Backing Virat Kohli’s opposition to Steve Smith asking the dressing room’s input for a DRS referral in the Bengaluru Test, Michael Clarke said that the Aussie captain’s act was “completely unacceptable”. However, the former Australian captain said he didn’t want to be “too judgemental” and wanted to find out more before giving his “opinion”.
From my perspective, when I was playing I remember having a brain fade when I gloved a ball and did not walk off. So I don’t want to be too judgemental on anybody. If what Virat is saying is true and Australia is using their support staff to help them with DRS then that’s not on, it is completely unacceptable.Michael Clarke to India Today
Later, Steve Smith claimed that there was a bit of a brain fade. “I was looking at our boys, I should not have done that”, he added.
I think Smith respects the game and if it’s a one-off, then it’s a brain fade. If you look at the footage, Peter Handscomb actually suggested Smith to turn around and look to the support staff. If this was a one-off, I don’t think that would have happened. The fact that Handscomb even thought of asking the Australian skipper to turn around and look to the support staff, I’ve got my concerns.Michael Clarke to India Today
In the 21st over of the Australian second innings, Smith was trapped LBW by pacer Umesh Yadav and having already blown a DRS call, involving David Warner, the Australians were in a fix to go for another referral.
Smith first turned to the non-striker's end to seek an opinion but sparks flew when the umpires noticed that the batsman had turned towards the dressing room as well to get a clue. The on-field officials immediately intervened to stop Smith but matters came to a head when Virat Kohli too joined the discussion, leading to an exchange between him and the rival captain.
I want to give my opinion but I want to find out more about it. But if Virat is correct and if Australia is using DRS that way then it is completely unacceptable and it is not a brain fade.Michael Clarke to India Today
Clarke also termed Ravichandran Ashwin a “genius” and congratulated his Indian fans on Twitter.
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