The Post

Chirpy chirpy cheap trick, say Australian­s

- CRICKET

Chattering and fidgeting Indian fielders frustrated Australia, teammates and umpires alike on day five of the drawn cricket test.

One of cricket’s golden rules is that fielders stay silent from the moment a bowler starts their runup until a batsman completes his shot.

Australia were publicly mute when asked about Indian fielders’ near non-stop chat in the second test, not wanting to complain about any element of the spiteful clash in Bangalore.

But the issue cropped up again twice on day five of the third test in Ranchi, where Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb helped Australia salvage a draw. The hotly contested series remains locked at 1-1 with the fourth and final test to play.

Marsh pulled out when Umesh Yadav was steaming in during the 47th over. Before Yadav had a chance to taunt Marsh, umpire Ian Gould set him straight.

‘‘You’re all the way up there [having run in] and he’s talking. Him,’’ Gould said, pointing at one of Yadav’s team-mates.

Another example came in the 29th over, when India paceman Ishant Sharma raged at Matt Renshaw.

Sharma hurled the ball in anger down the pitch after being forced to abort his run-up. The veteran then gave Renshaw an almighty spray, while Murali Vijay also launched some verbals at the 20-year-old opener before order was restored.

The flashpoint worked in Sharma’s favour as four balls later he trapped Renshaw lbw.

‘‘Murali Vijay was at midwicket and he moved a few steps to his left as the bowler was running in,’’ Australian captain Steve Smith recalled.

‘‘So that put him off and he’s entitled to back away.

‘‘I’m not sure what happened with Ishant, he obviously wasn’t overly happy but to be fair he bowled pretty well after that. Whatever it was made him a bit angry and he bowled pretty well the couple of overs after that.’’

Smith added he was confident neither side oversteppe­d the line.

‘‘There’s always a bit of tension when you’re playing AustraliaI­ndia in test matches,’’ Smith said.

‘‘It’s being played in the right spirit out on the field and it’s a hard and tough grind. No issues with that.’’

 ?? PHOTO: REUTERS ?? Indian bowler Umesh Yadav, centre, was involved in one of several incidents on the final day of the third test against Australia.
PHOTO: REUTERS Indian bowler Umesh Yadav, centre, was involved in one of several incidents on the final day of the third test against Australia.

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