India scavenged their way to 260 from an unlikely position of 213/9 in the third Border Gavaskar Trophy Test at the Gabba to avoid the follow-on and practically save the encounter from the jaws of defeat. Akash Deep played a crucial hand of 31 to become only the third batter in the innings to go past 20, while Jasprit Bumrah stayed unbeaten at the other end after a 38-ball vigil of 10 in a 47-run 11th wicket partnership that frustrated the hosts to no end. However, amidst all the action, spinner Nathan Lyon was left perplexed as to why Bumrah’s batting chops were on display such late in the game and it seemed to bamboozle the number 11 too.
Brought into the attack, Lyon was preparing his run-up when he was heard on the stump-mic asking Bumrah, “Why are you batting behind Siraj?”
On Day 4, Siraj had managed to survive just 11 deliveries for a solitary run before succumbing to Mitchell Starc, plunging his batting average further to 4.80 with a high score of 16 not out. Bumrah, meanwhile, has a much healthier batting average of 7.20 but more importantly an unbeaten 34 to his name that included the demolition of Stuart Broad to earn the record for most runs in a single over in Test cricket.
“There is a mystery behind [why I bat lower than Siraj],” Bumrah quickly shot back, embracing the banter while taking subliminal shots at his teammate.
