Australians justly pride themselves on being cricket's Number 1 team but today there are question marks on their sportsmanship.

The Kangaroos have never left anyone in doubt that they play their cricket hard, no quarters given.

They are notorious for sledging, an art they have perfected but they have no stomach when the rival teams give it back to them.

Apart from dragging Harbhajan Singh into a racial row, the conduct of the Australians in the second cricket Test against India, which ended on Sunday, is a blot on their sportsmanship.

They may have won the game with the generous help from the umpires but their behaviour should be an embarrassment for a team that is undoubtedly a champion side.

Adam Gilchrist, who claims to have set standard for sportsmanship by walking whenever he believes he is out, on Sunday appealed for a catch of Rahul Dravid when the bat was nowhere near the ball.

Steve Bucknor, the West Indian umpire who has time and again proved to be India's bugbear, upheld the appeal.

Skipper Ricky Ponting seemed to have caught Mahendra Singh Dhoni but the ball had hit the ground in the attempt.

However, Ponting had no hesitation in claiming for a catch.