wallydownundy

NSW Tourism is filming a Bollywood film entitled, “Victory.” This “Bend if Like Beckham” sports story focuses on the trials and tribulations of the Commonwealth’s favourite sport - cricket. Shot at favoured locales across Sydney the film may be seen by as many as 1 billion people in India. 

It couldn’t happen at a worst time.

Yesterday India’s cricket board called off the current test tour of Australia. Players who had boarded a bus for a match in Canberra disembarked after an hour and returned to the Radisson hotel - indefinitely.

At question is a multi-game suspension for one of India’s top players for a racial slur. But dig not much deeper and a wellspring of discontent springs forward - against Australia.

Captain Ricky Ponting is in the headlines with major papers across the nation calling for his dismissal. He led Cricket Australia to victory as team captain. But he did so in ways labeled disgraceful and unsportsmanlike. The letters to the editor are awash with cricket fans protesting against our own team. The Sydney Morning Herald runs an editorial with a superbly written opening line:

Australia’s cricketers and their managers have managed to pluck a moral disaster out of their victory in the Sydney Test against India. (Click to read more.)

So. Cricket India is holed up at the Radisson. Cricket Australia is under fire for poor sportsmanship. In India an effigy of the Second Test umpire was burned in the street. 

Sounds like a terrible time to undertake a Bollywood Film promoting Australia using cricket as a theme.  But then again “The Producers” had us all humming along to “Springtime for Hitler and Germany.” Perhaps they just need a really memorable show tune for “Victory.” Any suggestions for the song title?