‘What the hell is going on’ – Former Australia player slams Steve Smith for his ‘thumbs up’ gesture against India

India won the first Test against Australia by an innings and 132 runs at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Saturday, February 11. Rohit Sharma-led India produced a commanding show through their bowling and batting. The hosts bundled out Australia for 177 in their first innings. India then in their first innings registered a mammoth 400 runs with captain Rohit Sharma slamming a century and Ravindra Jadeja (70 off 185) and Axar Patel (84 off 174) making worthwhile contributions. India who were leading by 223 was in charge in Australia’s second innings too as they outplayed the visitors for just 91 runs.

The below par performance by the Pat Cummins-led Australian team didn’t go well with most of the former Aussie players and one among them is Allan Border. While speaking to Fox Cricket, Border lashed out at Australia players. He pointed out an incident in Australia’s second innings when Steve Smith was seen giving a thumbs up to the Indian bowler after being beaten by him.

“Play with a harder edge. I mean, we’re giving blokes the thumbs up when they’re beating us outside the off stump,” said Border.

“What the hell is going on? That is just ridiculous. Don’t go stupid, but Australia play hard nose cricket. We’re even giving someone thumbs up … bloody hell,” he added.

‘There are so many scars there now’: Allan Border

With Australia trailing 1-0 in the four-match series of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the former Aussie player suggested that they need to come up with new tactics in the second Test in New Delhi which will start from February 17.

“There’s so many scars there now, it’s going to be a tough few days. You can talk the talk, but ultimately the boys with the bat in hand and ball in hand have got to do the job,” he said.

“It’s going to be hard to find a way, but they’ve just got to do it. A big, soul-searching dressing room drink-a-thon tonight, just to try to thrash something out. That’s as bad as we can play, there’s only one way to go from here,” he added.

Ravichandran Ashwin claimed his 31st five-wicket haul during the second innings of the Nagpur Test. Jadeja and Mohammed Shami also picked two wickets each. This was Australia’s second-lowest total in India after 93 in Mumbai (2004), during which Harbhajan Singh had picked five wickets.