New Delhi: Since the beginning of the India-Australia Test series, tempers have not only flared on field every now and then, but there have been several controversial remarks made by former Aussie cricketers off the field as well, where they have collectively attacked Indian skipper Virat Kohli.
The Indian skipper’s in-your-face attitude is possibly too hot to handle for the former Australia players, who have a history of questionable on-field behaviours in the past.
While former Aussie cricketers severely criticised Kohli’s aggressive attitude, Australian media went a step ahead when they compared the Delhi batsman with the controversial US President Donald Trump.
As India defeated Aussies 2-1 in the Test series, many thought it was the end of what was a bitterly fought contest.
However, Johnson refused to stop attacking Kohli as he tweeted, saying Ajinkya Rahane should continue as Indian captain, after the Mumbai batsman stood in for injured Kohli in the Dharamsala Test.
Ed Cowan, former Aussie left-hander, is the latest cricketer from Down Under to come up with yet another controversial remark.
Recalling a run-in with Kohli, the former Australia opener revealed that he once felt like picking up a stump and stabbing the current India captain after being told something “highly inappropriate”.
“I had a very sick Mum during one of those series and he said something that was inappropriate.
“Why I make the point of ‘lost in translation’, he said something that was highly inappropriate. A personal matter that was highly sensitive. Highly inappropriate. But he didn’t realise that he’d overstepped the mark until the umpire came over and said ? ‘Virat that’s overstepped the mark’ ? and once that was said, he took a step back and apologised.
“But, there was a moment I wanted to pick up the stump and stab him,” Cowan was quoted as saying by Fox Sports.
The Australians have been targetting Kohli ever since he stopped short of calling Smith a ‘cheat’ following the DRS drama, involving the visiting skipper, in the second Test at Bengaluru.
Cowan, who scored 1001 runs in 18 Tests with a best of 136, however claimed that he is a big fan of the Indian.
“I’m a huge fan of his cricket. Don’t get me wrong he’s a phenomenal cricketer.
“I had a little bit of a run-in that was inappropriate when he toured Australia and the umpire had to intervene.
“We forget that English isn’t their first language. It’s very easy to sit back and say as a player they’re barking something at me that is inappropriate when we don’t try and converse with them in Hindi.”
Bureau Report
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