The opening day of the day-night Test between India and Australia in Adelaide sparked a frenzy when a speed gun displayed an astonishing 181.6 km/h beside Mohammed Siraj’s name, leading to widespread speculation about the accuracy of the reading.
The incident occurred during the 25th over of the Australian innings, when Siraj bowled a short delivery to Marnus Labuschagne, who successfully drove the ball for a boundary. However, as the ball was delivered, the giant screen mistakenly showed that Siraj had bowled a delivery at 181.6 km/h, a speed that seemed beyond belief.
Fans quickly took to social media, questioning the validity of the claim, given that the record for the fastest ball in cricket is held by former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar, who bowled a delivery at 161.3 km/h during the 2003 ODI World Cup.
This error led many to believe that the speed reading was a mistake, with some humorously referring to it as an overestimate. The controversy grew further after Siraj’s on-field frustration during the same over when Labuschagne, distracted by a spectator near the sight screen, withdrew from his stance just before Siraj was about to bowl. Siraj then threw the ball towards the batter, which is against the ICC’s code of conduct.
The ICC is likely to review this incident, with Siraj possibly facing disciplinary action for the throw. However, the speed gun blunder remains a key talking point of the Test match, adding a surprising twist to the day’s play.