Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting finds Virat Kohli as a key instigator in his shoulder barge with debutant Sam Konstas in the Boxing Day test in Melbourne. The controversy erupted after the 10th over of the day on Wednesday (December 26), when Kohli and Konstas bumped their shoulders while moving across the pitch.
After the clash, both players had a heated exchange of words before Khawaja and umpire Michael Gough tried to cool things between the duo.
The replays showed that Konstas had been walking straight to the non-striker’s end, however, Kohli went way from outside the pitch to clash with the youngster. It came after Kontas was riding high after playing audacious shots against India’s ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah, and was looking comfortable at the crease.
During the commentary, Ponting outrightly blamed Kohli for the duo’s clash and said on Channel Seven:
“Have a look where Virat walks. Virat’s walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever.”
As per Ponting, none of the fielders should be around the batters during the transition phase between overs, and it was a wrong step by Kohli.
The Match referee Andy Pycroft would have the responsibility to take a tough call on the clash after the day’s play. According to ICC’s Code of Conduct, “any form of inappropriate physical contact is prohibited in cricket.”
If Pycroft finds Konstas-Kohli contact to be a Level Two offence, the player is liable to receive three or four demerit points. Reportedly, four points are enough for a player to be banned for the Sydney test, set to be played from January 3. Meanwhile, if it is a Level 1 offence, a match fee fine could be imposed on either of the players.
What Sam Konstas said about shoulder barge with Virat Kohli?
Sam Konstas played an impressive knock of 60 off 65 balls, with six fours and two sixes. During the drinks break, the broadcasting team caught up with Konstas, and wanted to know his reaction on the shoulder barge incident with Virat Kohli.
Although, the clash was surprising for Konstas, he thinks the verbal altercation came naturally due to the significance of the test match.
“I think the emotions got to both of us,” Konstas later told Channel 7 in the second session. “I didn’t quite realize, I was doing my gloves, then a little shoulder charge, but it happens in cricket.”
At the time of writing, Australia are at 300/6 in 83 overs, with Steve Smith unbeaten at 68 of 107.
