Shane Warne shredded over unexpected fashion statement
Much of the talk heading into the first Test between Australia and India revolved around debutant Cameron Green - but ever the showman, Shane Warne has upstaged the first gamer.
Never one to be upstaged, Warne rocked up to the first Test donning a fetching grey cap - much to the amusement and confusion of his fellow commentators.
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Warne’s outfit, which he claimed was both a homage to Green’s debut in the baggy green and the television series Peaky Blinders, also caused quite a stir on social media.
Famous for his reluctance to wear the baggy green, which led him to but heads with former Test captain Steve Waugh during their playing days, Warne couldn’t help but play up the irony of his fashion choice when asked about it on Fox Sports’ broadcast of the Test match.
“Well, Cameron Green got his Test cap presentation and I love Peaky Blinders so I thought why not try and rock the flat cap out of respect to Cameron Green,” Warne said when quizzed on the subject by Adam Gilchrist.
“I didn’t want to do the Baggy Green cap. Silly people do that at Wimbledon. So I thought I’d rock the flat cap out of respect for Cameron Green and Peaky Blinders.”
The Wimbledon reference was to the 2001 All-England Tournament, where Waugh famously insisted the entire Australian team, who were in the country for the Ashes, wear their baggy green caps while watching countryman Pat Rafter play.
Warne memorably refused to wear his, further putting him at odds with the then Test captain.
The new cap generated fairly substantial attention on social media to boot.
Loving my new cap ! Keeper ? #peekyblindsrs #flatcap pic.twitter.com/DXAanlUGmN
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) December 17, 2020
I like @ShaneWarne’s hat.#ShanesHat
— Mark Allen (@MarkAllenGolf) December 17, 2020
Is anyone going to mention @ShaneWarne ‘s hat.... #AUSvIND
— Mitchell Van Homrigh (@Moosk) December 17, 2020
Is @ShaneWarne having a laugh here or full serious? Reckon he may have a shocking haircut so he has thrown on a horrible hat to cover it up. #foxcricket #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/bCdxE9Lsnf
— Nick Turner (@nickturner_11) December 17, 2020
Did Shane Warne really say his cap is a "tribute to Peaky Blinders".. while commentating an Australia v India Test Match?..
If only this was the strangest thing he's done..#AUSvIND— Luke P Gavin (@LukePGavin) December 17, 2020
Warnie going with the “peaky blinders” cap when in reality ... #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/RQVOHf6otO
— Steve Smith (@stevesmithffx) December 17, 2020
Australia off to strong start against India
Virat Kohli was given a standing ovation as he attempts to wrestle back momentum in the day-night Test at Adelaide Oval, where India reached 2-41 at tea on day one.
Kohli was booed by sections of the crowd in Adelaide during the corresponding Test in 2018/19.
But there was nothing but respect for India's skipper, who will return home after this game for the birth of his first child, as he strode to the crease on Thursday after Australia removed both openers.
Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, who is 17 not out from 88 balls as he attempts to recreate his series-defining patient defiance of two years ago, batted out the final seven overs of the opening session together.
Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood all exercised great control after Tim Paine lost the toss, prompting the skipper not to give Nathan Lyon an over before the tea break.
"It's quite a swirly, strong breeze. Both Josh and I felt like we were running into it," Starc told Fox Sports.
"Maybe that's contributed to no swing ... generally we see in the pink-ball games that it starts to swing a bit more in the period before the second break."
Pink-ball specialist Starc, who only flew into Adelaide on Monday after being on compassionate leave because of a family illness, set the tone.
Starc fired out Prithvi Shaw for a duck with the second ball of the game, which the young opener inside edged onto the stumps.
Travis Head was unable to grasp a tough chance at short leg offered by Mayank Agarwal when the opener was on five.
Cummins removed Agarwal for 17, exposing a gap between bat and pad with a brilliant delivery that disturbed the stumps and sent a bail sailing two thirds of the way to the boundary.
Debutant Cameron Green, who was presented his cap by Cummins, was called into the attack for the 23rd over.
Green's first delivery was a no-ball but he bowled at good pace in his opening over, which cost three runs.
With AAP
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