Irfan Pathan. | (Image Credits: Twitter)
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan brutally roasted Australia on air during day four of the fourth Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). With Aussie captain Pat Cummins requesting a review after the umpire ruled it not out, the retired cricketer was heard telling on air, “Yeh 2008 nahin hai” (This is not 2008).
The incident occurred an over before Australia bowled out as Cummins got one to edge off Mohammed Siraj’s bat to slip, which Australia believed it carried it on to the full. However, replays didn’t provide any conclusive evidence of the same, forcing the on-field umpires to stick to the not-out decision. With Cummins not happy with it, he seemingly asked the umpire to review the decision again. It forced the 40-year-old to say on air:
“Australia ko lag raha hai yeh 2008 hai. Nahin yeh 2008 nahin hai.” (Australia feel this is 2008. No this is not 2008)
Pathan, therefore, had evoked memories of India’s 2007-08 tour of Australia when plenty of umpiring decisions went against the visitors. The likes of Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson came under massive scrutiny during the series.
Team India concede 158-run lead
With India resuming day four on 358-9, all they could manage is 11 more runs to their total before Nathan Lyon got the better of Nitish Kumar Reddy for 114. It gave Australia a sizeable 105-run lead to work with.
Reddy, who scored a stunning hundred on day three, spearheaded India’s fightback as the tourists went from 153-2 to 159-5 on the previous day.
