Starc reprimanded over send-off
Australian bowler Mitchell Starc has been reprimanded by the International Cricket Council for giving Indian batsman Murali Vijay a send-off on day two of the fourth Test at the SCG.
Starc was charged with committing a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct over the incident on Wednesday when he yelled in the face of Vijay after dismissing him.
The left-arm quick admitted to a breach of the code which provides that an offence will be committed where a player engages in conduct that either: (a) is contrary to the spirit of the game; or (b) brings the game into disrepute.
The ICC described the incident as an `exaggerated celebration’.
“The match officials felt that the player’s behaviour was not appropriate, and he was reminded of his responsibilities to extend respect to his opponent and to play within the spirit of the game at all times,” ICC Match Referee Mahanama said.
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Meanwhile, Australian coach Darren Lehmann lamented another below-par fielding effort from Australia as they failed to capitalise on a number of crucial chances on day two.
On the back of one of their worst fielding efforts in recent memory in the third Test in Melbourne – labelled “shoddy” as Lehmann – the home side were at it again on day three of the final Test on Thursday.
After Australia posted 7(dec)-572 in their first innings, India started day three on 1-71 and three blown chances helped the visitors’ cause as both KL Rahul (110) and Virat Kohli (140no) scored hundreds.
Rahul was dropped on 46 by Steve Smith just before lunch in an unusual incident in which Channel Nine’s Spidercam appeared to affect the Australia skipper’s sighting of the ball as he chased a top edge behind wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
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That came after Rahul, when on 41, fell over mid pitch and dropped his bat before scrambling back to make his ground as Kohli sent him back in his quest for a quick single.
Rahul stumbled and bumbled his way back to the crease with substitute fielder Pat Cummins seemingly oblivious to the chance of a run out in a highly comical piece of cricket.
Things got worse for Australia when Smith spilled Kohli when he was 59 at second slip off Mitchell Starc after the home side took the second new ball.
Kohli was still at the crease with India 5-342 at stumps.
Wriddhiman Saha is the other not out batsman on 14.
“It is disappointing,” Lehmann said.
“They were a couple of tough chances, but you still have to take those … that’s now two Tests in a row.
“It’s just a confidence thing; it’s certainly not to do with their skill level, or concentration.”
Haddin was equally disappointed.
“If we had taken our chances, we could be in a better position, but that is the story of the series,” Haddin told Channel Nine.
