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After being fined for his on-field fiery banter with Travis Head in the second Test in Adelaide, Mohammed Siraj produced another act, but this time with Australian top order batter Marnus Labuschagne. With the Indian pacer struggling to get a wicket in the ongoing third Test at The Gabba in Brisbane, Mohammed Siraj replicated Virat Kohli’s bail switch trick from the second Test.
Although, Virat Kohli did not succeed at the attempt in the second Test, Mohammed Siraj’s playful antics came in the 33rd over. In the viral incident, Siraj walked towards Marnus Labuschagne and switched the bails at his end after just two deliveries into the over. While the Aussie batter thought he was coming in to have a chat, but it turned out that he had some other plans.
Mohammed Siraj switches bails mid-over; Labuschagne reacts
As Siraj returned to the bowlers end after his antics, Labuschagne decided to switch the bails again. Despite this act, Siraj did not succeed, but Marnus fell in the very next over which was bowled by Nitish Kumar Reddy. Moreover, the act by the Indian pacer once again triggered the crowd as they booed at Siraj for his on-field antics.
Watch Mohammed Siraj’s playful antics of bail switch in Gabba Test:
Matthew Hayden slams Marnus Labuschagne’s reaction on Siraj’s bail switch at Gabba
Seeing Aussie top order batter Marnus Labuschagne react on Mohammed Siraj’s playful act of switching the bails in the 33rd over, his actions did not rest well with former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden. The former Aussie captain slammed Labuschagne’s response, calling it unnecessary.
While commentating on Star Sports, Hayden noted that Labuschagne should have handled Siraj’s light-hearted antics with more composure, especially seeing that he lost his wicket on the second delivery of the next over. “He saw 55 deliveries, has had no go forward whatsoever. Even that little exchange, if it was me at the crease and a bowler does that. I am not caring less. I’m not even looking at the bowler. I’m now acknowleding what he’s doing one bit. He’s nowhere near my space. In fact, I probably would have told him to get out of my space before he even got to the bails,” Hayden said.
