Australia’s Smith caught up in new controversy

FORMER Australia captain Steve Smith was branded “childish” after another controversial incident during the final day of their drawn third Test against India in Sydney, writes Andy Agnew.

With India battling to save the match, Smith was filmed appearing to scuff away the guard mark made on the crease by Rishabh Pant - whose score of 97 helped his side to a memorable draw.

Smith, who was named man of the match after scores of 131 and 81, came in for criticism from former players from across the world on social media.

Former India great Virender Sehwag wrote on Twitter: “Tried all tricks including Steve Smith trying to remove Pant’s batting guard marks from the crease.”

And condemnation of the incident soon followed, with former England player and coach turned commentator David Lloyd retweeting the video with the words “how childish”.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan added: “This is very very poor from Steve smith!!”

Smith was banned for 12 months in 2018 for his role, when Australian captain, in the ball-tampering scandal during the third Test against South Africa in Newlands.

As for the match itself. the tourists resumed on 98-2, chasing an unlikely 407 to win, and lost captain Ajinkya Rahane early on.

Rishabh Pant countered with a sublime 97 and Cheteshwar Pujara dug in for 77 during an absorbing second session in which it seemed India could even pull off the third highest fourth-innings chase in Test history.

But after both fell before tea to leave Australia needing five wickets in the final session, Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin battled superbly to survive 256 balls to steer India to 334-5 at the close.