Australia batsman Peter Handscomb is trying to save face for his captain, declaring that it was he who suggested Steve Smith seek input from the dressing room after being given LBW on the final day of the Bangalore Test. An incident that has blown up into a full controversy, specially after Indian skipper Virat Kohli stopped just short of calling the Australian team cheats.
Smith's action did not go down well with rival captain Virat Kohli, who said that he himself would "never do something like that on cricket field."
Post midnight, it was Handscombe, who took to twitter to defend his captain and take the blame for what Smith has termed as a "brain fade". Handscombe said he did not know the rules pertaining to DRS referral.
I referred smudga to look at the box... my fault and was unaware of the rule. Shouldn't take anything away from what was an amazing game!
— Peter Handscomb (@phandscomb54) March 7, 2017
Even former Australia captain Michael Clarke said that it was Handscombe who had suggested Smith to turn around while making it clear that he finds this move "unacceptable".
"I want to find out from the Australian team if they're using the DRS in that way, if they are then that is unacceptable," Clarke told India Today channel.
"My concern and my worry is that when you look at the footage of what happened with Steve Smith, Peter Handscomb ... actually suggests to Steve Smith to turn around and have a look at the support staff.