Australian captain Tim Paine may be promising his side will play polite cricket but there will be no shortage of animosity and controversy this summer thanks to the presence of combative Indian skipper Virat Kohli.
Kohli again earned headlines for his fiery behaviour yesterday, this time in England, in a sign of what is to come this November when India visit Australia for what is likely to be a spicy Test series.
The Indian superstar attracted widespread criticism for what many English pundits and fans believed to be a send-off of England captain Joe Root on day one of the first Test at Edgbaston.
Kohli appeared to mock Root’s famous ‘mic drop’ celebration, which the Englishman performed after winning the recent ODI series, and then apparently said “mic drop, f— off”.
Since Kohli became Test skipper his on-field behaviour has often been wildly aggressive. So much so that barely an Indian Test series has gone by without his antics coming under the microscope, similar to banned Australian bad boy David Warner.
In last year’s Test series against Australia Kohli was repeatedly warned by the umpires for giving send-offs, and then received a similar rebuke from officials in the first Test between India and South Africa earlier this year.
Virat Kohli is key to India’s success. (AFP PHOTO / SAEED KHAN)
Later in that series in SA he was fined by the ICC for showing dissent towards the umpires.
Never have I seen a Test captain behave with the constant manic aggression displayed by Kohli during Australia’s Tests in India last year, when Kohli continually gave huge send-offs.
Among current players I have only ever witnessed Warner and England’s Ben Stokes act in such a ceaselessly belligerent manner across a whole series. Plenty of cricketers have outbursts where they deliver a hefty send-off, but these are occasional incidents for them rather than the norm.
Most of the time these players delivering send-offs are bowlers who have just won a battle with the batsman and are surging with adrenaline.
Send-offs in this case remain unacceptable but are at least understandable given the swell of emotions a bowler experiences when they get a wicket.
It is bizarre, though, when a fieldsman like Warner or Kohli decides to charge in and verbally spray a dismissed batsman. Kohli did just that over and again versus Australia last year, and not just aimed at renowned loudmouths like Warner and Matthew Wade, but even at quiet, reserved cricketers such as Matt Renshaw and Shaun Marsh.
Kohli’s send-off of Root was tame in comparison to many of those he dished out against Australia. His fury was so intense during those Tests against Australia that I think it actually derailed his cricket, causing him to have an ultra-rare poor series.
Kohli’s return of 46 runs at an average of 9 against Australia was completely unexpected from the world’s best all-format batsman.
Last year’s series in India was the most heated Australia have been involved in since the notorious Tests they hosted against India in 2007-08 when the tourists almost went home halfway through the tour amid acute controversy.
Virat Kohli (AFP PHOTO / MARTY MELVILLE)
Back then Australia had their own aggressive leader in Ricky Ponting, whereas this summer when India arrive they’ll be greeted by a calm and affable skipper in Paine.
Don’t expect Kohli to follow Paine’s lead, though. The jovial nature of England captain Joe Root hasn’t rubbed off on Kohli and neither will Paine’s congeniality.
Kohli, I sense, believes his vigorous leadership brings the best out of an Indian Test team that is otherwise filled with quiet, laidback characters.
He quite clearly dislikes Australia more than any other team, due no doubt to the heavy sledging he copped early in his career from the likes of David Warner and Mitchell Johnson.
Now that Kohli is the captain of the world’s number one team and a colossus of international cricket he probably sees it as payback time.
He will make sure this summer’s Test series is spiked with contention regardless of whether Australia try to adopt a new Nice Guys approach.
NotASimian
Guest
Most of India, including Tendulkar, believes that Harbhajan did not say 'monkey' and said 'teri maa ki' which literally translates to "your mother's" - the implication being disgusting and rather obvious, but sadly, acceptable abuse on the cricket field going by the closest English equivalent "mf". We don't know what actually happened out there, but I don't think anyone beyond Harbhajan, actually knows the truth.
Andrew Young
Roar Guru
I tend to agree; he adopts an aggressive and tunnel vision sort of mindset. Perhaps his is more visible as it manifests itself more in the form of body language and overt celebration as opposed to sledging and vocal support/ intimidation that the majority of us can't perceive.
Liam
Guest
I have sites for a purely statistical analysis; cricbuzz is my go for that. I love the stories from Kersi about classic games and players, hype articles by Rohan and Ronan, articles which are banter based (like the one about England's greatest 11 currently on the front page of the section) and I used to love reading Peter Roebuck's articles in the age. That man, regardless of whatever else he did in life, could make you see the cricket as he saw it, he lent an edge of urgency to the dullest of draws and could really seize the mind with nothing but words. I do like the Roar for it's freedom of expression, but over the last three/four years there has been such a decline in quality across the entire sports media. Cricket, as a sport, requires if not expertise than enjoyment from those who report on it, and at the moment the editiors of most publications and websites - not this one in this example - are getting drawn into sniping and outrage baiting. It's easier to find a journalist, brush them up on reporting for cricket, and tell them to play the outrage card - blow up whatever Kohli said on twitter or in response to what Steve Smith said in a presser, go through the game footage to find anything untoward - because they already know how to do that, and it's cheaper to get an intern to do that instead of paying for someone who loves the game and has a unique talent for writing about it to do the same job and get roughly the same number of readers. What falls through the gaps is the actual cricket. Cricket, and I've said this before, is such an anecdotal sport. We have the cold statistics, but we also have the living stories told about the exploits of past games. I'll never forget the nights I stayed up, late for school and with homework to do, watching the 05 Ashes series; I was shattered and exhilarated after Edgebaston, knowing that regardless of the result I'd just witnessed history. This is what is missing. And its lack bothers me, because I have limited reach. I can write on here, sure, and I have, but the custodians of our game in the media have taken to punditry like Trump to the Oval Office; with copied speeches and papermache controversy. Cricket, and we, deserve better.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
A guess doesn't include the term 'for sure'.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Agreed Liam, but we both were attracted to this article and it flicked switches which made us both feel the need to comment. I commented early on in this comment section that Ronan is making assumptions and forecasts that can simply be irrelevant if Kohli does a knee in the England series and misses the Aussie summer. To his credit though he has stipulated that he feels his role is to bring up topics for discussion and let us at it. He has taken criticism here for not mentioning the result of the Test, but it appears lost on those critics that they got the result anyway elsewhere, but could debate here. I agree there seems to be more desire from the public to chew at the periphery, but maybe that's a result of our conspiracy theory era. There are sites out there with sections and writers devoted only to the results and stats of games, which also invite reader comment which may be more to your taste.
Liam
Guest
Sure. My issue is that the media seem to find any excuse not to talk about the cricket, and the public just kind of go along with them when they do, all too happy to move away from discussing a brilliant knock or a scintillating spell to trying to score points off opposition supporters. This article is another manifestation of precisely this phenomena, but it isn't even waiting for Kohli to actually do something to bring controversy first. It assumes the worst; I'd rather assume he's going to bring his bat, and his team's going to bring their best cricket, for what is a once in a century opportunity to do something no Indian team has done here before.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Not true about Australia, Liam. Australia was the first country to put a player code of conduct in place and constantly review it. It is essentially there to make sure players don't tarnish CA's idea of the way their product is treated. Australian players would regularly get fined and sanctioned, especially if the pitch mic or cameras picked out players mouthing words that CA thought would be highlighted by the rabid Aussie media. The list is long from McGrath, Hayden, Ponting, Gilchrist, Johnson, Warner, Wade, Hazelwood and on and on. They rarely would wait for the match referee. By the way, real Aussie cricket fans still enjoy opponents coming at us. It makes the victories sweeter. I think you're mistaking devil's advocate journo's and fair weather spectators with cricket fans. I agree with players being sanctioned when they overstep into personal sledging, it lacks class, subtlety and cleverness. It also has degrees, which the lame fall into crassness like Kohli did against Root. He's not the type of character to repeat the action back at Root without comment, because he needs to play up to the ever present camera. Real cricket fans will be expecting a combative Indian Captain to tour Australia. Real fans will also expect him to be sanctioned the same as any Aussie would for his recent outburst if he becomes personally abusive.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
This article is about Kohli, hence the remarks about Kohli. Now that you've brought up Root though, he didn't say a word, he used an action that is symbolic of " that's that, no answer possible". In the context of that game he was correct - game over. He also admitted after the event, he was embarrassed by his action. Kohli on the other hand had to carry that over to a completely unrelated game and because he doesn't get subtley, had to add the f@#! off! That action can not be construed in any other way than being personal towards Root. Root's action was game based. A lot is said about Australian sledging, but once that comment was picked up on audio, CA would have fined the Australian and not waited for the match referee to do anything. No way the BCCI is going to interfere with their enforcers decision on how he intends to intimidate the opposition. Much like Warner regularly does, Kohli made a tool of himself. Unlike Warner, he once again escaped sanction.
Ross
Guest
Not as much assistance as our bowlers will get , we have starc Cummins and hazelwood
Old Datsun in Deli
Guest
kolhi does not use sandpaper on balls.....Its funny how Roots behavior is ok but Kolhi returns serve and you all run him down as a terrible person...Typical Aussie attitiude where you give and give and give...sadly cant take it when someone gives back..lets hope Paine is a better person and a better leader than the last Aussie lot
Old Datsun in Deli
Guest
kolhi does not use sandpaper on balls.....Its funny how Roots behavior is ok but Kolhi returns serve and you all run him down as a terrible person...Typical Aussie attitiude where you give and give and give...sadly cant take it when someone gives back..lets hope Paine is a better person and a better leader than the last Aussie lot
jameswm
Roar Guru
I think he's waiting for something coherent to reply to.
George
Guest
As ever. Don't expect a match report - Ronan only does one when England lose.
JimmyB
Guest
Had you been drinking when posting this Bush? ;)
Matt
Guest
Pointing at grammer mate seriously?? And plz dont say you cant comprehend it, it surely did ruffle you since you didnt have any answer to it and making you resort to grammatical errors.
Savage
Roar Rookie
No one can argue with stats put up by Ronan.England have been mediocre in Tests since 2013 whitewash in Australia.1 close win against India hardly changes anything.Their Win/loss ratio is still 0.75 in last 5 years. In ODIs however,England are deservingly ranked no 1 and easily the best side in the world.
Brendon
Guest
Who needs enemies when you have Australian "supporters" like Paul. Why are Australian supporters so toxic? I truly despise so many Australian cricket "fans".
Rellum
Roar Guru
It is a reasonable educated guess. What's got under your skin?
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Wow picking an average already, you really are about generating comments, Ronan. He could do an acl charging at the umpires in the next Test and not tour at all, or could be banned for months for match fixing.
Rellum
Roar Guru
We will definitely serve up roads as usual. I can't imagine CA allowing decks with any life in them. There are no day night tests to spice up the deck with India either.