There has always been an edge to an India-Australia contest and this series has been no different with words spoken even before the first ball was bowled in the first Test at Pune. So, it came as a surprise when Australia skipper Steve Smith managed to smile at Ravindra Jadeja’s cheeky dig in the middle of a tense situation during Australia’s second innings on Day Two. (India vs Australia Day 3 blog)
It was the fourth deliver of 12th over with Australia at 37 for two and in process of extending their lead after knocking out India for 105.
Jadeja beat the right-hand batsman and missed the edge by a whisker to which Smith shrugged his head and the left-arm spinner responded by breaking into a mini-jig, swaying his head and shoulders. Smith saw the funny side of it and responded with a smile before going through his routine to face the next delivery.
The situation could have easily boiled over but Smith shrugged it off to focus on the job ahead. Imagine how Matthew Hayden or Ricky Ponting would have reacted to Jadeja’s gesture? It wouldn’t have been so light-heartedly that’s for sure.
{{/usCountry}}The situation could have easily boiled over but Smith shrugged it off to focus on the job ahead. Imagine how Matthew Hayden or Ricky Ponting would have reacted to Jadeja’s gesture? It wouldn’t have been so light-heartedly that’s for sure.
{{/usCountry}}Jadeja did account for Smith on Day Three, catching him leg-before, but not before the latter scored his 18th Test century and stretched Australia’s total beyond 400-plus.