India were on the backfoot immediately at the start of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as Sam Konstas took the attack to the pacers and scored an almost run-a-ball half-century, shortly before Usman Khawaja brought up a half-century of his own. With Marnus Labsuchagne also going strong at the other end to take the partnership past 50, the Men in Blues seemed to be battling survival and the frustration got to everyone. What it culminated in was a strong exchange of words between skipper Rohit Sharma and the number three batter but with no fault of the ও♍visiting captain.
In the 50th over൲, shortly after Khawaja's departure, Rohit approached Marnus at the non-striker's end to let the batter know to stay away from the danger zone. The Australian batter was shown on replays blatantly running down the centre of the deck but when no umpire intervention arrived, the Mumbaikar took matters into his own hanꦫds.
"It's not about hitting balls, what is rude is ꦫrude," he said to Marnus before reiterating this was the third time the batter hadbeen guilty of the 🐎dirty tactic.
With India set to bat last on a deck known to aid spin late in the game, Rohit's outburst w♕as understan൩dable as per Twitterati.
Warning
— DJ Sinha (@sdj374531)
Warning number 2
— DJ Sinha (@sdj374531)
Not much
♈not much in the pitch Aus making huge runs 176/2 in 53 at tea before constas plyd absolute no holds barred for 60 & khawaja got 57.👍After that added 45 runs in just 7 overs 221/2 Marnus & smith cutting loose & ball is softened. Long road ahead for
— Karthik Chandra (@BVKC82)
50
50 for marnus! Is it the pitch or players are really back in form?
— Haydos🛡️ (@diablo_kells)
Top 3 batters of Australia scored 50
Again and again
Ye marnus b💖aar baar pitch pe bhag ra hai lekin umpire syad australia team ke supporter hai
— Cric_talker (@Himansh85439785)
Strong position
Aus in strong position at tea in day 1 of BOXING DAY TEST
— Rathin Dutta 𝕏 (@IamRathinDutta)
172/2 in 53 overs.
Another 50 of Mꦉarnus is on the🐽 cards. Batting pitch. Batting Heaven.
Scare
If🌞 Marnus Labuschagne scar✱ing nearly 40SR menas batting friendly pitch. Syill Kohli and Rohit ready to score 16 and 29
— ShivarajBM (@MeShivarajM)
Well done
Aussie openers did their job. 👏
— Rathin Dutta 𝕏 (@IamRathinDutta)
Konstas 60 off 65
Khwaja 57 off 121
Looks like a belter of a pitch to be honest. Marnus and Smith in thr middle.
Jaddu and Sundar has to show their magic now.
Very boring
India needs to be very boring here. We have packed 6 bowlers today in the side and its a game of attrition. Just keep bowling and dry the runs with pitch isn't responding.
— Shreya (@shreyamatsharma)
Marnus and Khawaja both need runs, let them make the pace. This sꦇession has been like t♊hat, keep that going
Marnus!
Marnus gad antha munduki adthunad but pi♐tch ni mark chesthunad spikes tho ah particular area emaina change avtada verey batsman adthunapudu ?
— Harthik🚁 (@alwaysharthik)
Both
Both Khawaja a🍷nd Marnus moving towards the offside. may be expected lower bounce than Brisbane and Perth at MCG and expected India to attack stumps but this pitch has provided good bounce so far.
— A 🏏 (@CaughtAtGully)
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