Australian skipper Tim Paine on Tuesday defended Steve Smith, who was accused of scuffing up the guard mark of Rishabh Pant during the drawn third Test, asserting that the Indian team would have raked up the issue if any wrong was committed.
Smith, a former Australia captain, was seen scuffing up the batsman’s guard during drinks break in the first session on Monday.
“I have spoken to Steve about this and I know he is really disappointed with the way it has come across. And if you watch Steve Smith play Test cricket, that is something that he does every single game five or six times a day,” Paine said.
Paine said had Smith changed the guard marks, the Indian team would have taken up the issue.
“Smith was certainly not changing guard and imagine if he was, then the Indian players would have kicked up a bit of stink (at) that time,” he said.
“But that is something I have seen Steve doing many a times in Test matches and Shield games that I have played with him, when he is in the field, he likes to sort of walk up to where he bats and visualise how is he going to play,” Paine elaborated.