A collage of the mainline newspapers in India's capital New Delhi depicting the reaction to the results of the second cricket Test match between India and Australia, in New Delhi, India, yesterday. High-profile commentators rallied behind a demoralised and irate India after the visitors lost the second Test to an Australia side that many accused of playing outside the spirit of cricket.

NEW DELHI (AP)

Angry Indian cricket fans held street demonstrations and burned effigies of two cricket umpires yesterday, blaming poor decisions for their team's defeat in the second Test against Australia, while criticising a three-match ban handed to spin bowler Harbhajan Singh.

Indian media also reacted with anger toward Harbhajan's suspension after he was found guilty by match referee Mike Proctor of racially abusing Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds, and questioned the sportsmanship of the Australian team.

"Indian team, come back home,'' chanted dozens of fans in downtown Jammu, the winter capital of India's Jammu-Kashmir state, as they set fire to effigies of umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor, accusing them of poor decisions against India.

Angry fans also came out on the streets in the western town of Vadodra and the northern city of Kanpur after India lost the Test to Australia at Sydney on Sunday, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

After the match, won by Australia by 122 runs in the scheduled second-last over of the day, India captain Anil Kumble accused Australia of unsportsmanlike conduct and the team's manager called for ''incompetent'' umpires to be replaced.

While Australia celebrated its world record-equalling 16th consecutive Test win, the Indian team fumed over poor umpiring decisions and Australia's attitude in the field.

"Only one team was playing in the spirit of the game, that's all I can say,'' Kumble said after the match.

Caught behind

Batsmen usually wait for an umpire's decision before leaving the field when they're out, but many think it is right to walk if the decision is obvious.

Andrew Symonds did not, and later acknowledged he should have been caught behind on 30. Instead, he stood his ground and was amazingly given not out by Bucknor and went on to make an unbeaten 162.

There were other instances of that. And the agreement between captains on the batsmen taking the word of fielders on low catches was also thrown into doubt by some contentious dismissals or appeals on the last day.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India met in New Delhi yesterday and said the happenings during the second cricket Test in Sydney were ''of great concern as some of these can have a far-reaching impact on international cricket.''

The Indian board considered the incident involving Singh and Symonds, and the subsequent hearing and ban to be distressing, said a BCCI statement.

The BCCI has sent its appeal to the International Cricket Council to review the suspension decision by the match referee against Singh, the New Delhi Television network quoted Sharad Pawar, the BCCI chief, as saying.

Pawar could not be immediately reached for comments.

The Hindustan Times described the test with the headline: ''Double whammy of horrific umpiring, unfair racism charge traumatise (Indian) team.''

"Sydney disaster: When umpires won and cricket lost,'' said the Pioneer in a front-page banner headline, while the Indian Express proclaimed "Team India c Benson b Bucknor.''

High-profile Australian-based commentators also rallied behind India yesterday.

"India have been dudded. No one with the slightest enthusiasm for cricket will take the least satisfaction from the victory secured by the local team ... that entertained spectators, provided some excellent batting but left a sour taste in the mouth,'' wrote Peter Roebuck in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Mike Coward, veteran cricket writer for The Australian national newspaper, took a more conciliatory tone, but criticised Australia's behaviour and the umpires.

"It is shameful this splendid Test match, won in such a remarkable fashion by the indomitable Australians, has left such a bitter taste,'' wrote Coward. ''The standard of play often was outstanding and occasionally exceptional, but the standard of player behaviour was questionable and, at times, unacceptable. And the standard of umpiring was poor.

Robert Craddock said in Brisbane's Courier-Mail that ''any fair-minded judge has to feel sympathy for the Indians who were completely dudded by the umpires.''

Indian tour on hold

SYDNEY (AP)

India's cricket team will appeal a three-match suspension against spin bowler Harbhajan Singh and ''suspend'' operations until the International Cricket Council hears the case.

India officials said in a statement issued yesterday by the Board of Control for Cricket in India that they would challenge ''the unfair decision'' to suspend Singh over racist remarks made to Australian allrounder Andrew Symonds during the second Test, and that it will ''suspend its operation until the appeal is disposed of.''

The BCCI said it has convened an emergency meeting in India for today. Indian officials did not immediately say whether that could result in the team not playing the third Test beginning January 16 in Perth.

''The board will fight the blatantly false and unfair slur on an Indian player,'' said the statement, released by officials at the team's downtown Sydney hotel.

The Indian team was scheduled to travel to Canberra by bus yesterday for a two-day tour match later this week, but earlier in the day decided not to leave Sydney. It is scheduled to play an ACT XI on Thursday and Friday.

Cricket Australia said later yesterday that there has been ''no advice of the Indian tour to Australia being cancelled.''