Nobody really knows what went on during the controversial second Test between Australia and India.
Accusations and counter-accusations have flown between both parties while the tour holds together with the uneasiest of truces.
Whoever is right or wrong – and nobody comes out of cricket’s latest grubby episode smelling of roses – there is one indisputable fact.
That has been the horrendous standard of the umpiring. Some of the decisions have been an absolute travesty.
Ridiculous appeals have rained down; “bumped” catches were given at least twice and possibly more; Andrew Symonds refused to walk on 30 when definitely caught and proceeded to rattle up another century.
And we think there are dodgy goings-on during Premier League matches!
These incidents are too often brushed away as examples of “gamesmanship”. Cheating, more like.
Yet the moment the cricket authorities threaten to flex their muscles, we have both sides lobbing tit-for-tat allegations of racism. So they pontificate and do nothing.
Something has to change. It comes to something when the Aussie press turn on their own and demand the head of their own record-breaking skipper.
Let’s start by abolishing sledging before cricket heads even further downhill. Respect is not a dirty word.