Australian commentator Kerry O'Keeffe has now responded to the criticism over his controversial comments.
Kerry O'Keeffe, the former Australia cricketer-turned commentator, has been facing a lot of backlash from Indian fans over his controversial comments made on air during the third Test match between India and Australia in Melbourne.
However, O'Keeffe has now responded to the criticism with an open letter to India cricket team and its fans.
In the letter, O'Keeffe said he has been "devastated" by the reaction to his on-air comments. Several Indian fans and media have labelled O'Keeffe's comments as 'distasteful' and 'full of casual racism'.
Devastated by the reactions, writes O'Keeffe
O'Keeffe said that some fans may not be able to "relate to my sense of humour" and that what he meant is "vastly different" from what is being represented in the media.
"I have been devastated by the reaction to my on-air comments on Fox Cricket during the recently completed Third Test between Australia and India. I am coming to terms with how negatively those words have been interpreted," O'Keeffe wrote in his open letter, as quoted by foxsports.com.au.
"That interpretation is not who I am. It is not what I represent. My style as a commentator is to attempt to find a quirky view to lighten up some of the serious analysis.
"When I made a remark about Indian first-class batting averages within their domestic cricket competition being made against a "canteen" bowling attack, I was being entirely tongue in cheek. I was certainly not disrespecting Indian cricket, where I toured as a schoolboy and for which I have the greatest admiration as a cricketing nation.
"I accept that some fans may not always relate to my sense of humour - but missing the mark on a joke between overs is vastly different to what I've been accused of on Twitter and in some sections of the media in recent days."
Controvesial comments
O'Keeffe's open letter comes after his comments caused quite a controversy. It all started when O'Keeffe made a demeaning remark on India's first class cricket while discussing Mayank Agarwal’s credentials on the first day of the third Test.
While commenting on Agarwal’s triple hundred against Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy, O’Keefe said, “Apparently he got the triple against the Railways canteen staff.” He also added that the bowlers from the said team were "chefs and waiters".
Indian fans, team hit back
The comments did not go well with Indian fans who hit back on social media. The Indian team too responded with head coach Ravi Shastri saying: "He [Mayank] has got a message for Kerry... 'when you do open your canteen, he wants to come and smell the coffee. He wants to compare it to the ones back in India...coffee here's better or the ones back home'."
India's bowling coach Bharat Arun said India are hurt by O'Keeffe's comments but insisted that the team is not thinking about an official complaint against the Australian commentator at the moment.
O'Keeffe didn't stop there as he went on to make distasteful joke about difficulty in pronouncing India players' names during the Boxing Day Test. Sharing the commentary boxing with legendary Australian cricketer Shane Warne and Mark Waugh, O'Keeffe was heard from behind the mic on Saturday, saying "Why would you name your kid Cheteshwar Pujara?"
"I didn't meant to insult Indian cricketers"
However, in the letter, O'Keeffe added that he had no intention to ridicule Indian players or the premier domestic tournament of the country.
"I pride myself on doing extensive research before a match and when I stumbled over the names of Pujara and Jadeja on Day Four, I took a swipe at myself for getting them wrong," O'Keeffe added.
"There was no intention to ridicule those two wonderful players and I am horrified by any suggestion to the contrary. I had spent months researching and analysing these two players and when the moment arrived, I stuffed it up. The joke was on me."
"... I respect India, its cricketers and its supporters for their deep love of the game and it hurts me to think a couple of misplaced attempts at humour might compromise our mutual joy in all things cricket. While I've listened to the feedback to some of my calls, it's now important for me to move on and look to the Sydney Test."
"More diamonds than rocks"
"I love calling cricket for a living and I'll continue to do it in my slightly offbeat style. I'd like to think I produce more diamonds than rocks in the commentary box and that viewers will give me the benefit of the doubt if I bowl the occasional no-ball."
Captain Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah praised India's first-class cricket set-up after India's 137-run in Melbourne on Sunday. While they did not name anybody, there comments were considered to be subtle dig at O'Keeffe's comments.
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 "Kerry O'Keeffe")
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