Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar today lashedout at England's Jonathan Trott, saying the player "breached the spirit ofcricket" by refusing to acknowledge that he had not cleanly taken a catchon the opening day of the first cricket Test.
Fielding at first slip on the first day, Virat Kohli offereda catch which Trott claimed to have taken cleanly but then the TV replaysshowed otherwise.
"It was quite clear that the spirit of cricket was breached.I think there should have been a sanction against Trott," Gavaskar said.
Gavaskar recalled a similar incident that had taken place inthe past, during a match between England and Pakistan.
"The way he claimed it, I believe that we have seen in thepast when there was a Pakistani wicketkeeper who appealed against Ian Botham.That was a similar situation and the English media tore him (Pakistan player)apart.
"I don't know what the English media has written now. Ido believe if that particular thing needed a sanction (this should also),"he told NDTV today.
Gavaskar further said: "If he (Trott) had said hedidn't know what had happened, it would have been a different situation. But hewas actually accepting high-fives from the bowler, the fielders and that meanshe was quite sure that it was a catch."
Post-tea, when India were at 259 for three, Kohli, who wason four, went for a cut shot off Graeme Swann's bowling but edged the ball toTrott at slip.
The ball struck Trott's forearm and he dived backward to completethe catch. He, however, dropped it on the turf but still appealed and forcedthe on-field umpires to refer the matter to third umpire Sudhir Asnani.
But TV replays clearly showed that the ball spilled out ofhis hand as he dived backward and his body covered the ball before he scoopedit up and appealed.
Gavaskar was full of praise for Cheteshwar Pujara, who hasslammed his maiden double century to put India in the driver's seat at close onthe second day.
"As long as he is performing, he is going to be anasset to the Indian team. He brings calmness to the middle-order.
His temperament will tested when he goes out to bat at the fallof an early wicket when the bowler is fresh. But he has got all the ingerdientsto have a long career."