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Former Australia captain Tim Paine has ignited a social media debate after describing an on-field interaction between star India spinner Ravi Jadeja and teammate Mohammed Siraj as “interesting”.
Broadcast vision captured Jadeja taking something out of Siraj’s hand during day one of the first Test between India and Australia in Nagpur on Thursday.
After the exchange with Siraj, Jadeja then rubbed his hands and left index finger around the ball with an unidentified substance.
Several Indian media reports have said the substance was an ointment Jadeja was applying to a sore finger.
According to ESPNCricinfo Jadeja and India captain Rohit Sharma were shown a video of the incident by ICC match referee Andy Pycroft after play. The news organisation said no charges were laid against the player.
Indian team management told Pycroft Jadeja “was applying pain-relief cream to the index finger of his bowling hand”.
“While the incident triggered debates on social and mainstream media, it is learned that the Australia team had not brought the matter to the attention of the match referee,” the Cricinfo report said.
“According to the playing conditions, the match referee can independently probe such incidents without needing a complaint to be lodged. And under the Laws of Cricket, the bowler needs the umpire’s permission to apply any sort of substance on their hands to ensure the condition of the ball remains unaffected.”
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Paine, who quit as Australia’s Test skipper in November, replied to a Twitter user asking what he thought of the footage with “interesting”.
Matt Renshaw of Australia walks off after he was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja of India. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
The incident happened during the middle session when Jadeja played a major role in India ripping through Australia’s middle-order, getting Marnus Labuschagne stumped, bowling Steve Smith and trapping Matt Renshaw first ball.
He also added the scalps of Peter Handscomb and Todd Murphy later in the innings to claim 5-47 from 22 overs.
Clips of the incident went viral on social media, with former England captain Michael Vaughan also having a say.
“What is it he is putting on his spinning finger? Never ever seen this …,” Vaughan wrote on Twitter.
Jadeja proved the key man, starring with figures of 5-47 to put India in the box seat after a commanding opening day of the Border-Gavaskar series.
The International Cricket Council will not comment on the specifics of the incident and will leave a decision on any sanctions in the hands of the match referee, Zimbabwean Andy Pycroft.
Under the ICC’s Test conditions, players are banned from using an artificial substance on the ball.
Jadeja and fellow star Ravichandran Ashwin took eight of Australia’s 10 wickets in a display sure to strike fear in the tourists for the remainder of the series.
The 34-year-old defended the state of the pitch after it came under criticism before the match for unusual tactics used by ground staff.
“This wasn’t a rank turner,” Jadeja said, which was translated from Hindi. “Compared to other wickets it was slow and had low bounce.
“I felt defending wasn’t very difficult but as the game progresses, defending will become increasingly difficult – but that’s the nature of Test cricket.”
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