Published: Dec 18, 2018, 03:30 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 18, 2018, 03:30 PM (IST)
Perth: Verbal duels were exchanged not only between the captains of India and Australia, but tension also flared between team-mates Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja on Day Four of the second Test at Perth.
According to a report in The Age on Tuesday, Ishant had directed a vulgar sledge at Jadeja, who was a substitute fielder on the afternoon of the fourth day of the Test which culminated in Australia romping away to an emphatic 146-run win on Tuesday.
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Ishant and Jadeja were engaged in a war of words in Hindi which was captured the host free-to-air broadcaster Channel Seven. However, they did not broadcast the audio.
The incident unfolded when Ishant told Jadeja: “Don’t wave your hand at me. If you want something, come to me and say it.”
Jadeja replied: “Why are you saying so much?
Ishant responded: “Don’t wave your hand at me. Don’t take out your anger on me. I’ll take your anger and shove it up your arse. I will shove your anger up your arse.”
Jadeja’s next reply was not picked up by the stump mic, but Ishant said: “Don’t tell me also. Don’t talk bullshit.”
The incident lasted for about 90 seconds before Mohammed Shami, separated them.
All is not well inside the India camp? Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja squared off yesterday in Perth…#7Cricket #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/RzE8jvKmXo
— 7 Cricket (@7Cricket) December 18, 2018
Captain Virat Kohli was not asked about the incident directly during the post-match press conference, but he said that the increasing use of stump mics was not an issue.
“With the stump mics and cameras and all these things, honestly, when the bowler is bowling, you aren’t thinking whether the stump mic is on or the camera is on or not,” he said.
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“And when you are facing that ball, literally, there is no one in the stadium apart from you and that ball. So, these things are totally irrelevant, and you are actually not aware of them when you are on the field. It’s never bothered me, it’s never been something that’s of importance to me to be honest. For me it’s irrelevant.”
The reason to the fight was not clear. “It does seem pretty animated,” former Australia captain Ricky Ponting had said.
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“There’s lots of finger pointing. They were separated on a couple of occasions.”
The two teams will now move to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test beginning on December 26.
(With inputs from PTI)
