Debutant Mayank Agarwal survived an injury scare while fielding on the fourth day of the Boxing Day Test. He got hit on his throat and was seen in pain after which he had to leave the field for a while.
The incident happened during the 15th over of the Aussie 2nd innings when Jadeja was on the attack and Usman Khawaja had the strike. The Australia No 3 attempted a sweep shot off a fuller delivery from Jajdea. The ball struck the ground and bounced quickly to hit Mayank’s throat who was fielding at the forward short leg.
Here’s the video:
Mayank looked in pain after receiving the nasty blow. Team physio Patrick Farhat ran towards him, examined the situation and escorted him out of the field. KL Rahul, who has been dropped from the ongoing 3rd Test, replaced him as a substitute fielder.
Fortunately, it wasn’t as serious as it looked. The rookie Indian opener returned to the field after resting for a couple of overs.
Earlier, India had batted 52 minutes and extended their second innings from overnight 54 for five even as the threat of rain loomed largely. Mayank (42) opened up with a couple sixes off Nathan Lyon (0-40) and made intentions clear, but was bowled off Cummins before he could get a second half-century in his maiden Test.
Rishabh Pant (33) and Ravindra Jadeja (5) threw their bats around to add 17 runs. They didn't waste time in the farming strike, with Cummins missing out on his five-wicket haul when Tim Paine dropped Pant early in the session.
He returned to pick up his sixth wicket when Jadeja gloved a catch to gully, beating his previous best of 6-79 against South Africa back in 2011.
India declared with Pant's dismissal in the 38th over.