Look at your backyard: Aus coach tells India

Hobart: Ishant Sharma’s gesture of pointing Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds towards dressing room got the 19-year-old his first call to the match referee's room.

Level 1.6 of the ICC code of conduct relates to pointing or gesturing towards the pavilion in an aggressive manner by a bowler or other member of the fielding side upon the dismissal of a batsman.

So the rules are clear. Ishant had overstepped the line, but the Indian management believes he was provoked.

“I have written a letter to the match referee which clearly states that time and again in Adelaide and Sydney, Australian players have tried to do sledging, and they have tried to provoke our players into doing wrong actions,” Manager Indian Cricket Team Bimal Soni says.

The Indian management alleges the Aussies haven't toned down even after the controversy nearly derailed this tour.

“Even Mathew Hayden said something to Harbhajan, provoking him, trying to get something out of him, but we have told our players to be calm. They are playing as per ICC code of conduct laws,” Soni adds.

The Australian management has hit back at sledging allegations.

"It's interesting how much the opposition teams are talking about what we're doing and at the moment. As far as I can see, we're the only team that's in the finals. It might be time for them to start looking in their own backyard," Australian coach Tim Nielsen said on Monday.

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