Yashasvi Jaiswal found himself in a fiery exchange with Mitchell Starc on Day 5 of the Boxing Day Test, adding more drama to the tense battle between India and Australia at the MCG. The incident occurred when Starc, in an unusual move, switched the bails at the non-striker’s end, seemingly as a superstitious attempt to change his team’s fortunes.
However, Jaiswal was having none of it. The Indian opener reversed the switch, putting the bails back in their original position, sparking an intense confrontation between the two players. The match situation only amplified the tension. Chasing a daunting target of 340 runs, India was in dire straits by the lunch break.
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Skipper Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul both fell in the same over to Pat Cummins, while Virat Kohli’s struggles with the off-stump line continued, as he edged one to Usman Khawaja at first slip. At 33/3, India’s hopes seemed to be fading rapidly. After lunch, Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant attempted to stabilize the innings, showing grit against Australia’s relentless attack. It was during this period that Starc tried his unusual tactic.
The bail-switching antics are back! This time between Mitchell Starc and Yashasvi Jaiswal 👀#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/oK8xkSd4qI
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 30, 2024
Following the delivery, the two players exchanged heated words, with Jaiswal visibly frustrated. Their rivalry has been brewing since the Perth Test, where Jaiswal questioned Starc’s sharpness, only for the pacer to dismiss him first ball in Adelaide. This face-off at the MCG added another chapter to their growing competition.
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Amidst the on-field drama, the match witnessed a historic crowd turnout. By the end of the fifth day, an unprecedented 350,700 spectators had visited the MCG, breaking the record for the highest attendance in a Test match. This surpassed the previous milestone set during the 2013 Ashes. While the battle between bat and ball was intense, the electric atmosphere created by the crowd became a standout highlight of the Boxing Day Test.
