A debate has erupted after vision of a questionable moment was spotted during the first innings of the first Test between Australia and India.
Former Australian Test captain Tim Paine was among those to take note of what Ravindra Jadeja was doing ahead of one of his overs.
With Alex Carey and Peter Handscomb at the crease and the Aussies at 120-5, Jadeja came in for his 16th over already sitting with figures of 3-30.
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The TV broadcast captured Jadeja appearing to either take something off the hand of one of his teammates, or from inside his hand, with his right hand.
He then rubbed his hands and finger near and around the ball though it was uncertain what exactly was happening – some suggesting he was putting something on his spinning finger.
When footage of the moment was shared with Paine on Twitter, he replied: “Interesting.”
“What is it he is putting on his spinning finger? Never ever seen this,” England great Michael Vaughan tweeted.
Jadeja finished with figures of 5-47 as the Australians were bowled out for 177, with India 1-77 at stumps at the conclusion of day one.
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According to ESPNcricinfo, Jadeja and India captain Rohit Sharma were shown a video of the incident by ICC match referee Andy Pycroft after play, but no charges were laid against the player.
Indian team management reportedly told Pycroft Jadeja “was applying pain-relief cream to the index finger of his bowling hand”.
“While the incident triggered debates on social and mainstream media, it is learned that the Australia team had not brought the matter to the attention of the match referee,” the report said.
“According to the playing conditions, the match referee can independently probe such incidents without needing a complaint to be lodged. And under the Laws of Cricket, the bowler needs the umpire’s permission to apply any sort of substance on their hands to ensure the condition of the ball remains unaffected.”
Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke said he did not believe there was anything sinister in the incident but said Jadeja should not have applied the cream while he had the ball in hand.
“He’s bowling so much so he’s probably got a blister or cut on that finger. What he should have done there, he should have given the ball to the umpire and stand in front of the umpire while he was putting it on his finger,” Clarke said on the Big Sports Breakfast.
“I don’t look at that and think it’s a thing.
“I just wish he didn’t have the ball in his hand.
“If he chucks the ball to the umpire and does that I don’t think there’s any comment made about that. It’s just the perception
“I don’t think there’s anything to it. I could be 100 per cent wrong.”
