Jadeja-Anderson Controversy: Pronounced 'Not Guilty'! But No Winner Anyway

Just this morning I heard David Lloyd the English commentator tell someone "Thank God ICC was not as hard on us back in those days. Otherwise every other day you would have listened to a complain, O mama he pushed me!"

That essentially sums up the English view of the Jadeja-Anderson push gate. Ever since I have reached England and started interacting with the English press I get a sense that they think the whole issue is 'churlish', 'storm in area cup'

But hold on, the English are not denying of Anderson having pushed Jadeja either. And Anderson himself had tendered an apology which was not accepted by the team.

Does it really matter what Ravindra Jadeja thinks? Not really. He mended fences with Anderson after the Lord's win. But was asked to play along the lines with the team.

And things took turn for worse with Jadeja getting a 50 percent fine on his match fee. It 'hurt' skipper MS Dhoni whose 'truth' was not got enough to exonerate his protege.

The England captain replying to a question from a journalist had said it was a 'tactic' and to have Anderson miss out in Manchester would have meant that the English would once again had started at a disadvantage. Though clairvoyant Cook and Co included him in the squad for Manchester even before the verdict came which declared Anderson 'not guilty.'

Being let off by the ICC means a huge relief for James Anderson who has led the English bowling attack this summer with a lot of valour and taken five wickets twice. Jarrod Kimber, an English journalist told me ," you can assess the English team's form by the form Jamie Anderson is in. He is at an age when a fast bowler reaches his peak and Jamie is enjoying his time this summer."

Under ICC code 8.3.2, an appeal in this case can only be made by two parties, the accused or the Chief Executive of ICC. Under normal circumstances this case is done and dusted. But for India, the super powers of World Cricket, the wound is still very raw.

As I stood outside the gates of Grand Harbour hotel in Southampton for 6 hours, eagerly anticipating an outcome, I witnessed the English support. Stuart Broad came in with Anderson in his jet black Jaguar. Then he also got in Matt Prior. The duo rallied around their friend and waited till the hearing ended, that was well after the Indians had made a back gate exit.

So is it a tactical defeat for the Indian team and a victory for the English? Well, it would have been a definite advantage to have James Anderson out in his home Test in Manchester. That may have also ensured a series win. Now MSD's basket of worries in include opening, slip catching, bowling and of course Anderson ! Surely the Indian captain will be the most unhappy man with this verdict.

This is also an endorsement of Anderson's ways. The hearing hanging on him did not work as a deterrent and he mouthed off explicits at Ajinkya Rahane in Southampton as well.

But in the end, a not guilty verdict for Jadeja and Anderson meant a colossal wastage of time for  lawyers, players and why forget the media like me? Perhaps both teams, Indians in particular, would have done well by strategising for Manchester than having a wasted afternoon.