[Watch] Akash Deep evokes Steve Harmison memories with a wide outside the cut-strip in BGT 2024-25 3rd Test
Team India seamer Akash Deep sprayed a wide delivery that went outside the cut-strip on Day 3 (Monday, December 16) of the third Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane. The delivery evoked memories of former England seamer Steve Harmison, as cricket.com.au shared a video of the seamer.
With the 28-year-old spraying the red cherry wide outside off, urging Richard Illingworth to spread his arms wide, parallels of how Harmison began the 2006-07 Ashes at the same venue flashed. The Durham seamer's delivery went towards then-England captain Andrew Flintoff at second slip. On this occasion, Rishabh Pant stopped the ball from going to the boundary.
Akash Deep, who made his Test debut earlier this year against England, replaced Harshit Rana in the playing XI for the decisive Test in Brisbane. The five-Test series is tied at 1-1.
Akash Deep takes his first wicket of the innings by dismissing Alex Carey
The Bihar-born seamer toiled for over 20 overs on Day 2 and beat the bats of the Aussie players on quite a few occasions but could not get a wicket. He finally got one on Day 3, as Alex Carey, batting on 70, holed out to mid-wicket while trying to hit a boundary.
With Rohit Sharma winning the toss on Day 1 and opting to field first, only 13.2 overs could be bowled due to persistent rain as Aussie openers survived. However, the hosts lost three wickets early on Day 2. Nevertheless, Steve Smith and Travis Head struck centuries to combine for a 241-run stand to lay the foundation for a strong total.
Head top-scored for their side yet again, smashing 152 as he smacked his second successive ton against India. Jasprit Bumrah picked up six wickets as Team India bowled the opposition out for 445. The series is currently locked at 1-1 as India won in Perth and Australia hit back by emerging victorious in Adelaide.