Australia remain seething at India's in-your-face attitude despite the two nations having officially agreed to a ceasefire.
The Indian Premier League has brought international stars closer, however bad blood still exists between Australia and India's players. David Warner is no longer his team's on-field antagonist but the vice-captain struggled to hide the resentment within the Australian camp.
Already furious with Virat Kohli for his unfounded allegations of systematic cheating of the decision review system, the Australians are also bemused India have broken the unwritten code that whatever happens on the field stays on the field.
As tempers raged in the aftermath of the bitter second Test, the Board of Cricket for Control in India fuelled the flames by publishing a video where Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravi Ashwin detailed their goading of Australia's batsmen. Pujara, who was fielding in close, repeatedly reminded Warner of his poor record against Ashwin, who has claimed his wicket nine times in 12 Tests.
"You don't take much notice of it. When you first get out there everyone's talking so you don't understand what they're saying anyway," Warner said.
"They came out and said they don't sledge. I think it's just banter. I don't need to respond, not any more. It's just a rule of the cricketing world you keep everything off the field that's up to themselves. From our point of view we'll never do that."
The Australians have been careful not to criticise Kohli.
"All I can say is I can only speak on behalf of our Australian cricket team and the way we approach the game and approach the 'off-fields' – I'd be pretty upset if one of our players or staff did that," Warner said.
Warner insists he is not concerned by his poor record against Ashwin. "Broady's [Stuart Broad] got me, [Dale] Steyn's got me, everyone's got you somewhere along the line," he said.
"As an opening batter you will face those guys all the time. Someone is going to have your measure if they're going to bowl every second over at you. I just have to adapt."
0 comments
New User? Sign up