that way. Tendulkar, for instance, can be hard to find for a changing room handshake after we have beaten India. Harbhajan can also be hard to find. I guess it’s a case of different strokes for different folks.”

Gilchrist alongwith the then Australian team was satisfied with the verdict of jury’s decision set up to hear the Harbhajan – Symonds matter. Why Gilchrist did not say anything when the jury gave its verdict in favour of Harbhajan?

About Australian mentality, I can only say that the whole world knows how they behave on the field. For winning the match, they can stoop to any level of misbehaviour on the field.

In recent times, whenever the Indian team or subcontinent teams like Pakistan and Srilanka visited Australia, the host had created controversy on the filed. Questioning Tendulkar’s honesty who has escalated to new heights, could open fresh wounds and soar the enthusiasm of ongoing Test series.