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.”
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
BCCI threaten to end tour and return home country
Cadfael
Roar Guru
They may not need it but they have used substances to help with spinning the ball.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Yeah it’s essentially a series of one on one contests with some helpers.
baz
Guest
cheats simple as that putting something on the ball could of used his clothes. No need to touch the ball what a cheat plan and simple they were winning and still cheating. Ban him for a year please.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Underrated comment Snow
Tony H
Roar Pro
Rosin would help. Any kind of tacking agent.
Sedz
Guest
Probably I’d say playing pink ball is also a doctoring for me. Next time if the ball bounces in Perth then that’s a bad pitch as well. If pitch is doctored Jadeja and Axar Patel scored 50 each and you make a fool out of yourself because they both are left handlers too. Probably Pant would have scored 50 or more had he been there.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I get your point but I really think we've done nothing but moan since this series kicked off and we're getting flogged on the field. It's a very poor look
AndyS
Guest
That seems slightly disingenuous; one might as easily ask what Bancroft could possibly have been doing that would have made his fielding easier. That said, if something was in fact being put on the ball (or 'accidentally' finding its way there), it would probably be the first time a spinner ever gave a flying funtime about anyone besides themselves and the state the ball was getting into. So, yeah,...?
Mickey Bobby
Roar Rookie
What gets me is with all the spectators, spider cams, drone cams, cameras at square leg, long on, broadcast and third umpire cameras etc... And they still tried to conceal whatever they were doing. Guilty or not, it looks comically shady.
Jon Snow
Roar Rookie
Coz Siraj is the team spin doctor...
U
Roar Rookie
That’s the crowds job. Should Aussie crowds be nice and peachy to visiting players?
Clear as mud
Guest
In Xanadu did Majid Khan a stately pleasure ton decree… Forget the rest. 40+ years now
Clear as mud
Guest
Is that aka Grippo?
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
This feels like unnecessary noise. For the life of me I can’t think of a substance they could put on the ball that would aid their spinners. Move on
Simoc
Roar Rookie
Well it says changes the condition of the ball. The umpires in the sandpaper gate ruled that the sandpaper didn't change the condition of the ball. Its rather disingenuous of you, CTD, to suggest that he has changed the condition of the ball.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Good to find another voice of sanity on the JFK assassination. 2 great books by Gerard Posner and Vincent Bugliosi debunked every bit of so-called evidence of a conspiracy. And of course ball tracking isn’t a conspiracy, ICC pays a company for the software- it does seem off at times, although on this occasion I wasn’t surprised to see the simulation clipping leg stump. Not a good shot by Khawaja, shouldn’t be missing a straightforward inswinger in the first over.
JGK
Roar Guru
Boucher.
Wesman
Guest
I haven't seen it. And can't see how ointment would assist a spinner. That said why is it applied via another player. They have medical staff and it should be applied under umpires supervision. In the climate it's inflammatory.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Couldn't find the incident re the stump although just read some 16 year old bowler was beaten to death by a batsman with a stump because the bowler didn't agree with a no ball call . Happened in Bangladesh I think .