India’s dismal batting show in the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series continued on the first day of the decisive fifth Test in Sydney, which witnessed the visitors getting dismissed for 185 after opting to bat first against Australia.
The day saw 11 wickets falling, as Australia reached stumps at 9 for 1 amid dramatic scenes that saw tempers flaring in a verbal duel between opener Sam Konstas and India’s stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah, who ended the day with the wicket of Usman Khawaja (2).
Australia lead the five-Test series 2-1 and need a win or a draw to win the BGT for the first time since 2014.
India’s batting failure on Friday witnessed various dramatic moments, including a catch of Virat Kohli off the first ball he faced. But it was ruled not legitimate by the third umpire.
In another incident, just before off-spinner Nathan Lyon delivered the last ball leading up to lunch, the Australian players swarmed around Shubman Gill, hurling sledges from left, right and centre — trying to rile up the Indian batter, who had returned to the eleven after India bit the bullet and dropped their off-colour skipper, Rohit Sharma.
The Aussies got under Gill’s skin, while he was doing a bit of gardening on the wicket and making sure it was the last ball before lunch.
“This is bullshit,” said Steve Smith standing in the slips. “Oi, let’s play,” said another voice from behind the stumps.
Gill finally responded: “You take your time, Smithy. Nobody says anything to you.”
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At that moment, Marnus Labuschagne jumped in from the leg-slip position: “Yeah! You do,” he said with a giggle while looking at Smith. “Take your time, Smith,” he added.
“I will,” Smith replied.
It definitely did the trick as Gill (20) came dancing down the track but couldn’t get to the pitch of the ball that took the outside edge and went straight into Smith’s hands.
