CA chief terms Kohli's allegations 'outrageous'

Cricket Australia (CA) came to the defence of Aussie captain Steve Smith, calling Virat Kohli's allegations of the Australian team taking off-field advice on DRS referrals, “outrageous”.

CA chief James Sutherland slammed the Indian captain for questioning the integrity of the Australian team in general, and Smith, in particular. “I find the allegations questioning the integrity of Steve Smith, the Australian Team and the dressing room, outrageous,” said Sutherland in a statement on Wednesday.

Kohli's outburst came in the post-match press conference, after India clinched a thrilling 75-run win over Australia in Bengaluru, to level the four-match Test series 1-1. Chasing 188 for a win, Australia had reached 74 for 3 when Umesh Yadav trapped Smith leg-before-wicket in the 21^st over. He was given out, following which Smith consulted with the non-striker batsman Peter Handscomb about reviewing the decision through DRS. Both the batsman then looked up at the Aussie dressing room for guidance. On-field umpire Nigel Llong and Kohli were quick to spot it and intervened immediately.

“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," Sutherland said in the statement.

At the press briefing, Kohli took a dig at the Australian team, saying that his side takes decisions on the field itself and does not ask for confirmation from upstairs. He said that it was not a one-off incident as Smith claimed. “I saw that two times happening when I was batting out there. I pointed it out to the umpire as well that it’s happened twice, and that I have seen their players looking upstairs [to the dressing room] for confirmation. And that's why the umpire was at him when he turned back. The umpire knew exactly what was going on,” Kohli said.

“We observed that [looking at dressing room], we told the match referee also and umpires that they have been doing this for the last three days and this has to stop. Because there's a line that you don’t cross on the cricket field. Sledging and playing against the opponents is different. I don’t want to mention the word but it falls into that bracket. I would never do something like that on the cricket field,” he remarked.

Aussie coach Darren Lehmann, too, denied the allegations of an understanding between the dressing room and the on-field players over DRS referrals. “Never ever. No. Never,” he said, adding that Australia “play the game the right way”.

Smith had, earlier, admitted he erred in looking up at the dressing room for directions and that it was a “brain fade” on his part. Handscomb, too, tried to douse the fire by taking the blame for prompting Smith to take advice from the dressing room, saying he was unaware of the rule that forbids any off-field guidance on DRS referrals.

There has been no confirmation yet on whether match referee Chris Broad will take any action against Smith.