Michael, Response to 6. - Agreed that is has been 5 rough days, but bear in mind that Kumble has been fighting for 5 hard days as well. Yet he never snapped at a journalist like a teenager. The great Allan Border never indulged in such despicable behavior. As a captain of a team, you are held to higher standard of behavior as compared to other members of the team. Yelling at a reporter in a press conference ain't done mate. The only other instance of hostility to press that I can remember is Mike Atherton in Pakistan. Ponting had a responsibility to be calm and composed.
What I still don't get is that this whole thing initially was betwene Harbhajan and Lee. When Brett Lee had no issues, why should Symonds play the activist there? Lee never complained to the umpire or to his captain. Why does Symonds havet to rudely barge in and start a confrontation.
Indian fans celebrating their Twenty20 celebration is upto them. Who is Symonds to comment on them not being humble or something? If you don't agree with it fine. Don't go shooting your mouth off and needling your hosts. Symonds started it with his comments and invited the hostility from the Indian fans. Things would have been just fine if he knew when to speak and when to use discretion. I'm not justifying racism here, but highlighting the fact that Symonds is not very innocent. That needs to be taken into account.
