The one thing that both India and Australia are doing consistently in the ongoing four-match Test series is sledging the opposition. Yet another episode of exchange of words took place between the members of both the teams and the umpire, Ian Gould had to interfere to maintain peace.
During the first session of day 3 of the fourth Test, Indian batsmen Ravindra Jadeja and Wriddhiman Saha were turning the game in India’s favour. Jadeja looked dangerous and was threatening to take the game away from the visitors. In a ploy to unsettle the all-rounder, the Australians began to sledge as wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and skipper Steve Smith got involved in a war of words with Jadeja. It all began with Wade saying something to the Indian all-rounder and the entire episode was heard on the stump mic.
Here is how the exchange of words took place between the players and the umpire.
Wade: Wait till you come down here (Jadeja was at the non-striker’s end) and say it.
Jadeja: *murmurs something*
Wade: Say it when you come down here, mate.
Ian Gould: Ahh! Excuse me. Ravindra! Come here. Now, there's no point in starting something.
Jadeja: If he starts it, I'll give it back. I don't care.
Wade: No no, now go on and get a selfie with him at the end of the game.
One of the close-in Aussie fielders (likely to be Smith) starts laughing.
Gould: Alright, let's finish please.
Wade: Put it on Instagram as soon as the game finishes.
Smith: You know this is his last Test for a while. They go away now.
Gould: Mate, are you going to stop that?!
Wade: Careful of that sword too, Gunner (Gould).
The over came to an end but the conversation didn’t end there. It resumed again in the next over.
Jadeja: I don't understand why the Australian selectors pick you (Wade) for Test.
Wade: Is that right? I don't understand why they pick you outside India.
Jadeja: You don't deserve to play in white clothes.
Wade: How come you don't get picked? Why is that?
Smith: You don't deserve to play anywhere but here.
Jadeja: I play in India.
Nathan Lyon bowls the last ball of the over.
Wade: Well bowled Gary. You're good in all conditions.
He then goes to the other end after the end of the over.
Wade: These two will play. Like every other time they go overseas."
Soon after the exchange of words, Jadeja reached his fifty and celebrated in his own way, the sword celebration. Jadeja top-scored for India in the first innings with 63 as India were dismissed for 332, leading the opposition by 32 runs. In return, the Aussies were reeling at 92/5 at tea on day 3.
Yesterday, Wade was sledging Jadeja from behind the stumps and Jadeja responded to him in the best possible way, smashing the next ball to a six.
Extra cover: Ravindra Jadeja's perfect response to Matthew Wade on day two
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