Live Score
Cricket Teams
Cricket Players
'I could be 100% wrong but Jadeja...': Clarke's different take on viral 'ointment' video during of IND vs AUS 1st Test
Reacting to the incident of Jadeja applying something on his left index finger, former Australia captain Michael Clarke said the India all-rounder should have given the ball to the umpire while applying the ointment.
Ravindra Jadeja has grabbed all the headlines in the last 24 hours or so. The primary reason for that is obviously his performance with the ball on Day 1 of the first India vs Australia Test in Nagpur - he picked up 5/47 to help India bowl out the visitors for 177. Secondly, it was because of a video of teammate Mohammed Siraj rubbing something on Jadeja's bowling palm, that went viral towards the end of the day's play. It happened when Australia were 120 for five and Jadeja was at his peak, after dismissing Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Renshaw and Steve Smith in quick succession.
In the video, Jadeja can be seen taking something from Siraj's palms on his right hand and applying it to his left index finger. At no point did he apply anything on the ball but he did have it in his hands at that moment. Former Australia captain Tim Paine termed the incident "interesting" while former England captain Michale Vaughan said he has never seen something like that on the cricket field.
India vs Australia Live Score 1st Test
According to reports, match referee Andy Pycroft did have a word with India captain Rohit Sharma and bowler Jadeja at the end of the day's play and showed them the viral video. Rohit and the Indian team management said it was a pain relief ointment that Jadeja applied on his fingers.
The match referee did not push any charges on Jadeja and Team India. Notably, there was no official complaint or mention of the incident from the Australian team management. The match referee, however, can independently probe such incidents without needing a complaint to be lodged.
Reacting to the incident, former Australia captain Michael Clarke said Jadeja should have given the ball to the umpire while applying the ointment.
“He’s bowling so much so he’s probably got a blister or cut on that finger. What he should have done there, he should have given the ball to the umpire and stand in front of the umpire while he was putting it on his finger,” Clarke said on the Big Sports Breakfast.
“I don’t look at that and think it’s a thing. I just wish he didn’t have the ball in his hand. If he chucks the ball to the umpire and does that I don’t think there’s any comment made about that. It’s just the perception. I don’t think there’s anything to it. I could be 100 per cent wrong," he added.
According to the playing conditions, a cricketer must inform the umpire before applying anything on his body parts to make sure it does not have any sort of impact on the condition of the ball.
Former Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin also shared his thoughts on the matter. “It didn’t look good the first time we saw it," he said.
