‘I can do what I want’: Stump mic reveal Smith’s stoush with rival as ‘ridiculous’ issue remerges — Daily

An exchange between Steve Smith and Litton Das on the third day picked up by Fox Cricket’s stump microphone has become symbolic of Bangladesh’s fearless attitude in their historic nine-wicket Test win in Darwin.

With Smith attempting to mount a rescue mission in Australia’s second innings, Bangladesh were ecstatic when they thought the champion batter may have got a tickle on ball down the leg side from spinner Taijul Islam that was well taken by Das behind the stumps.

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The umpire was unmoved however and as the tourists contemplated a review, Smith piped up.

“Use it. Go on. Do it. Go on, use it,” he could be heard saying.

“Waste another one (review). Do what you want. Do your thing.”

The wicketkeeper then fired back at Smith as Bangladesh opted against a review: “You bat. You just bat”.

“I’m batting,” Smith replied.

“Just bat,” Das responded

“Na, I’ll do what I want,” Smith insisted.

“I can do what I want.”

Das and his teammates had the last laugh as Smith chipped a return catch back to spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz to depart for 44.

Former Australian fast bowler Brendon Julian said on Fox Cricket’s commentary that the exchange showcased how Bangladesh would not take a backwards step as they charged towards their first ever win in Australian.

“I reckon Bangladesh were up for the contest here,” he said.

“There was a little bit of a confrontation. I think Steve Smith tried to get into the game with a little bit of confrontation.”

While former Australian opener David Warner described it as “unbelievable”.

“Once Litton Das had that little run in with Steve Smith, they didn’t shut up for the rest of the innings. It was unbelievable,” he said.

“They believed in themselves. They were hungry.”

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AUSSIE MAY FEEL PINCH OF ‘RIDICULOUS’ ISSUE

Australia’s Test team may be about to feel the sting of their shock loss to Bangladesh in Darwin even more with the International Cricket Council (ICC) contemplating dishing out fines to the hosts.

Pat Cummins’ side were well behind on their over rates and the fact the visitors’ nine-wicket win was wrapped up before tea on day four does not spare them from potentially being out of pocket.

Australia bowled 24 overs on the first afternoon after they were bowled out just after tea.

Bangladesh were culpable too as despite 11 wickets falling on the first day, only 77 overs were bowled in total across six-and-a-half hours of play.

“It’s ridiculous how slow the over rates are now,” former Australian batter Simon Katich said on SEN radio at the time.

They then managed 86 overs as Bangladesh grinded them into the dirt on day two, and just 28 overs as the tourists’ batted into the second session on day three.

Teams are required to bowl 90 overs in a day, or 15 per hour with an extra half an hour afforded to make up for lost time.

The ICC is able to dock players’ five per cent of their match fee for every over they are behind the rate.

With Australia’s Test cricketers earning $20,000 per Test, that is $1,000 per over not bowled.

The ICC offers some grace due to the heat, drinks breaks and wickets falling caused breaks in play.

The match referee is yet to determine whether they will be lenient on the Australians given the heat and humidity in Darwin.

Four World Test Championship points can also be docked as punishment for slow over rates.

England have been the game’s biggest culprits of that in recent years and Australia also missed the inaugural final in 2021 because of points lost to slow over rates.

Australia currently sit top of the standings and in addition to taking a hit to their win percentage of 77.78 by losing to Bangladesh, they could fall below second-placed South Africa (75%) if they are hit with a points deduction.

Retired Australian batter Usman Khawaja and retired England captain Ben Stokes have publicly hit out against over rate penalties when a result has been achieved inside five days.

Former Australian opener David Warner echoed their objections on Fox Cricket’s coverage on Sunday as Cummins threw the ball to Nathan Lyon and Beau Webster, and did not bowl himself, to race through a few overs as Bangladesh marched to victory.

Australia got their over rate level with where it needed to be during the 14.2 over fourth innings.

When that was shown on the Marrara Stadium scoreboard, former Australian fast bowler Brendon Julian said: “Don’t worry about the over rate. Plenty of time left.”

Warner replied: “World Test Championship points and stuff that you lose. It’s part of the game. Doesn’t matter if you finish a day early.”

He then added with a chuckle and a shake of the end as Julian was clearly bemused in the commentary box, “I know”.

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