Kohli sledging spat leaves the Aussies asking: ‘You can’t seriously like him?’
AUSTRALIA captain Tim Paine became embroiled in a sledging spat with India counterpart Virat Kohli on the fourth day of the second Test in Perth. During India’s second innings, wicketkeeper Paine was heard on the stump microphone saying: ‘I know he’s your captain, but you can’t seriously like him as a bloke?’ Paine, 34, pledged to tone down sledging after becoming skipper, in a bid to clean up the Australian team’s image after the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa. Kohli also indicated that he would only sledge if Australia started it. But the pair clashed in the middle, having first exchanged words late on the third day. Umpire Chris Gaffaney intervened during the morning session, stepping between the two after Kohli questioned Paine’s batting technique. Kohli, walking in close to the wicket, then complained to the umpire when the duo came inches away from chest bumping as Paine raced for a quick single. Former Aussie fast bowler Mitchell Johnson told Fox Cricket: ‘Coming into the series, Kohli said he would not initiate these kinds of stushies. ‘But we saw a lot of that yesterday — the initiation when the bowlers were doing well and getting into Tim Paine. ‘Look, I don’t mind the battles out there but, if you’re going to say something like that in the papers or in the media and go against your word, you’ve got to expect something in return.’ Surprisingly, Kohli did not receive a big send-off from the Australians after edging Nathan Lyon to slip to depart for 17. Australia are in the box seat to level the series at 1-1, with India finishing on 112 for five, chasing 287 to win.