A dash of spice was finally added to what has been an emotionally-charged first India-Australia cricket Test when David Warner and Varun Aaron got involved in a war of words after the home batsman was called back by the umpire following a no-ball dismissal in Adelaide on Friday.
The incident took place when Aaron was introduced into the attack in the 34th over. The Indian pacer bowled four eventful overs, and was nearly successful in his second one when he bowled Warner with the batsman on 66. But the umpire ruled it a no-ball giving a second chance to the opener.
Warner ran back to the middle and gave it back to the bowler who was celebrating wildly moments ago.
The next delivery was well left and this got the crowd going a bit and along with Warner and Shikhar Dhawan.
Tempers flared up as a result with Aaron, Warner, Shane Watson and Dhawan getting involved, and the umpires had to step in to resolve the situation.
After the next delivery (33.4) was bowled, umpire Ian Gould stepped in to have a word with Dhawan who was positioned at silly mid-on, while Indian captain Virat Kohli tried to calm Warner down.
The incident was in stark contrast to the poignant build-up to the match owing to Phil Hughes’ death late last month after being hit by a bouncer in a domestic match.
Even on Thursday, emotionally rattled Australian players had rushed to check Kohli after he was hit by a Mitchell Johnson bouncer which is quite unlike the usual staring and exchange of words that follows such deliveries.
Warner followed up his first innings hundred with a half-century in the second, giving Australia command of proceedings at tea on day four of the first cricket Test against India.
