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Match referee suspends Saurav for dissent

Saurav Ganguly will miss the first one-day international against Australia at Kochi on Wednesday, April 1.

Match referee Peter Van Der Merve suspended the dashing left-hander on Friday for showing dissent at the manner of his dismissal on Thursday morning.

In the second over of the second day's play in the Third Test at Bangalore, Ganguly attempted an across the line flick at Adam Dale, ball two, and missed the line. Ball three, he tried the stroke again, missed again, and this time he was right there, bang in front, for the LBW appeal.

Up went David Shepherd's finger and Ganguly looked aghast.

The International Cricket Council's South African rep has now decided that Ganguly's action violated Clause 3 of the ICC's Code of Conduct -- 'Players and team officials must at all times accept the umpire's decision. Players must not show dissent at the umpire's decision' -- and suspended the Bengal star for the first one-dayer.

He is the second Indian to be so censured in this series; Nayan Mongia being the first. After being given out on day one of the first Test at Madras, Mongia stood there for a couple of heartbeats, then walked. And was promptly fined 50 per cent of his match fee for "showing dissent".

The same thing happened on day three, to Greg Blewett. Who reacted in identical fashion. Surprise, surprise, no fine. And, what was worse, a comment from the match referee to the effect that 'Mongia was showing dissent... Blewett was only expressing disagreement...'

Some of Blewett's team-mates -- notably Ricky Ponting -- also made apparent their displeasure at being given out in the second innings of the Madras Test, but no action was taken against them either. The Indians will be asking themselves tonight if they are being judged by a different yardstick.