Media overreacted to Dravid row: Slater

Australian Test cricketer Michael Slater said on Tuesday that Australian media criticism of his on-field clash with Indian batsman Rahul Dravid in last week's first Test in Bombay had been a complete overreaction.

Slater was cautioned by West Indian match referee Cammie Smith for arguing with umpire Srinivas Venkatraghavan and Dravid after Slater claimed a catch.

"It just looks so much worse on the TV than it actually was and they chose to play it and play it and play it and just ham the whole thing up," Slater told a Sydney radio station.

"If I'd have been out of hand and what I'd actually said was the wrong thing I would have been reported.

"But that doesn't seem to be enough for the journos, and the analysis and whatever that has been going on has been totally blown out (of proportion)."

THIRD UMPIRE SAYS NOT OUT

In the incident that led to the caution, Slater was seen arguing with the third umpire and Dravid. The umpire had ruled Dravid not out after Slater had dived forward at mid-wicket to take a catch.

Dravid and fellow batsman Sachin Tendulkar completed a 97-run third-wicket stand but Australia went on to win by 10 wickets.

Slater was strongly criticised by newspapers in Australia, which said he had set a bad example.

Slater, who said he had chatted amiably with Dravid in the dressing room after play, felt Dravid should have accepted his word and walked.

Slater was involved in a similar incident while batting earlier in the match after appearing to edge a catch behind. He did not walk and was ruled not out.

The Australian newspaper quoted Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist as describing the Dravid-Slater clash as a "minor heat-of-the-battle incident".

"Gilchrist must understand that such bonhomie (between Slater and Dravid) in the dressing room doesn't address what people saw on their screens around the cricket community," The Australian said on Tuesday.

The second Test in the three-match series starts in Calcutta on Sunday.

Mail Cricket Editor