Marnus Labuschagne is known for his enthusiasm on the cricket field, but one act got his fans on edge during India's Boxing Day Test chase on Monday at the MCG.
Labuschagne's brave half-century took Australia to a 333-run lead at the end of day four, but the Australian irked fans, and even his teammate Mitchell Starc, with his constant appeals on day five.
On numerous occasions throughout the morning, Labuschagne called for wickets that not even his teammates believed had a chance of falling.
On one occasion, Starc dismissed Labuschagne and others after he appealed a behind-the-back catch that missed the bat by what commentators described as “a mile.”
“What the hell is Marnus watching here?” Fox Cricket posted on social media along with a clip of the delivery in question.
“Marnus Labuschagne is proving he doesn't have a career as a Test umpire after cricket,” wrote another.
Marnus Labuschagne was criticized for his constant appeals on Monday morning
Another posted a photo of a fan holding a sign that read: 'Free eye and ear checks from Marnus @Specsavers.'
India will have to defy history and the vagaries of the MCG wicket if they are to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy for a record fifth consecutive series.
Australia added just six more runs on Monday after being bowled out for 234 in the second over of the fifth day, giving them a lead of 339.
Nathan Lyon (41) and Scott Boland (15 not out), Australia's numbers 10 and 11, made 61 in a crucial last-wicket position that shot the lead beyond the crucial 300 mark and frustrated India.
A huge crowd is expected to flock to the MCG for what could be one of the most memorable days in Test cricket.
A total of 299,329 fans have already attended this Boxing Day Test, and it is expected to break the MCG's all-time attendance record of 350,534 in the 1936-37 Ashes series, when Don Bradman was king.
Out-of-form India captain Rohit Sharma will open the batting with young superstar Yashasvi Jaiswal.
If India win, they will take a 2-1 lead in the series and as reigning champions, they will retain the trophy regardless of the fifth Test next week in Sydney.
Labuschagne is known for his enthusiasm on the field and his love of cricket.
But the most successful Test chase on this ground was almost a century ago, when England made 7-332 to beat Australia in 1928.
If India wins, it will be their third-highest Test chase.
They would even surpass the 7-329 they recorded to win the fourth Test at the Gabba in 2021 and claim the series.
Australia's recovery from a shaky 6-91 late on Sunday, also helped by captain Pat Cummins' 41, was the latest twist in an epic Test full of swings of momentum.
Indian superstar Jasprit Bumrah finished with figures of 5-57, giving him nine wickets for the Test and taking him to 30 for the series.
Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne, who played in the 2021 loss, said Brisbane's wicket was too far away from the MCG pitch.
“As the game went on, the rebounding became more and more inconsistent,” said Labuschagne, who impressed in this test with 72 and 70.
“So more and more balls are hitting the stumps and more balls are sliding.
Pat Cummins took two wickets in a single on Monday morning
'That makes batting quite difficult, because more balls hit the stumps from a shorter length. The balls are skidding (and) some balls went off today.
“That wicket (at the Gabba three years ago) was flat… the main part of the wicket was really pretty.”
Just as Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar changed India's fortunes on Saturday with their epic eighth-wicket stand, Reddy feels a good partnership on Monday will set India up for victory.
Reddy top-scored with 114 in his first innings, his first Test ton.
“I feel like it's necessary to get a partnership, one or two good partnerships,” he said.
'We can see later, on the fourth day, that (the field) was working a little more.
'But we don't need to apply more pressure, like pitches that do this or that. “We need to play according to the situations.”
Australia's opening bowler Mitch Starc also said the absorbing competition was the perfect counterattack to some comments that the Tests should be shortened to four days.
“That's why we have five days for a test match and those who want four days really put up with it,” he told ABC Radio.