AUS vs IND: Beer snake distracts Labuschagne, irks Siraj in bizarre scenes in Adelaide

Mohammed Siraj got carried away with his emotions on Day 1 of India’s Day-Night Test against Australia on Friday at the Adelaide Oval.

On his run-up in the penultimate ball of the 25th over in the Australian innings, Marnus Labuschagne moved away from his stance due to distraction after a spectator was seen walking near the sight-screen.

The person carried a beer snake and crossed the sight-screen, which disrupted the batter’s concentration. After Labuschagne pulled out, it did not make Siraj happy by any means. Siraj lost his composure and threw the ball just wide of the stumps. He also followed up with some verbal volleys at Labuschagne.

In the very next ball, Siraj conceded a boundary. Siraj bowled one short outside the off-stump and Labuschagne pulled out a ferocious cut shot to collect a boundary behind point.

India under the pump in Adelaide Test
At Stumps on Day 1, India found themselves in a spot of bother. Australia trailed by 94 runs with eight wickets in hand at the close of play. After Usman Khawaja departed early, Nathan McSweeney and Labuschagne put on an unbeaten partnership of 62 runs for the second wicket.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, India were bowled out for 180 in 44.1 overs. KL Rahul and Shubman’s 69-run stand for the second wicket stood out for the visiting team. Later, Nitish Kumar Reddy used the long handle to good effect, scoring 42 runs off 54 balls with three fours and as many sixes. Ravi Ashwin also added 22 useful runs at a run-a-ball.

Mitchell Starc was the star performer for Australia after he finished with stupendous figures of 14.1-2-48-6. Pat Cummins and Scott Boland picked up two wickets apiece. On Day 2, India have a big task on their hands: to take early wickets.