'Childish' Smith in the spotlight after India survive for Sydney draw

By Sports Desk January 11, 2021

Fair or foul? Gamesmanship or unsportsmanlike conduct? Steve Smith found himself in the spotlight after his actions on the final day of the third Test between Australia and India in Sydney.

Smith was at his best with the bat in the match, making scores of 131 and 81 as he returned to form in style after a recent lean spell.

However, it may well be his footwork during Monday's final day will overshadow what he achieved during the rest of the Test.

With India battling to save the game, stump camera footage seen on social media showed Smith standing at the crease during a break in proceedings, the Australian shaping up as if he was batting, including marking a guard.

His actions at the crease forced India's Rishabh Pant to retake his own guard before play resumed, with the moment becoming a hot topic on Twitter.

"Tried all tricks including Steve Smith trying to remove Pant's batting guard marks from the crease," former India batsman Virender Sehwag wrote to accompany the footage that was seen on the international feed of the broadcast.

Retweeting Sehwag's post, ex-England captain Michael Vaughan added: "This is very very poor from Steve Smith!!". Meanwhile, David Lloyd, who played and coached England before becoming a television commentator, wrote: "How childish".

Pant did not seem too perturbed by what happened, however, going on to make 97 as India impressively secured a draw.

Smith was sacked as Australia captain following the ball-tampering scandal during the tour of South Africa in 2018. Along with team-mate David Warner, he was banned for 12 months from international and domestic cricket for his involvement in the incident.

Cameron Bancroft, who was the player caught by television cameras appearing to use sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball during the third Test against the Proteas at Newlands, was handed a nine-month suspension.

Tim Paine, who took over as skipper of the Test side, was also trending on social media after a verbal exchange with India's Ravichandran Ashwin during the final session of play at the SCG.

Ashwin pulled away before a delivery as he and Paine shared words, their conversation picked up by the stump microphone.

England paceman Stuart Broad pointed out on Twitter that such situations are "part of the game" during a Test match, though did suggest Paine's use of an expletive could land him in trouble.

The wicketkeeper was indeed fined after the game, though lost 15 per cent of his match fee as punishment for dissent after questioning an umpiring decision during day three of the match.

Ashwin ended up unbeaten on 39 to help India survive and remain level at 1-1 in the series ahead of the final game in Brisbane.

Related items

  • Gilzene, Blackwood fight back as Scorpions reach 176-1, but still 282 away from victory Gilzene, Blackwood fight back as Scorpions reach 176-1, but still 282 away from victory

    Jamaica Scorpions chasing a mammoth 459 for victory against Guyana Harpy Eagles were 176-1 at stumps, needing a further 282 to achieve an unlikely victory on Friday.

    When play resumes on Saturday morning, Tevin Gilzene will carry on from 81 hoping for a big century as is Jermaine Blackwood, who was unbeaten on 66. The pair has so far put on 166 for the second wicket after losing opening batter Leroy Lugg for 10.

    Earlier, Guyana picked up from their overnight score of 138-4 with Tagenarine Chanderpaul on 60 and Tevin Imlach on an even 50. The pair had extended their partnership to 175 when Chanderpaul was trapped lbw by Blackwood for 89.

    Meanwhile, Imlach went to make an unbeaten 136 as Guyana declared at 294-7, 458 ahead of the Scorpions.

    Mindley finished with the impressive figures of 6-54 after running through the Guyana middle order. Blackwood took 1-41.

     

  • Hodge scores 137 but Hurricanes end day three with 128-run lead over Volcanoes at Brian Lara Stadium Hodge scores 137 but Hurricanes end day three with 128-run lead over Volcanoes at Brian Lara Stadium

    Kavem Hodge scored his fourth first-class hundred but it was the Leeward Islands Hurricanes who ended day three of their fourth-round fixture against the Windward Islands Volcanoes with a 128-run second innings lead at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba on Friday.

    The Volcanoes started the day 206-2 with Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge at the crease on 105 and 85, respectively.

    The pair, who came together with the Volcanoes 10-2, brought their third-wicket partnership up to 246 before Athanaze’s knock was brought to an end on 128.

    It was quickly 256-4 when Sunil Ambris only lasted one ball.

    During the innings Hodge brought up his fourth first-class hundred, reaching 125 by the time lunch came around.

    His partner at lunch was Justin Greaves who was on four as the Windwards were 298-5 off 75 overs, trailing the Hurricanes by 84 runs.

    After the break, The Windwards lost the wickets of Hodge for 137 and Tevyn Walcott for 17 to be 314-6 in the 81st over.

    Justin Greaves had to leave the field when he was on eight after being struck on the helmet by a Jeremiah Louis bouncer. He would later return to the crease when the Windwards were 348-9.

    On the stroke of tea, the Windwards innings ended on 353-9 off 95 overs, with them just 29 runs short of a first-innings lead, after Shermon Lewis retired hurt after apparently feeling ill on the field. Greaves was left stranded on 12.

    Louis took 4-46 while Cornwall took 4-102 for the Hurricanes.

    At stumps, the Hurricanes reached 99-5 off 39 overs. Montcin Hodge has, so far, faced 114 balls for his 45.

    Earlier, Preston McSween removed Kieran Powell and Akeem Saunders for four and 11, respectively, to have figures of 2-26 off six overs so far.

  • Pollard, Russell overlooked for The Hundred, Oval Invincibles select Narine Pollard, Russell overlooked for The Hundred, Oval Invincibles select Narine

    Neither Kieron Pollard nor Andre Russell were picked up during the The Hundred Player Draft took place on Thursday, March 23. The successful short-format competition is in its third season and is set to bowl off on August 1 and conclude on August 27.

    Despite their power-hitting prowess and propensity for being on winning teams in T20 franchise cricket across the globe, neither player was considered to be good enough for any of the eight Hundred teams.

    They were not the only big names to be overlooked as two of the best batters in the world - Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan – were also overlooked by the teams’ selectors.

    However, Sunil Narine had much better fortune. He was picked up by the Oval Invincibles and is the only West Indian player in The Hundred for the third season.

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.