VVS Laxman's reference of Phil Hughes over criticism of Glenn Maxwell gets him into trouble with Australian media

New Delhi: Australian batsman Glenn Maxwell was heavily criticized by VVS Laxman after the former was seen mocking Virat Kohli's shoulder injury after making a diving effor to prevent ball from crossing the rope in Ranchi on Saturday. Laxman's reference of using Phil Hughes – late Aussie batsman who died after being hit with a bouncer on cricket pitch – didn't go down well with Australian media.

“Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith, what example is he setting to his team? That’s very disappointing. You can sledge ... it’s fine, but not mocking someone who is injured, in pain,” Laxman said during tea break on Day 3 of the Ranchi Test. (IND vs AUS, Ranchi Test, Day 4 - Live Blog | Full Coverage)

“I’ve never experienced that because when you are injured, you always care for the opposition player as well.

“Especially after what happened to Phil Hughes, everyone is concerned when someone gets injured.

“Whether he gets hit on the helmet or is injured, there is a concern. 

“You play the game a hard way but the spirit of the game should be there. This is defying the spirit of the game,” Laxman had further added then.

Reacting to Laxman's comments, The Daily Telegraph hit out at the Indian battig great describing his comments as “ill-informed attack on Smith’s leadership” and for “unfortunately bringing up the Hughes family name into a non-issue”.

Other news outlet to slam Laxman were RealSport101.com and SportingNews.com. With the former's article's headline saying “VVS Laxman disgracefully references Phillip Hughes during attack on Australia”. Sporting News, on the other hand, said it was a “misguided rant” with an “insensitive reference”.

News Corp Australia media outlet The Courier Mail and The Australian were others to take a dig at Laxman for his comments.