Tensions have again flared between Australian players and Virat Kohli after the Indian captain took a bye while Matthew Wade was down injured.
Wicketkeeper Wade appeared to hurt his arm after fumbling a Marcus Stoinis delivery during India’s second one-day international win in Kolkata on Thursday.
At the non-striker’s end, Kohli took off on the quick run while Wade was hunched over.
It sparked Stoinis to confront Kohli at the end of the over and an angry response from Wade, who fumed at the batsman during the change of ends.
The run-in continues a long list of unsavoury incidents involving the Australians and Kohli, who was on 79 at the time before top-scoring with a first-innings 92.
Kohli declared he will never be friends with any Australian player after this year’s Test series featured plenty of bad blood, but has since backed away from the comments.
But not every Australian was in Wade’s corner, with former Test fast bowler Stuart Clark saying the stoush was a distraction.
“He misfielded one. Whether the Indian batsman knew he was injured or not was probably a secondary question,” Clark told Sky Sports Radio on Friday.
“It’s one run. Is this the biggest issue this team has got? If I’m Matthew Wade and I’m Marcus Stoinis – and full credit to him for standing up for Matthew Wade – I’d be worrying about my own cricket, rather than all this other stuff.
“This is piddly crap.”
Wade was one of a number of Australians who appeared to struggle in the Indian heat in the day fielding session.
The innings was Kohli’s first big score against Australia in any format since his match-winning 82no in the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 in March last year.
“I wouldn’t be saying too much to Virat Kohli. He seems to want to fight with everyone and he seems to play 10 times better when he does fight with people,” Clark said.
amreeka
Guest
kohli is officialy the hitman for aussies
Jameswm
Guest
You mean like the Indian test series when he got under our skin so well by scoring heavily?
JohnB
Guest
Was Pandya given out - if so, umpires at fault for not knowing the rules. Re Wade - depends on the injury doesn't it - if he's unconscious or writhing in agony, and you see it, probably proper to stop. Short of that seems to be asking a bit much.
Andrew kernaghan
Guest
I remember when we played ruthless cricket and won against everyone ... it's time for us to stop being sooks and ending up with the participation award instead of the victory ... have some concrete and harden up
Happy Jack
Guest
If this was against the spirit of the game, what about Smith running out Pandya. It was a no ball waist high and Pandya thought he was caught. Come on guys be a sport! These things happen in a game. I am still laughing at the comment "Aussies had the last laugh"! Well they laughed because India won????
steve
Guest
I absolutely love it that Kohli gets under the Australian players skins so easily.
Kurt Rudder
Guest
totally agree with Stuart Clark, I can't stand Kohli like many Australians but he did nothing wrong here, the ball was fumbled and it was an easy single....it wasn't like it hit Wade in the head and knocked him out