Joe Root and Nathan Lyon have each completed 100 Test matches for their respective countries, with the milestones coming up in India’s last two Tests.

However, the reception given on each occasion was markedly different. Lyon was given a shirt signed by the entire India playing XI, something which prompted much interest on social media. Given India had just completed a win for the ages in Brisbane, some felt it was a piece of “brutal champing” by the tourists. The signatures themselves, when revealed, also sparked much debate. Buzz began to build over whether India would repeat the move.

However, Root’s landmark cap came and went without similar fanfare, and Michael Vaughan was one of many to question the absence of the gesture.

India Today writer Utkarsh Kumar objected to Vaughan’s tweet, interpreting it as a dig at the India team. He argued that with the former Test the last of the series, a big post-rubber ceremony provided the perfect chance to hand out a gift, and pointed to India and England’s good humour during the Test as evidence of the bond between the sides.

Still, Vaughan was far from the only one to point out the discrepancy. Cricket365 editor Dave Tickner, one of the key proponents of the shirt-as-trolling theory, was quick on the draw this time around too.

Speculation abounded. Perhaps it showed a difference between the approaches of Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli, or maybe India felt that, having ‘gifted’ England a victory, they didn’t need to do any more.

Or they wanted to, but couldn’t locate the vital implement.

But there were many to take it as confirmation of some light hi-jinks at the Gabba.

 

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India Joe RootIndia v EnglandNathan LyonSeries Editorial