A "brain fade" moment led to Steven Smith seeking dressing room advice for a DRS referral in the second Test against India and his word should be taken at face value, feels former Australia captain Steve Waugh.
While applauding Cricket Australia's stand on the issue, Waugh said that board CEO James Sutherland knows "what happened was wrong".
"It was a fantastic Test match. It's a shame we are focussing on one incident. I would go with what Steve has said. I would take him at face value. The best part was umpires stepped in and stopped at then and there. Looking back Smith will be embarrassed and must have learnt a lesson," Waugh said during an interaction.
However, he wants ICC to intervene and bring "finality" to the issue.
"Someone from ICC needs to look into the matter and bring it to a finality. Look we need to move on. Probably he would be cautioned. It was a high intensity game," Waugh said during 'Royal Stag Barrel Select Perfect Strokes'.
The reason Waugh wants an ICC intervention is he wants an end to this debate.
"Because we are going to be arguing back and forth for the next six days with more and more people getting involved in it. Like you are asking me and my opinion comes out in the papers and becomes another issue. So ICC should resolve this and just make a statement so that we can all move on. Smith has already said that he has admitted making mistakes, so no point continuing as it's not good for relations between the two sides," Waugh said.
Asked about Virat Kohli stopping short of calling Smith a "cheat", Waugh replied: "I wasn't aware about what all happened but those were strong comments from Kohli. Although he didn't say that word but he was inferring it, so I am not sure Smith would have enjoyed reading those statements.
"Both captains need to have a bit of a chat at some stage and need to realise that they are going to play tough. Both are patriotic captains but no point in playing up their arguments in press."
On whether Kohli has gone overboard, Waugh smiled and said: "That's Virat Kohli and that's what you guys love about him. And you want him to lead your country. Look there is a fine line between revving the crowd up when the bowlers are running in. I am not sure Australians will be too happy about that. I don't mind when you rev up the crowd in between balls but not when the bowler is running into bowl.
"These are couple of issues from both teams about how the games is played. It's being played in pretty good spirit but right now it's bit on the edge," Waugh said.
Ian Healy recently said that he has lost respect for Kohli and the Indian captain said he doesn't care, but Waugh begged to differ.
"Of course, he cares. I mean when another respected cricketer comment like that, than it's going to be hurtful. But Virat Kohli is a tough guy. He will take notice and obviously responded in a way that it obviously did affect him. End of the day, he will have a bigger fish to fry than what Ian Healy says. I know as a captain you can't be liked by everyone. You play in your own style, he plays a combative style of cricket and that's what Indians love about him."
Waugh was happy that Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland has issued a strong statement supporting its captain.
"Of course, he is the captain of our country and from the chairman (CEO) of the board I would expect that. At the same stage, James Sutherland would have also realised what happened was wrong and shouldn't happen again and I am sure wouldn't happen again. That's what we are going take from this that lesson has been learnt."
The bat size is supposed to change and reports of David Warner's current piece of wood will have to be scrapped.
"He (Warner) will be hitting 20 rows back instead of the 30 rows back now!," Waugh said in jest.
"He is a great player. I don't think it would make too much a difference to him. The bat manufacturers are smart enough to design the bats in such a way to make it as much powerful. Ninety percent of the players have their bats in the same category as David Warner."
Does cricket need a red card, Waugh said:"Look they are going get one. I don't know about a red card but there can be a yellow card. I don't know how it's going to work. It gives umpires more power that's a good thing. Puts players on notice that they can't go over the top."
But what if someone is 70 batting and is red carded changing the complexion of the match, Waugh said:"I have no idea how it would work out but if I am not out I would certainly make sure I won't get a red card. Lot of issues need to be worked through but a yellow card is the option and players should know if it's cheap enough to have two transgressions and sacrifice team's interest. At the end of the day, they are not only penalising themselves but also penalising the team."
On spinners dominating the show, Waugh said:"Indian bowlers -- the quicks have bowled well. Certainly the batsmen have not had so much fun so far. Probably set to continue as there are challenging pitches. The belief is that Australians don't play well on spinning tracks. We saw what happened in Pune, we can play on those pitches. I think all bowlers from both sides are in the game. Even if quicks are not taking qickets, they are tying up one end, playing role in bowling partnerships.
