Tim Paine loses cool in Sydney Test after losing review against Cheteshwar Pujara, has on-field spat with umpire

The Australian cricket team were being frustrated by Cheteshwar Pujara on the third day of the Sydney Test against India. Cheteshwar Pujara had batted for over 100 balls and he did not hit a single boundary. After that, he hit a couple of boundaries as a milestone approached. Cheteshwar Pujara then shared a solid stand with Rishabh Pant. The dup piled on the agony but it was at that moment when frustrations boiled over for the Australian team. The incident took place in an over bowled by Nathan Lyon. The Australian team appealed for a bat-pad catch as Cheteshwar Pujara defended a flighted ball from the spinner and the ball popped up to short leg.

Australia opted for the review and there was no mark on hotspot. Real-Time Snicko was being employed and the third umpire opted to look at the leg side camera angle and not the off side angle. Cheteshwar Pujara was given not out and Tim Paine was furious. He had a verbal onfield exchange with the umpire Paul Wilson stating that the third umpire also needed to look at the off side camera angle and not rely on just the leg side. In a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, the conversation was apparently caught on the stump mic. Paul Wilson, the on-field umpire at that time was then heard saying that the third-umpire made the final call, and Paine should not be saying anything to him.

Fine for Paine?

Paine’s comments could invite a fine under the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct. Sections 2.3 and 2.8 of the ICC’s code relates to the "use of an audible obscenity during an international match" and "showing dissent at an umpire`s decision during an international match".

The four-Test series between India and Australia is currently tied 1-1 but India has not won at the Sydney Cricket Ground ever since 1978. Australia won the first Test in Adelaide after bowling India out for 36. Despite the odds and facing lot of mental pressures, Ajinkya Rahane’s calm captaincy ensured that India won the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne by eight wickets to square the series.