What’s the story?
Australian skipper Steve Smith revealed that he was very disappointed with BCCI’s action of releasing a commentary-free version of the spat between India’s Ravindra Jadeja and Australia’s Matthew Wade. According to Smith, what’s said on the field should stay on the field and the BCCI was not right in releasing the video on the internet.
“I was a little bit disappointed that the BCCI sieved through the archives to find a conversation out on the field that was happening between Matty and Jadeja. I think it’s happened between both sides this series so the fact that they’ve done that to us is a little bit disappointing. Usually what’s said on the field should stay on the field,” Smith said in the post-match press conference.
Extra cover: War of words between Ravindra Jadeja, Matthew Wade and Steve Smith heard on stump mic
Smith also offered the members of the Indian cricket team to join them for a beer in the dressing rooms after the end of a thrilling Test series in which both the teams gave more than 100% to get the bragging rights of the Border-Gavaskar series.
According to ABC Grand Stand's Alister Nicholson, Steve Smith opened up to him and said he asked India’s skipper in the fourth Test, Ajinkya Rahane, if they could join India for a beer in the dressing rooms.
In case you didn’t know...
The four-match Test series between India and Australia saw the sledging and other controversies hogging the limelight more than the on-field performances. Both the teams were involved in abusing the opposition throughout the series.
Virat Kohli took a dig at the Australian team in the press conference after the Bengaluru Test, when Steve Smith looked towards the dressing room before taking a review. The exchange of words between Wade and Jadeja then took centre-stage in the series that was eventually won by India.
The details
During the first session of day 3 of the fourth Test, Jadeja was threatening to take the game away from the Aussies with a sublime 63. In a ploy to unsettle the Saurashtra all-rounder, the Australians began to sledge him; wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and Smith himself got involved in a war of words with Jadeja and the on-field umpire, Ian Gould had to interfere to maintain peace.
It all began with Wade saying something to the Indian all-rounder, and the entire episode was heard on the stump mic. BCCI released the video without any commentary in the background, which then went viral on the internet.
Later, there was one more instance when Wade asked Jadeja the meaning of a Hindi cuss word that Jadeja might have directed at him. The video of this went viral on the internet but this time, it wasn’t BCCI’s fault as they didn’t release the video.
Extra cover: Curious Matthew Wade asks Ravindra Jadeja the meaning of a Hindi cuss word
Video
Author’s take
It is good on Steve Smith’s part to invite the Indian team for a beer after a long series which is the best way to end a series filled with animosity. At the same time, BCCI could have made sure that the video of the spat between Wade and Jadeja was not made public as what is said on the field, stays on the field. Smith is absolutely right in being disappointed with the board for releasing the video.
Extra cover: Virat Kohli bashes Australians despite Smith apology
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