Players from both India and Australia are giving everything they can to win matches in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, which is currently poised for a 1-1 draw after the drawn third Test match at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Currently, India and Australia face each other in a must-win Boxing Day Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne. Australia won the toss and chose to bat first and posted a total of 474 runs on the board in their first innings against India.
Yashasvi Jaiswal shines amid India’s batting struggles in the Boxing Day Test
While Steve Smith scored 140, Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja and Sam Konstas each scored fifty to help Australia take control of the match from the first innings. Captain Pat Cummins also played a brilliant knock of 49 runs against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne.
However, the Indian batsmen have faltered once again in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, as the top order and middle order once again failed to fire in this crucial Test match in Melbourne, barring Yashasvi Jaiswal, who played a stunning knock of 82. Run against Australia.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s wicket sparked a dramatic batting collapse, and they lost three wickets for just 38 runs. India started strongly on day three, but Australian pacer Mitchell Starc’s unusual tactic did wonders for the hosts, with Ravindra Jadeja losing his wicket to Nathan Lyon early in the morning at the MCG Stadium.
Mitchell Starc’s unusual tactic adds to India’s woes at the MCG
Before Ravindra Jadeja’s wicket, Mitchell Starc did a ‘totka’, removing the off-stump bails and then fixing them again in the 65th over, and at the same time, Australian spinner Nathan Lyon broke down the Indian all-rounder’s defense to send him back to the pavilion on the third day.
Earlier, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj had adopted this trick and it worked as well as Nitish Kumar Reddy got the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne. And this time, Mitchell Starc’s tactic has worked wonders for Nathan Lyon to remove Ravindra Jadeja in the ongoing Boxing Day Test.
Reacting to Starc pulling the bail switch trick on Jadeja, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan found it funny, as he felt that the senior pacer pulled the unusual tactic on himself while struggling for a wicket since the Australian team was already in a strong position in the match. At MCG.
Read also: Watch: Mitchell Starc suffers major back injury scare, leaves Australia shocked at MCG
Irfan Pathan enjoying Mitchell Starc’s bail during Boxing Day Test drama
“Even after Australia are in this situation, if you need to raise the bail, Mitchell Starc is thinking to himself because he hasn’t got the wicket. He wants the wicket,” Irfan Pathan said on Star Sports while commentating.
#Australia He follows the bail swap ritual, and it pays off immediately! 🫣#AUSvINDOnStar 👉 Fourth test, third day | Live now! | #The toughest competition #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/1mAPvyNY6w
– Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 28, 2024
Speaking of Jadeja’s wicket, Lyon trapped Ravindra LBW, as the Indian all-rounder was hit on the pads. The Australian spinner angled the slider in from the outside off and Jadeja tried to flick it with a closed bat face. But he made a mistake and the ball hit his back leg.
But Jadeja decided to conduct a review which confirmed that there was no contact with the bat, as Sneko showed a clear gap between the bat and the ball. However, tracking the ball confirmed that it clipped the top of middle and outside off-stump.
Jadeja looked rushed due to the slippery nature of the delivery and lost his balance with the decision to stand as the umpire’s call, and had to return after making 17 runs in the ongoing crucial 2024-25 BGT 4th Test at the MCG.
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