Day 1 of the second Test between India and Australia at the Adelaide Oval had little for Indian fans to cheer about, but an amusing moment involving Mohammed Siraj and a speed-gun malfunction brought some levity to the game.
Speed Gun Error Shows Siraj Bowling at 181.6 km/h
During the final session, the speed gun at the Adelaide Oval displayed an astounding speed of 181.6 km/h for a delivery bowled by Siraj, causing a stir among fans and broadcasters alike. The displayed figure was nearly 20 km/h faster than Shoaib Akhtar’s record of 161.3 km/h, raising immediate questions about the accuracy of the equipment. The apparent glitch became a source of amusement, with fans taking to social media to joke about Siraj “breaking” the legendary Pakistani pacer’s record.
Heated Exchange with Labuschagne
The incident occurred in the same over as Siraj’s tense exchange with Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne. Labuschagne stepped away from the crease just as Siraj entered his delivery stride, leading to an agitated Siraj hurling the ball at the stumps and questioning the batter’s actions.
Replays revealed that Labuschagne had been distracted by a fan behind the sightscreen, participating in the Australian crowd’s tradition of constructing a beer snake. The fan carried a towering stack of glasses, catching Labuschagne’s eye and forcing him to back out of his stance. Siraj, still fuming, delivered a series of sharp bouncers to emphasize his frustration.
India’s Struggles Continue
While the speed gun mishap provided a brief distraction, India had a tough day on the field. Earlier, Mitchell Starc tore through the Indian batting lineup, picking up remarkable figures of 6-48. The visitors were bowled out for a disappointing 180 within two sessions.
Nitish Kumar Reddy was one of the few bright spots for India, scoring an aggressive 42 with some elegant strokes. However, the rest of the lineup faltered against Starc’s precision and bounce.
In response, Jasprit Bumrah managed to dismiss Usman Khawaja early, but India’s bowlers struggled to replicate their Perth performance. Australia ended the day comfortably at 86-1, with Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney steadily building a partnership.
Looking Ahead
Despite the tough start, India will look to bounce back on Day 2 and make early breakthroughs. For now, the momentary humor from the speed gun error and Siraj’s fiery temperament have added some much-needed drama to the match.
