NEW DELHI: A technical glitch hilariously made India pacer Mohammed Siraj world’s fastest bowler on Friday as the speed gun saw him clocking an astonishing 181.6 kmph on the opening day of the second Test against Australia in Adelaide.
On the day that saw 11 wickets falling, an Indian collapse, a solid Nathan McSweeney-Marnus Labuschagne stand and rising tempers, the Siraj speed blunder from the broadcasters late in third session also hogged the limelight.
The rare and bizarre incident happened in the 25th over of the Australian innings, when Siraj fired in rising back of a length delivery outside off, which Marnus Labuschagne glided down to deep backward point for a boundary.
However, soon after the delivery was completed, the bottom of the screen showed that Siraj had clocked a record 181.6 kph ball.
The blunder was instantly caught by the fans and led to a meme fest on social media.
Pakistan speed merchant Shoaib Akhtar currently holds the record of bowling the fastest ball ever in cricket.
He fired in a stunning 161.3 kph (100.23 mph) ball against England during the 2003 World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa.
Australia ended the day at 86 for one in reply to India’s 180 all out in the first innings on the opening day of the Pink-ball Test.
After a fiery Mitchell Starc career-best figures of 6 for 48 restricted India to 180 all out, McSweeney and Labuschagne’s unbeaten 62-run stand for the second wicket helped Australia take the opening day’s honours.
For India, Jasprit Bumrah was the lone wicket-taker on Day 1.
Australia trailed by 94 runs at the close of play.
