The third Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been affected by rain every day and it finally led to a draw. However, Australia tried their level best to get a result out of the game. They played their shots in the second innings on the fifth day of the Test match and Pat Cummins declared the innings on 89. They set a target of 275 runs for the Indians to chase. However, as fate would have it, it became overcast and the light reading went down below the threshold. The day was called off which resulted in the match ending in a draw.
There was a moment in the morning of the fifth day when Virat Kohli’s advice to Mohammed Siraj helped him pick up the wicket of Steve Smith. In the 11th over of the innings, captain Rohit Sharma asked Siraj if he will bowl from over the wicket or round the wicket. The bowler replied that he will bowl from over the wicket.
However, Sharma asked him to not bowl from over the wicket as he felt it would make it easier for Smith to open up his stance. However, Kohli quickly rushed to the spot and stated that Siraj was right and should bowl from over the wicket with the scrambled seam. He felt that there was a higher chance of getting Smith out in this way by bowling at his stumps and asked Sharma to set the square leg deeper.
In the fifth ball of the over, Siraj attacked the stumps with the scrambled seam. The ball went down leg to take the edge of Smith’s bat and Rishabh Pant completed the catch.
Here’s how the conversation went as picked up by the stump mic
Rohit to Siraj: Where are you bowling from?
Siraj: Over the stumps.
Rohit: Bowling over the stumps will make it easier for the batter to open up his stance.
Virat to Rohit: No, no, let him bowl from over the stumps. If he bowls that scrambled seam delivery, there’s a higher chance of getting him out. He’s right (Siraj). Set the square leg a bit deeper for the inswing and let him bowl at the stumps.
