Cricket legend Michael Clarke has provided an assessment on a viral incident involving Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
During day one of the first Test between India and Australia in Nagpur, the visitors were 122-5 when the 34-year-old took something out of teammate Mohammed Siraj’s hand at the VCA Stadium. Jadeja then appeared to rub a substance onto the index finger of his left hand just before he bowled another delivery.
That raised the suspicions of those watching and Clarke, former captain of the Australian side, explained how he could have attracted less scrutiny. "He’s bowling so much that 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," the former batsman told The Big Breakfast via Yahoo Sport Australia.
"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 a perception. I don’t think there’s anything to it. I could be 100 percent wrong.”
The clip of the incident went viral on social media with former Australia captain Tim Paine suggesting it was "interesting". Ex-England skipper Michael Vaughan also weighed in and speculated on what exactly Jadeja was doing. He tweeted: "What is it he is putting on his spinning finger ? Never ever seen this …"
ESPN CricInfo has since reported the Indian team management informed ICC match referee Andy Pycroft that Jadeja applied pain-relief cream to the index finger of his bowling hand. In the viral footage, at no point was Jadeja seen rubbing anything on the ball itself, despite having the ball in his hands at the time.
Pycroft showed the footage to the spinner, captain Rohit Sharma and the team manager with the intention to inform them about the incident. The Australian side did not report the matter to the attention of the match referee and Jadeja has not suffered any form of reprimand or punishment.
Having not played for the national side for five months, Jaedja was in sublime form, taking 5-47 as Australia were dismissed for just 177. The bowler decimated his opponent’s middle order, dismissing Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw off successive deliveries, before picking up the wickets of Steve Smith, Todd Murphy and Peter Handscomb.
India impressed with the bat as Rohit Sharma hit a timely century to help his side build a big lead. The opening batsman hit a classy 120 as the hosts closed on 321-7, leading by 144 runs.
India were just 52 ahead at 229-6 when Sharma was bowled by Pat Cummins after tea, but Jadeja and Axar Patel then put on an unbeaten partnership of 81 to steady the ship. The spinners are enjoying plenty of success in this Test so far, as Australia's Todd Murphy took five wickets on his debut.
