Former Australian cricket player Ian Healy believes "the bad blood" between India and Australia "has gone too far," according to Jai Bednall of NEWS.COM. Tensions "threatened to explode" when Mitchell Johnson hit Virat Kohli while trying to run him out and continued on day four. David Warner "engaged with several of the Indians in the field during his quickfire 40 and Ishant Sharma gave Shane Watson a send-off when he was out for 17." Healy said that it is "time for it to stop." Healy said, "I reckon it’s out of control." Wisden India editor Anand Vasu agreed, describing the situation as a “time bomb ticking away.” Vasu said, "It’s a matter of time before someone crosses the line and gets either really personal about someone’s family or even worse -- you have something racist." But former Aussie cricketer Trent Copeland believes that "sledging is good for the game." He said that "it was good to see professional athletes showing emotion and has enjoyed the way Kohli has stood his ground -- on and off the field." Copeland said, “I think it’s very good for the game and I think Virat Kohli, since he’s come to Australia, has been great the way he’s held himself in the media and particularly on the field” (NEWS.COM, 12/30).
