Australian cricket greats, media angry at Gavaskar on Hookes slur

Sydney, Mar (UNI) Australian cricket fraternity was today seething with rage against Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar over his comments linking late David Hookes with Aussies' boorish on-field behaviour.

Former Australia captain and selector Allan Border led the charge in taking strong exception to former Indian captain's remarks on David Hookes who had died after a late night brawl outside a Melbourne pub three years ago.

''I consider Sunny a friend, but what he said about David Hookes and the behaviour of Australian cricketers was totally uncalled for,'' Border said.

''What Sunny said on television was totally inappropriate,'' he was quoted as saying by News Corp newspapers.

The Australian legend, whose name figures on the trophy given to the winner of the Indo-Australian Test series along with Gavaskar, reportedly considers former Indian opener's remarks as a serious affront to their 20-year friendship.

Gavaskar had earlier used late David Hookes's example to illustrate his point that aggressive Australian behaviour has made them unpopular winners.

''There's the example of the late David Hookes. Would the Australians who use that kind of language on the field ... in a bar, would they get away with it?'' he said in a widely quoted outburst.

''Would they have a fist coming at their face or not,'' he asked on a sports network ESPN programme.

Hookes's mate from South Australia and former Australian Test cricketer, Darren Lehmann, has also backed Border's criticism of the Indian legend.

''I'm pretty disappointed with Gavaskar. His remarks only hurt David Hookes's family and friends, and tarnish Hookesy's memory,'' Lehmann said.

''A man of Gavaskar's stature in the game of cricket should know better,'' Lehamann told The Sunday Times.

''His outburst about David Hookes was totally out of order and in bad taste.

''As to what he said about the way Australia goes about playing the game, he's overlooked the fact there are officials who are empowered to take action if someone is out of order,'' he added.

A number of sports commentators have also riled against Gavaskar for his ''insensitive'' remarks.

''It wouldn't be rash to suggest Sunil might find a fist flying into his face if he wandered into a pub in Sydney or Melbourne and repeated that line,'' Luke McIlveen writes in The Telegraph.

McIlveen has also taken Gavaskar to task for ''putting his chicken's ticker on display for all the world to see.'' ''Gavaskar grabbed his opening partner and stormed off the pitch,'' The Telegraph journalist has written about an incident in 1981 India-Australia series.

Gavaskar had almost forfeited the Test as over reaction to the decision to give him out LBW.

''After 26 years it's comforting to know one theme has remained the same -- Sunil Gavaskar's still whingeing about his plumb LBW dismissal to Dennis Lillee at the MCG,'' McIlveen has written.

UNI