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'No excuse': Cricket fans fed up with 'disgraceful' Aussie farce

Australian players, pictured here celebrating victory after the second ODI against India.
Australian players celebrates victory after the second ODI against India. (Photo by Matt King - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

Shane Warne has once again led the outcry after the second ODI between Australia and India went way over the allotted time.

Warne was seething after the first ODI at the SCG on Friday, describing the current attitude towards over rates in world cricket as at an “all-time low”.

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But if he was hoping for an improvement in the second game on Sunday he was left sorely disappointed.

India bowled first on Sunday and completed their 50 overs at 6.30pm - 20 minutes over the allowed time of three hours and 30 minutes.

It was an improvement on Friday’s effort that took over four hours, but still not good enough.

The Aussies weren’t much better when they bowled second, hurrying through the dying overs and not bothering to celebrate wickets as they too went over the allowed time.

The match finished close to 11pm once again, with the crowd half the size it was at the start of the game.

Shane Warne calls for sweeping changes

Speaking after Australia’s batting innings, Warne called for a new rule that would add runs onto the chasing team’s target for every over they bowl after the allotted time.

“I think we’ve got to be really strict with it,” Warne said in commentary for Fox Sports.

“There’s just too much meandering around. I think (penalise teams) 25 runs per over you’re down.”

Warne offered another alternative that would see chasing team only received the number of overs to bat as they bowled within the allowed time.

“For instance with India bowling first today, if by the allotted time they only bowled 46 overs, that’s how many overs they get to bat,” he said.

Aaron Finch and Virat Kohli, pictured here after the second ODI between Australia and India at the SCG.
Aaron Finch and Virat Kohli after the second ODI between Australia and India at the SCG. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“So whatever the target is, you take off those overs.

“I don’t think it’s so much bowling the overs, it is more or less in between overs fluffing around. The batsmen is just about ready … why isn’t the bowler back to the top of his mark waiting? The batsmen is ready. They’re just fluffing around.

“The real issue is in-between overs, not getting back to your mark quick enough … That shouldn’t be happening.”

Previously, captains would be suspended for multiple infringements with slow over rates.

However that rule was controversially scrapped by the ICC last year in favour of fines for a whole team.

Fans watching Sunday’s second ODI were officially fed up by the slow going, with some labelling it “disgraceful” and “appalling”.

Steve Smith stars again for Australia

Consecutive centuries from Steve Smith delivered Australia an ODI series victory over India, who suffered a 51-run loss at the SCG despite a stirring chase led by Virat Kohli.

Smith backed up Friday's sparkling 105 with a masterful 104 in the second one-dayer, guiding Australia to a record-breaking total of 4-389.

Kohli, whose composed knock of 89 never looked like stopping until a diving Moises Henriques reeled in a spectacular catch at midwicket in the 35th over, created all manner of headaches for Australia.

India’s skipper was well supported by KL Rahul (76), while Mitchell Starc was hammered for 0-82 from nine overs.

However, the hosts had far too many runs to play with and the game ground to another belated finish at 10.46pm.

“Completely outplayed ... they've got a very strong batting line-up,” Kohli said.

Smith chipped in with two catches as India finished 9-338, ensuring Wednesday's series finale in Canberra will be a dead rubber.

with AAP

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