'It was like a war out there' - Ian Gould recalls India-Australia Adelaide Test from 2014

Ian Gould is a very experienced umpire and he has officiated many matches. He retired last year as an umpire after the World Cup. He was one of the officials who was very active between 2014 and 2018. In a recent interview, Gould expressed that the Australian team has adapted a very aggressive attitude on the field between those four years.

He said at times they would take a little forward. Ian Gould said that the Australian team would behave in a certain bullish way with the teams. He also revealed that at times, he would be surprised with their behaviour.

“They used to railroad teams a little bit and it got out of hand. You would stand back and think wow”, Gould said.

The former umpire then recalled the India vs Australia Test match in Adelaide in 2014. Gould revealed the two days of that Test was absolutely surreal. He further said that the three days of that match felt like a war on the field between the two teams.

‘It was the most surreal game’: Ian Gould

“The first real incident during that time was Australia against India in Adelaide shortly after poor Phillip Hughes had passed away (in 2014). It was the most surreal game of cricket for two days that I have ever known. But for the next three days it was like a war out there,” Gould said as quoted by India Today.

Gould pointed out that leading up to the ball-tampering incident which unfolded in early 2018, the Australian team was slightly out of control. “I believe Australia was out of control leading up to the ball-tampering issues,” he said.

The first Test between India and Australia was supposed to be held in Brisbane originally but due to the untimely death of Philips Hughes, the first Test was played at Adelaide. Australia batted first put on a huge total of 517. In reply, India managed 444 runs. It was during India’s first innings when a lot of banter between the two teams were seen. The arguments and heated talks carried on throughout the Test.

Australia declared on 290 for 5 in the second innings, leaving a target of 364 runs for India. The Virat Kohli-led side worked hard but fell short by 48 runs. During the match, several players engaged in heated banters. David Warner, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Steve Smith were a few players who engaged with words.