Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mitchell Starc have yet again hogged the spotlight for their on-field exchange on Day 5 of the ongoing Boxing Day Test between India and Australia at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on Monday (December 10).
After delivering a 142.1 km/h bouncer to Rishabh Pant, the Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has decided to switch the bails at the non-striker’s end, seemingly in a bid for a change in luck after his spat with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the ongoing fourth Test in Melbourne.
Mitchell Starc and Yashasvi Jaiswal ignite Boxing Day Test drama on Day 5
However, as the Australian pacer walked back to his mark, Yashasvi Jaiswal, unfazed by the superstition, casually switched the bails back to their original position. Following the incident, Mitchell Starc and Yashasvi Jaiswal have found themselves in yet another on-field exchange as the duo had some fun in a tense moment on Day 5 at the MCG.
The bail-switching antics are back! This time between Mitchell Starc and Yashasvi Jaiswal 👀#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/oK8xkSd4qI
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 30, 2024
Well, the drama didn’t end there, as Mitchell Starc and Yashasvi Jaiswal had another brief exchange on the field during the second session of the ongoing Boxing Day Test 2024-25 at the MCG. The Indian opener has continuously engaged in banter with Starc, but it is unnecessary since Team India has a big task ahead, and the tourists could not afford losing his wicket.
Mitchell Starc’s bail-switch ritual continues as Rishabh Pant opts to ignore the drama
On the other hand, the Australian pacer continued his superstition, switching the bails at the non-striker’s end in the 35th over of India’s chase in the ongoing fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at the MCG. However, unlike Jaiswal, who had earlier switched them back to their original position, Rishabh Pant didn’t pay much attention and let it slide.
Meanwhile, Jaiswal is looking solid and has already reached his fifty—his second in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia. However, it was Yashasvi’s slowest half-century that came in 127 balls in Test cricket out of his 14 fifties so far in his career.
Notably, the ongoing MCG Test match became the longest Test match of 2024, as 2200 balls have already been bowled in the match. On the other hand, Yashasvi and Rishabh Pant have already stitched 60+ partnerships for the fourth wicket, and India would love to see them stretch as much as possible.
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul flop again at the MCG
Earlier, Indian captain Rohit Sharma and senior batter Virat Kohli yet again failed to deliver, as their dismal run in the ongoing five-match Test series against Australia continued. While Rohit Sharma faced 40 balls for just 9 runs, Kohli was dismissed for just 5 runs off 29 balls at the MCG.
The change in the batting position seems to not work with KL Rahul, as he was also a flop, with the Australia skipper removing the right-hander for a five-ball duck during India’s chase after dismissing him for 24 runs in the first innings in the ongoing Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Well, the Indian team will have to make some quick runs after their batting collapse, as they still need 240 runs in 44 overs to win the fourth Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, which is currently tied at 1-1 against Australia.