Paine wants action on no-balls

TIM Paine has implored umpires to crack down on no-balls in the second Test, having taken the unusual step of raising the matter mid-match at the Adelaide Oval.

The scorecard from the first Test shows Ishant Sharma delivered five no-balls in India’s 31-run victory. Closer examination of footage reveals that Sharma bowled 16 no-balls in Australia’s first innings, including an over in which all six deliveries were illegal.

It has reignited debate about how umpires can better police overstepping and whether the International Cricket Council (ICC) should do more, such as funding technology.

“I’m glad it’s been brought up and certainly been spoken about,” Paine said yesterday.

“I don’t think it’s a great look for the game when things like that are happening, you put your trust in the people that are in those jobs to control it. Hopefully they police it really well this game.”

Paine revealed he spoke with officials at Adelaide Oval regarding the issue, which former skipper Mark Taylor suggested has the potential to “embarrass the game”.

“I was watching the telecast in the changerooms [and it showed some of the no-balls that weren’t called],” he said.

“[It was] just to get an idea of whether they were communicating to the umpires in the middle. Which they said they were. As long as we’re aware of it and looking at solutions ... then I’m all for it.”