Aus vs SL: Steve Smith relays commentator’s input to captain Finch

Australia clinched a 3-0 T20I series whitewash over Sri Lanka in Melbourne on Friday. Though the taste of victory was sweet, there was a moment that could have spelled trouble for the Aussies. Australia's premier batsman Steve Smith, who was in communication with the on-air commentators, almost courted trouble during the 3rd T20I match on Friday, when he relayed the commentator's input to captain Aaron Finch.

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Commentators give their input

While talking to the on-air commentators via microphone, Smith was reminded by them in the 17th over that Pat Cummins was on a hat-trick because he had taken two consecutive wickets the last two balls of his previous over. Smith, after coming across this information, went to captain Aaron Finch and suggested him to put a slip in place for the ball. Finch for some reason, did not make any tactical changes and the batsman survived Cummins' delivery.

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Had the tactical change been made, the commentators and Smith would have got into trouble for relaying the commentator's analysis to the captain during the game. However, since nothing monumental happened during the delivery, the players, the broadcasters and the commentators avoided controversy. 

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In a similar incident in 2017, Australian commentator Mark Howard during a Big Bash League match told Adelaide Strikers skipper Brad Hodge that Shane Watson, the batsman on strike, was vulnerable against Ben Laughlin, a pacer of Adelaide Strikers. Hodge then brought Laughlin to bowl in the following over. The exchange had undergone an investigation by Cricket Australia's Integrity Unit.

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