Steve Smith was able to make up for his dropped catch on the first ball of play against India with a stunning grab off Nathan Lyon’s bowling following his bizarre warm-up request. Australia were looking for immediate wickets against India having started the day on 4-51 as rain continued to disrupt play throughout the Test match at the Gabba.
And the Aussies knew the importance of taking their chances on day four – with play expected to be interrupted by rain again – and Smith and co were seen practising their slips catching before play. And in an odd move, Smith and his teammates had even gone to the trouble of asking Australian media manager Cole Hitchcock to stand in front of a red buggy to avoid distraction.
It could also have been a request to replicate a partial distraction during playing conditions in case a member of the crowd was wearing red behind the bowler. Regardless, it was a specific move ahead of play as Smith was getting ready for the red-ball to come his way.
And only moments later as Pat Cummins charged in for the first ball of the day, KL Rahul pushed at the delivery and edged the ball straight to Smith. Unfortunately for the great slip fielder, Smith dropped the routine catch as he appeared to mistime the speed of the knick.
Cummins was already celebrating but was left deflated as Australia missed out on taking their fifth wicket to send the Gabba crowd wild. Cummins didn’t have to wait too long for his second wicket as he dismissed the out-of-form Rohit Sharma after a poor shot from the Indian captain.
But the focus was initially on Smith with his unusual pre-game warm-up request backfiring straight away. However, Smith redeemed himself later in the session having taken the catch to dismiss Rahul as he dived away to his right.
Lyon caught Rahul by surprise with some extra bounce off the Gabba wicket, which prompted Smith to shuffle and then leap to his right. The 35-year-old was able to cling onto the ball right down at his ankles.
And Smith looked relieve knowing he had made up for his earlier dropped catch with India struggling to make the follow-on at 6-156. “It’s hard to tell people how hard that is, how good of a catch that is,” the great Allan Border said in Fox Sports commentary. “He knew how important that first ball. He drops the catch and is feeling terrible for an hour and a half, then that happens.”
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Josh Hazlewood injured in worry for Aussie team
And not long after Cummins took his wicket, Josh Hazlewood entered the field for a bowl. The Aussie quick, coming into the match with a side strain having missed Adelaide, bowled his first over and looked well off the pace.
Hazlewood is normally relentless with his line and length but the first ball of the day was wide, forcing Rahul to reach for the ball. He then failed to follow through with the run-up on a number of deliveries. And only moments later, Hazlewood left the field with the physio.
“We have all seen enough bowlers over the years to know that Hazlewood is not right,” Vaughan said when Hazlewood was halfway through his first over. “His pace is down. He has clearly got some kind of issue.”
Former Aussie wicketkeeper Brad Haddin mentioned Scott Boland could have been hinted at to warm-up for the MCG next week. “I’m just not quite sure what is going to happen here with Josh Hazlewood,” Haddin said. “Andrew McDonald is saying there to Scott Boland to do some bowling for Melbourne.”
The Aussie team later reported that Hazlewood had experienced ‘calf awareness’ and would undergo scans. This is a major concern for Australia with Mitchell Marsh forced to bowl only moments later.
Marsh also entered the third Test with an injury and wanted to limit his overs if called upon. The exit of Hazlewood in the first session means there is more pressure and workload expected from Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon at the Gabba.
Boland could be a real chance to play at the MCG if Hazlewood doesn’t recover in time. Considering his injury history it appears highly unlikely he’ll be right for the Boxing Day Test.
