New Delhi, January 7:

Angry Indian cricket fans held street demonstrations and burned effigies of two umpires on Monday, 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 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-equaling 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.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India met in New Delhi on Monday 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.

The Hindustan Times described the Test with the headline: “Double whammy of horrific umpiring, unfair racism charge traumatize (Indian) team.” “Sydney disaster: When umpires won and cricket lost,” said the Pioneer, while the Indian Express proclaimed “Team India c Benson b Bucknor.”

“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.

Former Australia captain Steve Waugh, who guided Australia on their record winning run between 1999 and 2001, said it was a “real pity” that the Test match “will probably be remembered for all the wrong reasons — and not for the outstanding quality, pressure and the excruciating drama it ultimately provided.”