The confrontation between Gautam Gambhir and Australian cricketers in the ongoing third Test in Kotla was played up by the Australian media, saying that it revived memories of the controversial series of last summer.
"The acrimony which almost destroyed last summer's Test series between Australia and India exploded again on the opening day of the third Test," the Australian reported. "It continued India's record as the worst behaved team in the world over the past decade."
A headline in Sydney Morning Herald screamed "Gambhir elbows Australia out of way".
In their previous duel Down Under, players of both sides were involved in a number of heated on-field exchnages which even put the tour in doubt.
There has not been too many on-field flare-ups in the first two matches in this series with the exception of Zaheer Khan giving an angry send-off to Matthew Hayden in Mohali for which the fast bowler was punished by the match referee Chris Broad.
Broad had spoken to both captains before the series, asking them to play in true spirit.
"Gambhir's second century in as many innings has been marred by a physical confrontation with Shane Watson and a heated exchange with Simon Katich which required intervention from umpire Billy Bowden. Bowden was forced to stand between Katich and Gambhir after the pair almost collided while Katich unsuccessfully attempted to field off his own bowling, blocking Gambhir's path," the report said.
Vice-captain Michael Clarke stepped in and twice attempted to drag Katich away as the verbal confrontation with Gambhir escalated.
Skipper Ricky Ponting also stepped in and at the end of the over umpire Bowden spoke to Ponting.
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The Australian media, the staunch supporters of their cricket team, played up the flare-up between Gautam Gambhir and Australian cricketers in the ongoing third Test in Kotla, saying it brought back memories of the controversial series Down Under early this year.
"The acrimony which almost destroyed last summer's Test series between Australia and India exploded again on the opening day of the third Test," The Australian reported adding
"It continued India's record as the worst behaved team in the world over the past decade."
A headline in Sydney Morning Herald screamed "Gambhir elbows Australia out of way", a headline screamed in the Sydney Morning Herald.
In their previous duel Down Under, players of both sides were involved in a number of heated on-field exchnages which even put the tour in doubt.
There has not been too many on-field flare-ups in the first two matches in this series with the exception of Zaheer Khan giving an angry send-off to Matthew Hayden in Mohali for which the fast bowler was punished by the match referee Chris Broad.
Broad had spoken to both captains before the series, asking them to play in true spirit.
"Gambhir's second century in as many innings has been marred by a physical confrontation with Shane Watson and a heated exchange with Simon Katich which required intervention from umpire Billy Bowden. Bowden was forced to stand between Katich and Gambhir after the pair almost collided while Katich unsuccessfully attempted to field off his own bowling, blocking Gambhir's path," the report said.
Speaking about Gambhir and Katich flare-up Clarke said "I did see it on replay. I'm pretty sure the match referee or whoever needs to have a look at that will have a look at that," Clarke said after play. "Like the incident with Kat, it was important for all the players to make sure we get on with our game."
Gambhir though insisted that the nudge to Watson was not "deliberate".
"Gambhir may be small and slender of build but there has been no meekness about his approach to the Australians. He has challenged them on every front, niggling constantly from the infield during the previous Test in Mohali and clashing with them on more than one occasion yesterday," the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
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Both Gautam Gambhir and Shane Watson will face a charge under the ICC Code of Conduct for their altercation on the first day of the third Test here, an ICC press release said on Thursday.
Gambhir has been charged under clause C1 Level 2 of the code which states that players "shall at all times conduct play within the spirit of the game as well as within the Laws of Cricket". Watson has been charged under the same clause, C1, but as a Level 1 offence.
While level 2 penalties range from a fine of between 50 per cent of the player's match fee up to 100 per cent and/or a ban of one Test or two ODIs, level 1 penalties range from an official reprimand and/or a fine of up to 50 per cent of the player's match fee.
The incident related to contact between Gambhir and Watson as Gambhir ran between the wickets during the 51st over of India's first innings on day one of the third Test in New Delhi on Wednesday. The hearing will take place after the second day's play.
The charges were laid by on-field umpires Billy Bowden and Aleem Dar, both of the Emirates Elite Panel, and third official Suresh Shastri of the Emirates International Panel. It will be heard by Emirates Elite Panel match referee Chris Broad.
