In a desperate bid to dismiss the in-form pair of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Australia’s limited-overs captain Aaron Finch once sought advice from on-field umpire Michael Gough.

Gough, speaking to Wisden Cricket Monthly, recalled the dialogue with Finch, stationed next to the square-leg umpire, as the two stood and marvelled at the run-making skills of the two Indian white-ball stars.

“I remember a match between India and Australia, and Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were putting on a huge partnership,” Gough said. “I was stood next to Aaron Finch at square-leg and he said to me, during the game, how it was unbelievable to watch these two great players.”

Gough, who’s stood in both the recent India-Australia bilateral ODI series – the 2019 one in Australia, and the return leg in India earlier this year, was suddenly put into an unexpected line of questioning.

“Then he asked me how I would bowl at them! I looked at him and said, “I’ve got enough on my plate, you’re on your own there!”

Before turning to umpiring, the 40-year-old Gough represented Durham in 67 first-class games, up until his final playing year in 2003. Given his playing experience, and the fact that he took 30 first-class wickets and 21 List A wickets with his off-spin, Finch certainly had enough reason to turn to Gough.

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