Australia's Marnus Labuschagne, right, watches as the umpire speaks to India's Ravindra Jadeja during the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal cricket match between India and Australia at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

When Marnus Labuschagne was peering over the shoulder of the umpire who was talking to Ravindra Jadeja, one wonders if he thought about THAT Dean Jones incident. It's not clear which batsman complained (Steve Smith or Labuschagne), but someone ought to have, as otherwise the umpires wouldn't have got into the act.

And Richard Illingworth told Jadeja to remove the tape that was bandaged around his left palms, the bowling hand.

Jadeja tried to make his plea that he was injured but it was within the right of the batsmen and the umpire to ask a bowler to remove anything from the hands that can be seen as obstructing the view for the batsmen.

Dean Jones, another Australian batsman, once asked Curtly Ambrose to remove the wrist bands. Here is the episode in the words of Ambrose, culled out from his book. "I figured it was a stupid request, to be frank - and I said I wasn't going to take them off.

It was crazy. Our captain Richie Richardson persuaded me to do it but I was furious. Up to that point I'd been bowling within myself because it was a one-day game and I was keeping things tight but then I started bowling a lot quicker. I really wanted to make Jones uncomfortable. We won the game quite easily. I understand the Australian dressing room weren't happy with Jones for riling me up!"

In the here and now, Jadeja's plea wasn't heard. He protested again next over when fielding a shot hit back at him that hurt his now un-taped hand. But he had his Ambrose moment though: he trapped Labuschagne lbw in front and induced Josh Inglis to punch straight to covers.

Incidentally Illingworth who played in the 1992 World Cup final for England was also the umpire in the 2023 final that India lost to Australia.

For those interested in the Jones incident, here is a postscript. Long after he retired, Jones wrote a piece for SMH, where he mentioned how it wasn't just his decision but he had sought the permission of his coach Bob Simpson. "I wanted Simmo's approval before I went out to bat. I was blown away when Bob agreed, obviously feeling very remorseful on my non-Test selection.

Once Simpson agreed, the whole team went hysterical. "You will get us killed," they yelled at me. I personally couldn't give a shit about them as they were going to Adelaide (after the ODI series to play the Tests.) So when Boony nicked off to Ambrose, I then passed Mark and Steve Waugh going out to bat. Mark then said to Steve, "He is not going to do it, is he?" I then thought, "gee ... they do talk!" I had never heard them speak to each other in the years I have known them.

… Well the next three deliveries were probably the quickest I ever faced! I was thinking, "What the hell have I done?" I have a compound fracture of the right thumb and a hand I can't feel.

And when the umpire called "over", I had 11 West Indians and one Australian batsman sledging me! Mark Taylor was furious. Tubby yelled out, "What are you doing? I have two kids. What are you thinking?"