Did Aussie skipper try to cheat?

Bengaluru: All through this second Test, Steven Smith has sought to rile the Indians on the field. An unusual stance, jumping out, trying to unsettle Ishant Sharma and getting repaid with some million-dollar expressions from the paceman. All that’s fine. Then, Smith crossed the line.

Trapped leg before by Umesh Yadav’s grubber, a plumb dismissal, Smith clutching at imaginary straws, looked towards the dressing room seeking their view if he could go for a review.

It was a cardinal sin. Firstly, he was out, even to a blind person. Secondly, save for the non-striker’s views, no player can seek any other opinion, perceptibly or otherwise.

Virat Kohli was incensed. Rightly so. As he charged towards the Aussie skipper, umpire Nigel Llong quickly defused the situation, telling Smith he was wrong. Tempers were boiling and the Indian team was visibly agitated. Smith, realising the blunder, walked off.

He said later it was a brain freeze.  “It was a bit of brain fade on my behalf. Shouldn’t have done that,” admitted Smith.

Coming from a captain it was inexcusable. Kohli, when asked about his counterpart’s brain fade, hit it on the nail: “Sledging and playing against the opponents is different, but… I don’t want to mention the word, but it falls in that bracket. I would never do something like that on the cricket field.”

The Indian captain didn’t say it but it was clear: the Aussie captain was ‘cheating’. He then said it wasn’t the first time.

“I saw that happening two times when I was batting out there. I pointed it out to the umpire as well, that it’s happened twice.”