Australia’s Coaching Staff Bashes Virat Kohli For ‘Absurd & Offensive’ Claims
Mar 9, 2017 at 6:44 PM
A lot has been said and talked in past two days about the DRS-Dressing Room drama which unfolded on day four of the Bengaluru Test. Two of the protagonists of the story were none other than the captains Virat Kohli and Steven Smith.
The incident which stirred tensions in both the camps had left Virat Kohli claim to have seen Steven Smith and his side considering suggestions on DRS from the dressing room twice, first when he was batting and once when he was adjudged LBW in the second innings. However, the Australian captain committed of making an error by giving it a name of ‘brain-fade’ though his side’s coaching staff doesn’t think so.
David Saker, Australia’s assistant coach has dismissed any wrong-doing from the captain and rather tagged the claims from Virat Kohli as ‘absurd and offensive’.
“It’s pretty much absurd I think, when Steven Smith did look up (to the team balcony after being given out lbw) we were more horrified than anyone else because we’d never seen that before.”
Speaking to the reporters post the match Saker said even the dressing room was left surprised when the skipper made that glance and that no elaborated sign system was taken place as well.
“We haven’t got any elaborate sign system and when he did that it was quite a surprise to us. To be fair, if we have got this sign system then we got it wrong quite horribly, twice, with (David) Warner and (Shaun) Marsh (both fell to incorrect reviews in the second Test). I don’t know what he (Kohli) is thinking when he says that, or if he sees what he sees on the balcony, but I can assure you in all my time in cricket I’ve never seen it happen.”
Virat Kohli during the post-match press conference called the intent from Steven Smith to fall in a bracket which he didn’t name, but was assumed by many as cheat. Saker said the marks were offensive and they haven’t done anything related to that will never do it in future either.
“It’s really offensive. It’s probably the worst thing you can be called is cheats, that’s an offensive thing. We’ve never done anything like that and we never will. You should have to back up what you say.”
Ian Healy, former Australian wicket-keeper said he has started to lose respect for the Indian captain after his over the line behaviour with the Aussies, however, the coaching staff and the management in India has some sought of respect for him.
“But we respect him as a player, he’s an amazing player and his passion and the way he wanted to get his team up was quite evident out on the ground. There are times when you think he might have crossed the line, but a lot of teams have done that, and leaders have done that.”