India v Australia second Test: Steve Smith defends Shaun Marsh DRS error that cost Australia

STEVE Smith has revealed a communication breakdown with Shaun Marsh was at the centre of the DRS drama that sank Australia’s hopes in Bangalore.

Shaun Marsh leaves the ground after being dismissed. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

STEVE Smith has revealed a communication breakdown with Shaun Marsh was at the centre of the DRS drama that sank Australia’s hopes in the gut-wrenching loss in Bangalore.

A chaotic series of dramas with the review technology and its use propelled India to a series-levelling victory after David Warner should have had his lbw dismissal overturned and Marsh opted not to refer a howler of an lbw call by umpire Nigel Llong.

On a controversy-laden day, umpires were furious with the relentless aggression of Indian captain Virat Kohli, and there could be fines aplenty coming from the match referee, with Mitchell Starc, Steve O’Keefe and Cheteshwar Pujara all captured on camera delivered withering on-field sprays.

But DRS was to also play a villainous role.

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Shaun Marsh leaves the ground after being dismissed. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Australia were in a steady position in their arduous run-chase of 188 to win at 2-67 when Marsh was rapped on the pads not offering a shot and Llong put his finger straight up.

Due to Warner’s incorrect dismissal where the technology failed to pick up the fact he was hit outside the line of off-stump by Ravi Ashwin, Marsh was encumbered by the pressure of knowing that if he botched his review Australia would have no more referrals.

Smith says he told Marsh to go upstairs, but Marsh misheard him and trudged off — with Australia never recovering and going onto lose their last six wickets for just 11 runs.

Agonising replays showed that the delivery from Umesh Yadav was missing by miles.

“In regards to Shaun’s one, we weren’t entirely sure,” said Smith.

“I said “go” as in “go have a look at it” and he turned around and started walking.

“I should have put my hands up and done it. We saw the replay and it was missing the stumps, it would have been a nice one to review.

“Perhaps it could have been important. Shaun was looking very good. But that’s the game of cricket. You have to move on and try and do what you can from there.”

Smith defended the umpires by stating the alarmingly deteriorating pitch was making conditions for them as tough as it was for players.

The second Test came to a controversial end. AFP Photo

The Australian captain also attempted to play down the ugly behaviour by Virat Kohli and India on-field.

“That’s for the umpire to decide,” said Smith.

“Australia and India are playing, there’s always emotions flying around We get a little bit of white-line fever every now and then.

“As long as it’s kept on the field then it’s all good.

“There’s always some interesting banter between the two oppositions, I think it makes it a great contest.

“As far as I’m concerned the game was played in good spirits.”

Kohli celebrates Smith’s dismissal with gusto. AFP Photo

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood (6-67) gave Australia hope and momentum with a blitzkrieg spell of fast bowling in the first session, but then the batsmen crumbled at the hands of another six-wicket man in Ashwin.

The fractious DRS situation then exploded when skipper Smith was lambasted by umpire Nigel Llong for appearing to glance towards the Australian dressing room when in the midst of debating whether to challenge his lbw dismissal.

Llong raced down the wicket yelling “No, no, no, no” at Smith, who then started to walk from the field out for 28 without argument, with Kohli arriving on the scene to give his counterpart a vicious send-off.

Umpire Llong grew sick of Kohli’s behaviour throughout the day and had regular conversations with the Indian skipper. Yet despite the confrontational nature, reports suggest there will be no charges from this game.