Hussain questions spirit of Vaughan appeal

England captain Nasser Hussain has backed Michael Vaughan's claims that India acted unsportingly over the batsman's bizarre dismissal on the first day of the third Test on Wednesday.

Vaughan became only the seventh player in Test history to be given out handled the ball following a belated appeal by the India team as England struggled to 255-6 in their first innings in Bangalore.

"It's a question of whether certain actions are in the spirit of the game and that's purely a judgement call," Hussain told Wisden.com.

"If the Indians felt that the appeal was in the spirit of the game, then that's their call.

"I know what my gut feeling and Michael's gut feeling is about it all, and I really don't want to say any more.

"I won't say it (Vaughan's dismissal) could turn the whole game, but it was an important decision and could prove to be costly."

Vaughan was on 64 when he missed a sweep against off-spinner Sharandeep Singh and, as the ball dropped in front of his pad, he put his hand on it and tossed it towards short leg.

Singh appealed and the umpire had no option but to give Vaughan out. Law 33 states that a batsman may not handle the ball without the consent of the fielding side.

"I'm a bit disappointed they appealed," Vaughan told reporters. "I expected Sharandeep to be more sporting."

England were cruising on 206-3 before Vaughan's dismissal sparked a middle-order collapse.

"Michael was playing well," Hussain said. "I think he'd be the first to admit it wasn't the most sensible thing to do. But then I think he'd also feel he was acting in a gentlemanly way by handing the ball to short leg.

"I'm not very happy with our position at the end of the day.

"Everything was going to plan until Michael's dismissal.

"(But) it's the fact that there were several soft dismissals that leaves a nasty taste in my mouth. We can't afford that.

"We need to get 350 on this pitch and make sure it's them batting last on it, not us."

England trail India 1-0 in the three-Test series.

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