Delhi: Shubman Gill returned in the Sydney Test after being out of the Melbourne Test, but his performance was not special. In the first innings he was out after scoring only 20 runs. Steve Smith caught Nathan Lyon in the slips.
Sledding Gill’s wicket
The sledging of Australian players also played an important role in Shubman’s dismissal in the first innings of the Sydney Test. Steve Smith, who was standing at first slip, and Marnus Labuschagne, who was at leg slip, continuously tried to engage him in conversation. Its effect was visible on Shubman, and he lost his focus and played a bad shot, due to which he was out.
The young batsman faced 64 balls and scored 20 runs with the help of 2 fours. Just before lunch, he was trying to play Lion’s ball by coming out of the crease, but could not reach the pitch of the ball. He tried to defend it, but the ball hit the outer edge of his bat and went straight into Smith’s hands.
— smithy (@stevesmith50) January 3, 2025
How did Smith and Labuschagne create the distraction?
After defending the fifth ball of Lion’s over, Labuschagne said, “Come on Gary, that was easy.”
Smith added, “This is nonsense. Let’s play.”
Shubman retorted, “You take your time, Smithy. Nobody told you anything.”
On this Labuschagne said, “Yes, you say.”
Smith then said, “Let’s play.”
Labuschagne said again, “Take your time, Smithy.”
Smith replied, “I will.”
Earlier, in the three innings of Adelaide and Brisbane Test, Shubman had scored 31, 28 and 1 runs. Even in the Sydney Test, he failed to play a big innings, which disappointed the Indian team.
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