Team India opener Rohit Sharma did a Steve Smith shadowing batting at the crease just at the stroke of lunch on day 4 of the fourth Test at the Gabba. Incidentally, the Aussie batsman had to receive a lot of flak for his antics during the third Test in Sydney.
Incidentally, Steve Smith was seen shadow batting during day 5 of the Sydney Test as India were trying to save the Test match. A short clip soon went viral on all social media platforms and many perceived Smith was trying to unsettle Rishabh Pant, who was on a roll with the bat.
Rohit Sharma does a Steve Smith in Brisbane
The fans from the Indian contingent went over the board to slam Steve Smith for his antics and even drew comparisons from his role in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa. However, the cricketer chose to remain silent despite strong media criticisms.
Also Read: Watch – Shocking Scenes As Steve Smith Tries To Remove Rishabh Pant’s Guard Mark
Meanwhile, Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma was seen doing the same just at the stroke of lunch on day 4 in Brisbane while Steve Smith looked at him in between the overs. Well, time will say if it was done to tease the talismanic Aussie run-scorer or it was a natural mannerism from Rohit.
However, going by the rulebook, it was absolutely within the laws of the game and both Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith were right on their part to shadow bat the crease.
Watch the video here:
You see it’s not only @stevesmith49 who shadow bats at the crease when he’s in the field! #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/7MEGcA6pf0
— simon hughes (@theanalyst) January 18, 2021
Also Read: Watch – Washington Sundar Traps David Warner With A Ripper
Meanwhile, speaking of the game, the first hour of the morning belonged to Australia with both openers finding boundaries at regular intervals. Though helped by a bit of luck, both Marcus Harris and David Warner fell off successive overs and the wicket of a positive-looking Marnus Labuschagne just restrained the attacking approach from the hosts.
At one point the run rate was hovering around 4 and that mini-collapse where the hosts lost 4 wickets for 34 runs might have changed the entire dynamics of this game. Mohammed Siraj picked two wickets within four balls while Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur chipped in with one each.