India’s fast bowler Mohammed Siraj pulled up in the middle of an over on the second day of the Brisbane Test against Australia at the Gabba, giving jitters to the Indian fans.
Bowling the 37th over of Australia’s first innings, Siraj clutched at his hamstring after delivering the second ball and signalled for the physio to come onto the field.
He was then taken off the field, with skipper Rohit Sharma asking Akash Deep to complete the over. However, shortly before the first session on Sunday ended, Siraj returned to the field — much to the relief of the Indian team. But he didn’t bowl again before the umpires announced lunch, with Australia 104 for 3.
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India are playing the match with three specialist pacers in the form of Jasprit Bumrah, Siraj and Akash besides the seam-up all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. Akash was brought into the eleven in place of Harshit Rana, who played in the first two Tests.
Earlier on day two, Siraj was involved in a playful moment with Marnus Labuschagne, when he walked up to the Australian batter and flipped the bails. After the Indian pacer had done his bit, Labuschagne flipped the bails back.
The duo continued their rivalry from the heated exchange they had during the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, when Labuschagne pulled out just when Siraj was about to deliver a ball, as an Australian fan walked right across the sight-screen carrying a big pile of empty beer mugs. It frustrated Siraj, who threw the ball back at the stumps.
He then gave a fiery send-off to centurion Travis Head after dismissing him, much to the anger of the Adelaide crowd that booed him thereafter. The Australian fans’ hostility towards Siraj has continued in Brisbane as he was booed on the rain-hit day one at the Gabba, which saw just 13.2 overs bowled.
After remaining wicketless on the curtailed opening day, India struck early on Sunday through Jasprit Bumrah who removed the Australian openers Usman Khawaja (21) and Nathan McSweeney (9) in quick succession, followed by Reddy sending Labuschagne (12) back in the hut.
