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'Flipping the bails' to turn the fortunes was a trend that came to fore when former England pacer Stuart Broad did it during the previous edition of the Ashes. In the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, India pacer Mohammed Siraj tried it. Then Marnus Labuschagne did it followed by on-debut teenager Sam Konstas. Mitchell Starc is the latest entrant to the list as he did it on Day 3 of the ongoing fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Former Indian pace-bowling all-rounder Irfan Pathan poked fun at Starc but what the left-arm pacer did worked as Australia got the wicket of Ravindra Jadeja.
"Despite Australia being in this position, if you have to remove the bails and then Mitchell Starc is thinking about himself because he has not got a wicket," Pathan said as Starc flipped the bails.
The incident took place after the 64th over. Starc flipped the bails during the break between overs. In the next over, off-spinner Nathan Lyon was able to set up Jadeja. He bowled it flatter and slightly fuller. Jadeja was caught in the crease and was given out lbw. He chose to review but the decision went in the hosts' favour.
Jadeja departed after scoring 17 runs from 51 deliveries. The in-form Starc who has been lethal with the new ball in the series remained wicketless. He also held his back after bowling his 21st over. He had a conversation with the physio before he failed to convert a half chance to a catch when Nitish Reddy played an aerial shot against Mitchell Marsh.
Reddy, Sundar take control
The all-rounders batting down the order helped India recover. From 221/7, India were 326/7 before rain interrupted play and umpires called for an early lunch. Reddy scored his maiden half-century in Test cricket. He shifted gears after reaching the milestone and remained unbeaten for 85 off 119 deliveries incuding eight fours and a six. He has a chance to become the first Indian batter at no.8 to score a Test century on Australian soil. On the other end, Sundar scored 40 runs from 115 balls including a four. Meanwhile, Starc bowled 22 overs including one maiden and conceded 84 runs. At the tea break, India were still trailing by 148 runs.
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