IND vs AUS: WATCH Steve Smith scuffs Rishabh Pant’s guard marks on the pitch

India and Australia are playing the third test of the four test match series here in Sydney. The match could just not get more interesting than what it already is. This game has had everything so far, brilliant batting, magnificent bowling, bits of excellent fielding along with some sloppy fielding, and now there’s a hint of controversy creeping in courtesy a stump cam video.

Steve Smith caught doing some dirty stuff

Australian batting sensation Steve Smith had a troubled time in the middle in the first two tests of the series but came back to form with a magnificent century in the first innings in Sydney. He also made a significant contribution in the second innings for his nation when he made 81 off 167 and helped his team post a formidable 312 runs on the board.

Even after all these contributions with the bat, maybe he felt like he had to do a bit more in order for his country to win the test match. During the drinks break in the post lunch session on Day 5, Steve Smith was seen scuffing up the pitch albeit near the crease, it was an unnecessary act. The scuffing up of the pitch, had erased the guard marked by Rishabh Pant and he had to retake his guard before resuming his innings after the drinks break. Watch the video here:

After drinks break Aussie comes to shadow bat and scuffs out the batsmen's guard marks.

Rishabh Pant then returns and has to take guard again.#AUSvIND #AUSvsIND #AUSvINDtest pic.twitter.com/aDkcGKgUJC

— Cricket Badger / James Buttler ???? (@cricket_badger) January 11, 2021

Rishabh Pant Masterclass

The scuffing up of the crease by Steve Smith had absolutely no effect on Rishabh Pant. In fact one don’t even have any idea if Rishabh Pant or Cheteshwar Pujara had noticed what Steve Smith had done at the batting crease.

Rishabh Pant had hammered the bowlers in the first session of the day where he especially took a liking to off spinner Nathan Lyon. He just kept on continuing in his merry way even after the drinks break in the second session and finally fell agonizingly short of what would have been one of the finest counter attacking centuries in the fourth innings in test match history. He had just changed the complexion of the game had given India more than just a ray of hope with his batting masterclass. At tea time on the final day, India have an equation where they needs another 127 runs to grab a historic victory whereas Australia need another 5 wickets to wrap up the game which in all likelihood is going to happen.

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