(Watching) Australian seamer changes bails before Nathan Lyon strikes on day three of the 4th Test of BGT 2024-25

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc was seen changing bails on the third day of the ongoing fourth Test of the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy in Melbourne. As expected, the ploy worked in the hosts’ favor and they managed to grab a wicket off the next ball.

Australian spinner Nathan Lyon struck as the bail swap ploy paid off, dismissing Ravindra Jadeja on the penultimate delivery of the 65th over. He took the Indian all-rounder to the top, who was eventually adjudged LBW after he challenged the on-field call and opted for review.

Changing the bail seems to have become a ritual that players from both Australia and India were able to use throughout the series. Indian seamer Mohammed Siraj had swapped bails in the previous Test while all-rounder Nitish Reddy subsequently picked up a wicket.

A video of the same image, showing Starc changing bails followed by Lyon taking the wicket of Jadeja, was posted by Star Sports on X (formerly Twitter) almost immediately after the incident and can be seen below –

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Australia dominated the action on the third day in front of India’s resistance

After taking five wickets before the end of play on the second day of the ongoing Melbourne Test, Australia came out on top on the third day.

They started by continuing to dominate with the ball, taking key wickets of Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja. Pant was dismissed for just 28 runs by Scott Boland while Lyon got the better of Jadeja for 17 runs. India found themselves in further trouble at 221/7.

However, all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar joined forces to lead India’s fightback against Australia on Day 3. At the time of writing, the duo already have an impressive unbeaten record of 118 runs, making their total 339/7 after 106 overs.

Nitish Reddy, unbeaten in 89, is closing in on a potentially historic win in Australia, while Sundar (49*) has supported him well with the bat from the other end.