Have a lot of respect for Smith, but DRS referral input was like an Under-10 game: R Ashwin

New Delhi, March 8: India's star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin criticised Australia skipper Steve Smith for his controversial action of seeking dressing room's response to take DRS call after his dismissal as surprising and child-like.

BCCI backs Virat Kohli's charge" title="DRS row: CA defends Smith; BCCI backs Virat Kohli's charge" />DRS row: CA defends Smith; BCCI backs Virat Kohli's charge

Speaking to his team mate Cheteshwar Pujara in a BCCI.TV video, Ashwin said Smith's action reminded him of his childhood days.

"Steven Smith actually turned back and asked the dressing room if he could take a review," Ashwin said.

"That is completely unheard of. The last time I thought that to happen was in an Under-10 game, when my coach used to suggest where point fielders and cover fielders used to stand.

"It was really surprising. I have a lot of respect for Steven Smith, but that was very very surprising," Ashwin told Pujara.

Ashwin will be playing under Smith's captaincy in the tenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the latter will be leading the Rising Pune Supergiant side.

VIDEO: Presenting the @ashwinravi99 - @cheteshwar1 rendezvous https://t.co/6JHPW1SNgG #INDvAUS

— BCCI (@BCCI) March 8, 2017

Smith, turned to seek a clue from dressing room after being adjudged leg-before off Umesh Yadav during second innings, which irked India skipper Virat Kohli.

Kohli lambasted the Australian team and just about stopped short of calling Smith a cheat. (Kohli blasts Australians for trying to cheat)

Smith tried to play down the controversy by calling it a "brain fade" but that did not stop the barrage of criticism that came his way for his on-field actions.

The Kohli-Smith clash on the controversial DRS call on Wednesday triggered a full blown verbal war between the Cricket Boards of India and Australia with both aggressively backing their respective players.

If Cricket Australia said questioning Smith's integrity is "outrageous" and that there was no "ill-intent" in the captain's move of seeking dressing room help. The BCCI went a step further and requested the ICC to take cognisance of the matter.

India and Australia will face each other on March 16 in Ranchi. Thus, it will be interesting to see how this spar impacts the third Test match between the two teams.

OneIndia News