Andy Pycroft on-field match referee of the IND vs SA 3rd test has cautioned the Indian team for their irrelevant behaviour after an on-field LBW decision against dean Elgar was overturned by the DRS.
The DRS amused the Indian fans
The incident took place in the 21st over of the South Africa innings run chase when Marius Erasumas had ruled Elgar LBW off R Ashwin’s bowling. However, Elgar took a review & the ball tracking showed that the ball is going over the stumps. The DRS amused the Indian fans as well the Indian team who felt “that’s impossible”.
After the incident, the Indian team couldn’t keep their calm & were seen reacting bypassing negative comments on the field. R Ashwin was heard lashing out: “You should find better ways to win, SuperSport”, while teammate Mayank Agarwal also joined in: “Whole country playing against eleven guys.”
Skipper Virat Kohli further added, “Focus on your team as well when they shine the ball… not just the opposition! Trying to catch people all the time. Certainly conducting a fair game here DRS (sic),” the India captain could be heard as saying.
The Indian team player’s behaviour was irrelevant
The on-field umpire Andy Pycroft told the Indian team management that the player’s behaviour was irrelevant & they could face sanctions if such reactions are repeated. However, the Indian team didn’t face any charges or sanctions for their reaction. This might be because their reaction was directed against the technology not against any official & the ICC Code of Conduct doesn’t have any clause for the criticism of the broadcaster or technology.
During the post-match press-conference media asked Virat Kohli about the incident but India’s test captain refused to talk about it. “I have no comment to make. I understood what happened on the field and people on the outside don’t know exactly what goes on the field. So for me to try and justify what we did on the field and say ‘we got carried away… If we would have charged up and picked up three wickets there, that could have been probably the moment that could change the game”, said Virat Kohli.