Australia's tag-team at work
Plays of the day from the third ODI between Australia and India in Melbourne
Melinda Farrell at the MCG
17-Jan-2016
Gurkeerat Singh struggled a bit on is debut, scoring 8 and then dropping Aaron Finch • Getty Images
The double act
For Ajinkya Rahane, it was a case of #MCGsobig, although it took two fielders to do the job for Australia. Rahane met a short delivery from John Hastings on the front foot, pummeling a pull shot that seemed destined to land over the rope. Steven Smith sprinted from long-on and latched onto the ball right on the edge of the boundary. Just before momentum carried him over the rope, Smith calmly lobbed the ball to Glenn Maxwell, running in from deep midwicket. Maxwell claimed the simplest of catches after his captain did the hard work. Catch assist, anyone?
For Ajinkya Rahane, it was a case of #MCGsobig, although it took two fielders to do the job for Australia. Rahane met a short delivery from John Hastings on the front foot, pummeling a pull shot that seemed destined to land over the rope. Steven Smith sprinted from long-on and latched onto the ball right on the edge of the boundary. Just before momentum carried him over the rope, Smith calmly lobbed the ball to Glenn Maxwell, running in from deep midwicket. Maxwell claimed the simplest of catches after his captain did the hard work. Catch assist, anyone?
The encore
Three balls later, the two fielders combined once more but this time without the heady result. It was Virat Kohli's turn to come down the wicket and pull Hastings to the same part of the ground where Rahane was caught. Maxwell dived to his left, Smith sprawled to his right, but the ball refused to cooperate.
Three balls later, the two fielders combined once more but this time without the heady result. It was Virat Kohli's turn to come down the wicket and pull Hastings to the same part of the ground where Rahane was caught. Maxwell dived to his left, Smith sprawled to his right, but the ball refused to cooperate.
The debutant blues
Five players have made their debuts so far in this series but, apart from receiving his cap from Ravi Shastri, it wasn't a stellar first day at the office for Gurkeerat Singh. Gurkeerat made a brief appearance with the bat before being bowled by James Faulkner for 8. Fast forward to the Australian innings and Aaron Finch, on 20, powerfully drove Barinder Sran just to the right of Gurkeerat, who botched the grab at mid-off. It wasn't quite as awful as Ishant Sharma's spill at the Gabba, and Finch only made one more run before his dismissal, but it highlighted India's worrying lapses in the field.
Five players have made their debuts so far in this series but, apart from receiving his cap from Ravi Shastri, it wasn't a stellar first day at the office for Gurkeerat Singh. Gurkeerat made a brief appearance with the bat before being bowled by James Faulkner for 8. Fast forward to the Australian innings and Aaron Finch, on 20, powerfully drove Barinder Sran just to the right of Gurkeerat, who botched the grab at mid-off. It wasn't quite as awful as Ishant Sharma's spill at the Gabba, and Finch only made one more run before his dismissal, but it highlighted India's worrying lapses in the field.
The veteran blues
Speaking of Ishant... the fast bowler looked as though he wanted to sink through the MCG turf and disappear after another fielding blunder. The lanky quick is all arms and legs but his four limbs combined couldn't stop the ball when Mitchell Marsh drove straight to mid-on. Kneeling to field what should have been a dot ball, Ishant somehow let the ball roll through his hands and in between his legs, conceding two runs. The thunderous look on Virat Kohli's face spoke even louder than the jeering crowd.
Speaking of Ishant... the fast bowler looked as though he wanted to sink through the MCG turf and disappear after another fielding blunder. The lanky quick is all arms and legs but his four limbs combined couldn't stop the ball when Mitchell Marsh drove straight to mid-on. Kneeling to field what should have been a dot ball, Ishant somehow let the ball roll through his hands and in between his legs, conceding two runs. The thunderous look on Virat Kohli's face spoke even louder than the jeering crowd.