Tim Paine comes in support of Steve Smith, says he wasn’t scuffing Pant’s guard marks

Steve Smith is in the trending session of Twitter after he was spotted scuffing Rishabh Pant’s guard marks during the third AUS vs IND Vodafone Test. The incident took place on the day when the match was tied in between two countries as India struggled determinedly to the win in the absence of their skipper Kohli.

During the drinks break in the first session on Monday, the video footage started getting viral on the internet with the accused, however, the skipper Tim Paine has stood in his support as he denies the accuses as ‘false’.

He believes it is Smith’s style that he has pursued multiple times in Test cricket. Finding the act ‘not new’ by anyways, Paine says that Indians would absolutely have complained if they would have found any wrongdoing by Smith’s end.

The internet is full of criticism of Australia’s wonderful batting sensation. The Indians, as well as a few of the mates, are still reprimanding Smith on his act that has not been considered true by Tim Paine.

Tim Paine comes in support of Steve Smith, says he wasn’t scuffing Pant’s guard marks

“He (Steve 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 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 visualize how is he going to play,” Paine elaborated.

Here is the video:

? He is really disappointed with the way it has come across ?

Australia captain Tim Paine says Steve Smith was not trying to change Rishabh Pant's guard during the Sydney Test ?#AUSvIND ????

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) January 12, 2021

“…There is no way in the world, he was trying to change Rishabh Pant’s guard or anything like that. That is just one of Smithy’s things that he does, now that it has come up like it is, again it is something he might need to look at because of the perception of it,” stressed Paine.

“One of his mannerisms, as I said he does a lot, he was marking sand and he wasn’t by any stretch of imagination trying to change guard or do anything like that,” reiterated Paine.

AUS vs IND 3rd Test:

Let’s see a few of the tweets now that either come in his support by the Australians or as criticism from Indians:

The lines marked are deep down in a well established surface. This isn’t chalk on a synthetic wicket. He didn’t ‘erase’ anything. I can assure you of that, and that Pant will have had Zero issue with this

— Trent Copeland (@copes9) January 11, 2021

Tried all tricks including Steve Smith trying to remove Pant's batting guard marks from the crease. Par kuch kaam na aaya. Khaaya peeya kuch nahi, glass toda barana.
But I am so so proud of the effort of the Indian team today. Seena chonda ho gaya yaar. pic.twitter.com/IfttxRXHeM

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) January 11, 2021

This is very very poor from Steve smith !! https://t.co/UwUz7zrdzx

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 11, 2021

People saying Steve Smith was deliberately scratching out Pant’s guard may want to wind it in…

He shadow bats & marks guard on the pitch a gazillion times a day when batting or fielding. On HIS mark.

As do many other players over the course of a day. ? #AUSvIND

— Trent Copeland (@copes9) January 11, 2021

Steve Smith will always be tagged as “cheater” in every possible way as long as he remains superior and dominate Test Cricket. Indian Media does everything to taint his image, and its on you guys to not get brainwashed.

??? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?????????. pic.twitter.com/dSAoyh3oRg

— Sia ²⁴ (@fcbsiaaaa) January 12, 2021

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