Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has had a difficult Test series so far as he has not looked in a good rhythm. However, he was at his best on Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test in Australia’s second innings in Melbourne.
Siraj looked in great rhythm with the ball right from the start. When Marnus Labuschagne and Pat Cummins were building a good partnership for Australia, Siraj provided India with the breakthrough that was much needed at that point.
It was an excellent length ball outside off stump that came back sharply to hit Labuschagne on his pad flap on the back leg. The umpire Michael Gough gave it out after a huge appeal from the Indian players. However, Marnus Labuschagne decided to take a review.
The ball had hit Labuschagne a little high but the ball tracking showed the ball to be clipping the top of the middle stump. It was enough for the umpire to stay with his original decision. Mohammed Siraj was pumped up after picking up the wicket and emulated the way Australia’s Sam Konstas engaged with the crowd.
Watch: Nitish Kumar Reddy’s father touches Sunil Gavaskar’s feet after his son’s maiden Test century
Watch: Mohammed Siraj pumped up after trapping Marnus Labuschagne in front
๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ง๐ฃ๐ช๐จ: ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐, ๐๐๐ฉ๐! ๐คช
Siraj catches Labuschagne off guard! Third wicket for DSP Sahab ๐ซก#AUSvINDOnStar ๐ 4th Test, Day 4 | LIVE NOW! | #ToughestRivalry #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/i3eMomntZl
โ Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 29, 2024
During India’s first innings of the match, the young debutant Sam Konstas pulled out a similar celebration where he engaged with the crowd. Earlier in the day, Jaspritn Bumrah also pulled out a similar celebration when he picked up the wicket of Sam Konstas.
Battle between Marnus Labuschagne and Mohammed Siraj
It has been a high voltage series so far with the players and fans from both the teams involved in individual battles. Mohammed Siraj and Marnus Labuschagne have been on each other’s face a numerous times in the previous Test too.
It was Siraj’s third wicket of the day and one of the best days for him in this series. He hasn’t been at his best this series and looked out of rhythm. However, Mohammed Siraj returned with a bang and gave a perfect company to Jasprit Bumrah.
Mohammed Siraj in good rhythm
Siraj’s pace was also up which means he was in good rhythm. While Siraj looked good with the ball, Bumrah continued to impress with his exceptional skills and wicket-taking quality.
The series has seen various on-field incidents when the players have been at each other’s face in an attempt to disrupt their concentration. Virat Kohli’s shoulder barge with Sam Konstas raised a lot of controversy and Australia crowd even booed him for his actions.
Not only the crowd, the Australlian media used words like ‘clown’ for Kohli which was severely criticized by the former India cricketers as well.