Former Australia batter Matthew Hayden slammed Marnus Labuschagne for his on-field altercation with Indian speedster Mohammed Siraj during Day 2 of the Gabba Test. Labuschagne fell on the Indian pacer's mind games as he was involved in a bail-switching act which led to his dismissal soon after.
After Jasprit Bumrah's breakthroughs, Labuschagne and Steve Smith were building a partnership and the visitors were looking desperate for another wicket. After bowling 33rd over Siraj came towards the batter and switched the bails in front of Labuschagne who changed it again.
Hayden reckons that Labuschagne should have stopped Siraj from entering his space.
"He saw 55 deliveries, has had no go forward whatsoever. Even that little exchange, if it was me at the crease and a bowler does that. I am not caring less. I'm not even looking at the bowler. I'm not acknowledging what he's doing one bit. He's nowhere near my space. In fact, I probably would have told him to get out of my space before he even got to the bails," Hayden said on commentary (via Hindustan Times).
What is bail-switching Superstition
The bail-switching superstition has been a hack used by the bowling side to make a comeback in games. We often witnessed Virat Kohli and Stuart Broad doing the same on several occasions.
Coming back to the match, After Labuschagne's wicket Travis Head and Steven Smith smashed centuries that helped Australia to make a comeback in the third Test match. Smith roared back in form smashing a century after more than a year and Head who smashed a century in the last Test match again haunted India with his attacking ton in Gabba.