In yet another case of mental disintegration and sledging tactic used by Australia, Australian wicket-keeper Matthew Wade tried to sledge Indian captain Virat Kohli and in the end it didn’t matter as India beat Australia by 50 runs at Eden Gardens, Kolkata to take 2-0 lead in five match ODI series.
The said incident happened when Wade tore into the Indian captain when in the 33rd over, he was hit on the hand while collecting a delivery from Marcus Stoinis and failed to return the ball. Perfectly within the laws of the game, the Indians smartly took a single (as byes) initiated by Kohli. The Aussie gloveman, who was writhing in pain for a while wasn’t amused, got up and sledged Virat Kohli for taking the run, reported Hindustan Times.
Wade was heard saying on the stump mic, “I might have a cry like you. I might go to the dressing rooms and have a good cry like you.” “Everyone has to feel sorry for you,” he added as he walked past Virat Kohli during the change of overs, reported Wide World of Sports.
Kohli, never to take a backward step retaliated by scoring 92 runs in extreme hot and humid conditions was seen replying to Wade. But since Kohli and his partner Kedar Jadhav were standing in the middle of the wicket, his words could not be heard. However, Aussie all-rounder Marcus Stoinis stood right behind his wicketkeeper and also went on to have a few words with Virat Kohli.
The run-in didn’t impress former Australian fast bowler Stuart Clark and had a few words to say about this incident. Clark told Sky Sports Radio, “He misfielded one. Whether the Indian batsman knew he was injured or not was probably a secondary question.”
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“It’s one run. Is this the biggest issue this team has got? If I’m Matthew Wade and I’m Marcus Stoinis — and full credit to him for standing up for Matthew Wade — I’d be worrying about my own cricket, rather than all this other stuff. “This is piddly crap,” he added. “I wouldn’t be saying too much to Virat Kohli. He seems to want to fight with everyone and he seems to play 10 times better when he does fight with people,” Clark said.
India vs Australia contests have always been high voltage ones, but players in the heat of the moment shouldn’t cross the line and Matthew Wade should concentrate on his batting, which has seen a prolonged slump of form.