Steve Smith unfair play criticism ‘outrageous’ – Australia CEO Sutherland

“It was a great Test match. disappointed but proud of them”.

It was the second day of the Test when the morning saw some animated exchange between pacer Ishant Sharma and Australian skipper Steve Smith.

Then came Ishant Sharma venting out his frustration at Aussie skipper Steve Smith by making freakish facial expressions on Sunday.

“If you look at the footage, Peter Handscomb actually suggested Smith to turn around and look to the support staff”. He made amusing faces which the latter responded to in nearly similar kind.

“There are lines you don’t cross on the cricket field”. I want to give my opinion but I want to find out more about it.

Peter Handscomb, who was at the non-striker’s end during the incident, tweeted after the 75-run defeat that he was to blame.

Smith, 27, admitted his error and described it as “a bit of brain-fade”.

“I’ve said in the past, he’s the best batsman I’ve ever seen”.

The big question that the International Cricket Council (ICC) must ask is: Did Smith, and by extension the Australians, do what they did because they thought they could get away with it? “I think it was the first time it’s happened”.

India’s captain Virat Kohli, third right, celebrates with teammates the dismissal of Australia’s captain Steven Smith, left, during the fourth day of their second test cricket match in Bangalore, India, Tuesday, March 7, 2017.

Kohli was angry that Smith appeared to seek guidance from the dressing room over whether to review the decision after he was given out lbw. Mr Virat Kohli is a mature and seasoned cricketer and his conduct on the field has been exemplary. And he refused to back down after the match, stopping short of calling him a “cheat” but still accusing Smith and the Australians of underhand tactics.

Former India captains Sourav Ganguly and Sunil Gavaskar both called on the ICC to take action against Smith, but the talented batsman is expected to escape punishment. “I heard he said something about me not having good behaviour with the umpires”, he added.

Amid the controversy and noise over Virat Kohli’s post-match comments responding to Ian Healy’s criticism, he’s found support in an unlikely corner in the form of former Pakistan seamer Shoaib Akhtar. “I think there are massive cracks showing in (Kohli)”.

One of the first principles of the law is brainus fadus legis neminem excusat, or “a brain fade is no excuse”, so whether or not Smith cheated inadvertently or systematically doesn’t matter.

In the Indian batting line-up that is yet to fire in unison in the ongoing four-Test series against the Australians, opener KL Rahul has stood out with his solid technique and temperament.