One video from the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is taking the internet by storm. Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne got himself involved in a hilarious exchange with veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Thursday (February 9) at the Vidarbha Cricket Stadium in Nagpur.
In the first session, it looked Ashwin was talking to debutant wicketkeeper KS Bharat. He made a gesture of the bowl spinning and turning away from the batter to Bharat.
Labuschagne, who is of the most jovial players and known for his quirky remarks and habits on the field, started copying Ashwin’s gesture. The incident has gone viral on social media. Fans are loving the fun banter between the two opponents.
Labuschange fell short of just one run to complete his century. Right after lunch, KS Bharat removed the bails off Ravindra Jadeja’s delivery and Labuschagne had to take a long walk back to the dugout, scoring 49 runs from 123 balls. His score was also the highest amongst the Aussie batters.
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Australia falter against spin again
Ashwin, meanwhile, completed his 450 wickets and became the second-fastest bowler to do so. He also surpassed India great Anil Kumble, breaking his 18-year-old record, to reach that mark in his 89th Test match.
Apart from the pacers taking the two wickets of the two openers, the spinners shattered the visitors’ innings. Ashwin picked up three, while comeback man Ravindra Jadeja came as a surprise package and left the Aussie batters clueless. Labuschagne and Steve Smith steadied their ship after the quick fall of openers’ wickets. But Jadeja dismissed the two dangerous duos, and later he scalped three more, completing his 11th five-wicket haul.
At stumps, India reached 77 runs for one wicket (of KL Rahul who scored 20 runs from 71 balls). Rohit Sharma scored a scintillating half-century (56 off 69 balls) with nine fours and a maximum. He and Rahul stitched a 76-run stand for the first wicket before debutant off-spinner Todd Murphy broke it by dismissing Rahul. Rohit and nightwatchman Ravichandran Ashwin will walk to bat tomorrow morning. India are trailing behind by 100 runs.
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