NEW DELHI: Australia’s veteran spinner Nathan Lyon couldn’t hide his amusement at the dramatic run-out of Yashasvi Jaiswal during the second day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne on Friday, calling it “one of the best barbecues I’ve seen.”
The miscommunication between Jaiswal and senior partner Virat Kohli not only cost India a prized wicket but also triggered a late collapse, leaving the visitors on the back foot in their first innings against Australia.
The incident occurred when Jaiswal, in sublime form with 82 runs, flicked a delivery from Scott Boland towards Pat Cummins at mid-on and immediately set off for a quick single. Kohli, however, stood rooted to his crease, showing no intention of responding to the call. A bewildered Jaiswal found himself stranded at the non-striker’s end as Cummins executed a sharp run-out.
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Lyon, speaking to ABC, remarked, “It came out of the blue. They were doing it pretty easy out there. I know pressure does funny things, and we were able to build that little bit of pressure. Silly run-outs are coach killers, aren’t they?”
The mix-up seemed to unsettle Kohli, who was dismissed just seven balls later, edging a delivery from Boland for 36. Having exhibited tremendous discipline earlier in his innings, Kohli’s lapse coincided with the turning point of the day.
The run-out, paired with Kohli’s quick departure, sparked a dramatic collapse of 3-6 for India, derailing what had been a strong first-innings reply. Australia’s bowlers capitalized on the sudden momentum shift, leaving India precariously placed at 164/5 at the close of day’s play.
Kohli’s eventful day came under further scrutiny following an earlier incident involving a bump with Australian debutant Sam Konstas, which had already drawn attention and earned him a reprimand from the ICC. While Kohli’s innings had initially signaled intent and defiance, the Jaiswal mix-up and subsequent dismissal raised questions about the impact of the incident on the legend’s composure.
The run-out proved a pivotal moment in the match and added to the storied drama of the Boxing Day Test, leaving India with an uphill battle to regain control on a pitch that had otherwise been the best for batting in the series.
