‘Creamy’ dubious Indians escape sanction despite irregular practice. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.
India sidestepped the furore of possible ball tampering and set a precedent that must be maintained if no action is taken against Ravinda Jadeja and Mohamed Sriraj.
In what was definitely a breach of match protocols, the Indian duo blatantly helped each other with what was later claimed to be a ‘pain relieving cream’ while Jadeja was bowling against Australia.
The wily spinner who claimed five wickets in Australia’s first innings was clearly picked up by cameras rubbing a substance off the back of Sriraj’s hand and applying it to his spinning finger.
Controversy raged following the incident as cricket fans and experts debated whether it constituted ball tampering. The new interpretation of the rules don’t allow anything to be introduced to the ball that could enhance its performance that would give the bowler an unfair advantage.
While the Indians appear to have convinced Match Referee Andy Pycroft that nothing untoward had transpired, the cricketing public are not impressed or convinced.
The Aussies diplomatically avoided involvement quite understandably, seeing they would have been rebuked as villains in their own right over previous indiscretions that saw, Steve Smith lose his captaincy and was banned alongside David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.
My personal take on this is that there was no reason for a team mate to administer ‘medical treatment’ when the team has medical experts paid to perform what was necessary.
Also, any treatment administered should have been carried out on or off the field if the player was carrying an injury, and adequate measures taken to ensure nothing administered could interfere with the condition of the ball by wiping off any substance used.
What really irks fans is that different standards appear to be set for some countries while others face the wrath of the match officials for lesser indiscretions.
India’s stranglehold on the game financially is no hidden secret. But sportsmanship should not be governed by money but performance on merit.
The result of this investigation holds the key to where the game’s destiny is headed.
