CA chief describes Kohli's cheating allegations "outrageous"

James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief, labelled the cheating allegations made against Steve Smith and the Australian team with regards to the Decision Review System during the Bangalore Test as "outrageous".

Smith was trapped leg before by Umesh Yadav leaving Australia 74 for 4 at a crucial juncture in a chase of 188 in the second Test of the four-match series. He then walked towards non-striker Peter Handscomb to seek his views about reviewing the decision. After a brief discussion, both batsmen turned towards the dressing room with Smith making a hand gesture so as to seek help in making the decision, it came across. Virat Kohli and Co were fuming at the same as Nigel Llong, the on-field umpire, was quick to spot the intention and was on the Australian skipper's case immediately.

According to the law, a batsman can only consult his partner before taking the DRS and, at no time, can seek help from the umpires or the team to make a decision. "I find the allegations questioning the integrity of Steve Smith, the Australian Team and the dressing room, outrageous," Sutherland said on Wednesday (March 8). "Steve is an outstanding cricketer and person, and role model to many aspiring cricketers and we have every faith that there was no ill-intent in his actions.

"We reject any commentary that suggests our integrity was brought into disrepute or that systemic unfair tactics are used, and stand by Steve and the Australian Cricketers who are proudly representing our country," he added.

After the conclusion of the Test that Australia lost by 75 runs, Smith termed the incident as a "brain fade" on his part and acknowledged that he shouldn't have done it. However, Kohli expressed his displeasure and brushed aside his Australian counterpart's description of the incident saying:

"Honestly, if someone makes a mistake while batting, for me personally, that's a brain fade. The way I left the ball in Pune, you know, getting hit on the off-stump. That was a brainfade. But if something is going on for three days, then that's not a brainfade, as simple as that.

"I saw that two times happening when I was batting out there. I pointed it out to the umpire as well, that it has happened twice, that I've seen their players looking upstairs for confirmation, and that's why the umpire was at him. When he turned back, the umpire knew exactly what was going on, because we observed that, we told match referee also, and the umpires, that they've been doing that for the last three days and this has to stop, because there's a line that you don't cross on the cricket field."

Kohli also just stopped short of labelling the Australians as cheats, saying, "Sledging and playing against the opponents is different, but... I don't want to mention the word, but it falls in that bracket. I would never do something like that on the cricket field."

In response, Darren Lehmann, Australia's head coach, played down the allegation saying that Australia play their game in the "right way". "Very surprised to hear that, but it's their opinion," he said. "He (Kohli) has his opinion and we have ours, but at the end of the day we play the game the right way.

"We've changed the way we want to play, we've obviously changed the side and we're a younger side so I'm pretty pleased with the way we do things now. We've never done any of that, so we'll just get on with the next game."

After the high octane drama, and with the series level the series 1-1, the two teams now have a nine-day break ahead of the third Test in Ranchi that begins on March 16.