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Steve Smith and David Warner called out over 'arrogant' act in Test final

A number of Aussie batters caught the attention of the cricket world in the Test Championship final.

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·4-min read
Steve Smith and David Warner walk back on onto the field.
The Aussie cricket team has been called out over an 'arrogant' act after David Warner, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne appeared to prematurely run off the field before the end of an innings. (Image: Hot Star)

The Aussie cricket team has been blasted after David Warner, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne appeared to prematurely run off the field while waiting for a third umpire decision in the Test Championship final. India put up a fight on day 3 of the final at The Oval with Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur battling through the morning session to add some much needed runs.

Pat Cummins' men produced some sloppy cricket having dropped a number of chances with the fielding letting India edge closer to Australia's lead. However, Cummins and Cameron Green made the breakthroughs to bowl India out for 296 and hand Australia a huge first innings lead.

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However, moments before the final ball, members of the Aussie team were slammed for nearly walking off the field when Green appeared to trap Mohammed Siraj right in front. Green bowled a yorker and caught Siraj flat-footed.

The decision looked plum, but Siraj sent it up stairs for review. While this happened Smith, Warner and Labuschagne were adamant the innings was over and headed straight for the dressing rooms. This was to clearly pad up and prepare for their turn out in the centre.

The remainder of the team stayed while Siraj looked for support from the third umpire. And within seconds technology showed Siraj had edged the ball onto his pads. The decision was overturned.

Cheers rang out throughout The Oval as Smith, Warner and Labuschagne sheepishly turned around and ran back into position. It didn't take long for Mitchell Starc to come into the attack and remove Siraj to end the innings and Australia's brutal onslaught.

Cricket world blasts Aussies for walking off before review

However, the image of Smith and Warner running off the field instead of waiting for the reviews caught the ire of the cricket world. Many labelled the move 'arrogant' and 'disrespectful' against Siraj and the Indian team.

Things didn't get much better for Warner who suffered a poor day at The Oval. Warner dropped Rahane at first slip in a tough chance off Pat Cummins' bowling. Warner was caught flat-footed alongside wicketkeeper Alex Carey when the ball flew off the edge between them.

When Warner strode out to bat not long after his sheepish walk back onto the field, the opener edged the ball and was gone for one. Siraj sent down a scrambled seam delivery and Warner was caught flat-footed, not for the first time on day 3, and edged the ball to end his contribution with the bat in the Test Championship final.

Steve Smith walks off the field after being dismissed.
Steve Smith (pictured) was caught out after an unusual shot against Ravindra Jadeja on day 3. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) (GLYN KIRK via Getty Images)

Usman Khawaja was out after a small resistance, which saw both Labuschagne and Smith at the crease. And to top of Smith's day, the mercurial No.4 attempted to take on Ravi Jadeja.

Smith charged down the wicket, but instead watched the ball rocket into the sky and into the hands of a fielder. Travis Head couldn't replicate his innings either after Jadeja also caught out the swashbuckling South Australian.

This leaves Australia 4-123 heading into day 4 with a big lead of 296 at The Oval.

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