Australia v India

Watch: Jasprit Bumrah pokes fun at Steve Smith’s mannerisms during third Australia-India Test

by Wisden Staff January 7, 2021 - 8:28am 2 minute read

Jasprit Bumrah was spotted seemingly poking fun at Steve Smith during the first day’s play of the third Australia-India Test at the SCG, imitating the batsman’s unique movements at the crease as he walked back to his mark.

Smith’s mannerisms are some of the more unusual in the world game, with the batsman fidgeting between deliveries and wiggling his limbs as a matter of course.

Bumrah is no stranger to strange actions, with his stiff-limbed bowling style raising plenty of eyebrows, but he took the chance to have some fun at Smith’s expense, waving his arms and shaking his head in a manner reminiscent of the former Australia captain.

His fellow bowler Mohammed Siraj found Bumrah’s gestures amusing, slapping his back and chuckling. However, it was Smith who had the last laugh on the day, going to stumps 31 not out – his highest score of the series – having added 60 runs with No.3 Marnus Labuschagne.

Watch the amusing moment below.