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Steve Smith made up for dropping KL Rahul on the first ball of Day 4.
Snippets from Steve Smith’s stunner on Tuesday. (X/Cricketcomau)
Australia’s Steve Smith plucked a catch-of-the-series contender at slips to send back India’s top run-scorer KL Rahul in the Gabba Test of the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Tuesday. With it, he also made amends for dropping the same batter on the first ball of the day.
The catch was taken on the third ball of the 43rd over. Nathan Lyon dropped it a touch short of length wide outside off with good pace and on a flat trajectory. Rahul went back to try and cut it but it came a touch too quick on him, taking the top-edge to the right of Smith at slip.
The Aussie flung himself back and across, catching it high on the palm of his hand when the ball was a few inches behind the line of his body. Here’s a video of his amazing reflexes:
This is one of the most popular set-ups in Lyon’s arsenal. His previous ball was slightly fuller and loopier and the Indian opener had simply leaned in to block it. The follow-up was so well planned that it broke the defenses of a set-batter holding on at 84 (138).
It was Lyon’s first wicket of the Test and showed his importance to this attack. The hosts were a bowler short since Josh Hazlewood pulled up his calf in the morning and the pitch had gone flat for fast bowlers. The wicket came against the run of play.
However, no one would have been more relieved than Smith. Rahul gave away a much easier chance on the first ball in the morning when he poked at a channel-length ball from Pat Cummins. On that occasion, the edge went at a comfortable pace and height to Smith at second slip but the fielder wasn’t prepared for it and couldn’t hold on.
Rahul’s wicket was arguably the most important for Australia. Even ignoring his runs in the innings, he was the most assured visiting batter in the innings. His defense was the most solid and helped him survive the most difficult phases of the innings.
- Location :
Brisbane, Australia
