Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s confrontation with Sri Lankan bowler Asitha Fernando on the opening day of the second Test in Colombo on Sunday brought back memories of the infamous Javed Miandad-Dennis Lillee fight in 1981.
While Sunday’s incident between Jaiswal and Fernando may not have been as ugly as the Miandad-Lillee duel in Perth, it certainly reminded everyone about the perils of sledging in Test cricket.
Jaiswal had missed out on a big score in India’s emphatic 165-run win over the home team in the first Test at Galle.
Desperate for a big knock in the second Test, the talented batter got off to a flying start on Sunday in Colombo after India won the toss and elected to bat.
The left-hander raced to 45 off just 53 balls when he was dismissed by Lankan pacer Fernando.
As a disappointed Jaiswal started to walk back to the pavilion, he was given a big send-off by the Sri Lankan players.
A visibly angry Jaiswal turned back and confronted the Lankan fielders before pushing Fernando with his helmet.
A Sri Lankan fielder soon separated the two players, but Jaiswal could now face a severe ICC (International Cricket Council) penalty for his unsportsmanlike conduct.
Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak admitted that the young Indian batsman should not have crossed the line and physically pushed an opponent.
“I think they (Sri Lankan players) must have said something to him, and it might have happened in the heat of the moment,” Kotak said at the press conference after the end of the first day’s play.
“Obviously, Jaiswal, I don’t think he should have been so close (to Fernando), but that happens when you are in the heat of the moment.”
Ryan van Niekerk, the fast-bowling coach of the Sri Lankan team, said the incident probably happened due to an “overflow of emotions”.
“Look, it is hard Test cricket, isn’t it? When you’re coming up against a team like India, you can’t sit on the back foot and just bowl at them. I think from our side, it’s bringing the challenge all the time, trying to make sure we can create something,” Van Niekerk said.
“And so, from my point of view, I’ve really asked the bowlers to stand up and create something. The verbals are probably an overflow of emotion. I’ll leave that to the match referee to deal with.”
Andy Pycroft, the ICC match referee for the series, is likely to take action against the 24-year-old Indian batter for physically pushing an opponent during a Test match.
Cricket, a non-contact sport, often sees heated arguments between players, especially between batsmen and bowlers.
But any physical contact is a sacrilege in the sport.
There have been a few incidents in the past in Test cricket.
But none of those incidents came close to matching the absurd fight between Pakistan great Miandad and Lillee.
As Miandad ran for a single off Lillee, he collided unintentionally with the Australian fast bowler, who was standing in the middle of the pitch on his follow-through.
While the details of the event are debated, with both players offering their own versions in their respective autobiographies, what was clear for all to see was how both lost their heads after the collision.
Lillee kicked Miandad at the non-striker’s end after the Pakistani had completed the run. Miandad then raised his bat and charged at Lillee, who refused to back off as things could have turned completely ugly if the umpire, Tony Crafter, had not stepped in to stop the two players from attacking each other.
Former Australian cricketer Bob Simpson said it was the most disgraceful thing he had seen on a cricket field.
While Lillee was fined and banned for two matches for kicking Miandad, Jaiswal now faces an ICC sanction for his action against Fernando on Sunday.
Source: Khaleej Times