The ongoing Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground seems to have been titled in the favor of the Aussies despite the English team fighting back. The visitors were in for a shock early on Day 2 as two members from the support staff and a couple of their family members tested positive for COVID-19. After passing a rapid Antigen test, the second day’s play commenced albeit 30 minutes later from the usual time.
However, the English bowler was right in the money from the word go as they managed to keep Australia batters on the tenterhooks. They sent back nightwatchman Nathan Lyon and Marnus Labuschagne early in the first hour. However, Marcus Harris kept batting at the other end. But when he was in strife in the 31st over of the innings when the umpire adjudged him LBW only for the batter to overturn his decision.
The ball had hit the inside edge of the bat before crashing onto his pad which saved Harris. However, the hotspot didn’t pick up the edge while Real-Time Snickometer (RTS) showed the deflection and the umpire had to overturn his decision. The bowler, Ben Stokes wasn’t convinced though, and was visibly frustrated with the final decision.
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After the end of the over, Ben Stokes asked Marcus Harris if he had really hit the ball. Responding to the question, the Aussie opener offered his explanation and also slammed Hotspot for not picking up the edge. His comments were clearly heard on the stump mic where he called the technology ‘hopeless’. He said, “I wasn’t 100% sure but thought there may be an inside edge. Hotspot is fu**ing hopeless.”
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Marcus Harris was playing for his place in the Australia team after his consistent failures in the first two Test matches. But the southpaw made sure he grabbed this opportunity repaying the faith of the management. Even as wickets kept falling from one end, he stood strong to make sure runs kept coming. Harris played a fighting knock of 76 off 189 balls with seven fours to his name.
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Marcus Harris was eventually dismissed by James Anderson who has bowled superbly on the second day and is one of the reasons for England’s stunning comeback.
