'Sandpaper cheaters are trying to be saint' - Mitchell Starc under fire as he attempts non-striker run out against South Africa

Veteran Australian pacer Mitchell Starc is on the receiving end of harsh criticism and trolls from a section of the Indian cricket fans for what he recently did during the Test against South Africa. Notably, Australia and South Africa locked horns in the second of the three-match Test series in which the former outmuscled the Proteas by a massive margin of an inning and 184 runs.

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With this win in the Melbourne Test, the hosts have taken an impregnable lead of 2-0 in the series. Apart from the action of the match, the senior Aussie pacer attempted a run-out at the non-striker’s end and subsequently, he warned the opponent batter, Theunis de Bruyn, to stay within the limits of the crease.

This attempt from the 32-year-old was taken as an attempt to clean the image of Australia that has been under the scanner lately due to the negative developments regarding the infamous sandpaper gate scandal of the Cape Town Test and that too against South Africa.

Wow! Starc reminding de Bruyn to stay grounded! 🍿#AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/2y4U9t7glv

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 28, 2022

It also triggered a section of Indian cricket fans as they found it an attempt to mock veteran Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, who has been a staunch advocator of running out a batter at the non-striker’s end.

Here’s how fans reacted:

An intimidating example of good sportsmanship from the Aussies😅 https://t.co/uYYEFF5tsI

— Michel Delving (@michel_delving) December 29, 2022

Sandpaper cheaters are trying to be saint here. Clowns. Should've been out.. https://t.co/NgMC2JJiTg

— DEEPak🏏 (@DE_WA05) December 29, 2022

Nah. Ashwin respects the law and run out them. people like starc doesn't respect the law

— cricketfan (@losttv21) December 29, 2022

If hypocrisy is an art, then these goras are its picasso. Virtue signalling fckers. https://t.co/aUijVbHgFb

— tea_addict 🇮🇳 (@on_drive23) December 29, 2022

Starc warning for mankand hope Ashwin watching this video @ashwinravi99 🤣🤣

— Vijay Krish (@VijayKr38271353) December 28, 2022

SOUND 🔛



What do you think about this event between Mitchell Starc and @josbuttler? 🤔#JosButtler #MitchellStarc #AUSvENG #SonySportsNetwork pic.twitter.com/rA3D5yxwFP

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) October 14, 2022

Earlier, Starc was also in the controversial headlines for the same attempt of running out at the non-striker's end. At that moment, the batter at the non-striker's end was none other than England's white-ball skipper Jos Buttler.

"I am not Deepti, I won't do it," said Starc after warning Buttler to stay in the crease. Veteran Indian all-rounder Ashwin was one of the individuals who came ahead to take a firm stand in favor of Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma.

Coming back to the ongoing Test series between Australia and South Africa, both teams will now will take on each other in the third and last of the three-match Test series at Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney next month on the 4th of January, 2023.