[Watch] Australian batter acknowledges probing Jasprit Bumrah spell on Day 2 of BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Seasoned Australia batter Steve Smith acknowledged Jasprit Bumrah's jaffas early on Day 2 (Friday, December 27) of the Boxing Day Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). After getting beaten on one of the deliveries, the right-handed batter showed a thumbs up to Bumrah, acknowledging how well the pace spearhead was bowling.

With Team India skipper Rohit Sharma bringing in the 31-year-old after only one over from Mohammed Siraj, Bumrah was on point. He managed to beat Smith on quite a few occasions and the veteran cricketer didn't fail to acknowledge it.

Watch the video here:

The Ahmedabad-born cricketer has had a strong stranglehold on the Aussie batter in this series, dismissing him thrice. Bumrah also became only the second bowler in Test cricket to dismiss Smith for a golden duck, doing so in the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth, joining Dale Steyn to achieve the feat.

Steve Smith scores his 34th hundred to put Australia in a dominant position in 4th BGT Test

Steve Smith celebrates his hundred at MCG. (Credits: Getty)

Meanwhile, Smith has amassed his 34th hundred, getting there with a textbook cover drive off Nitish Kumar Reddy in the first hour of Day 2. The 35-year-old scored his first ton of the series in the opening dig of the third Test in Brisbane, having struggled to find runs in Perth and Adelaide.

Day 1 in Melbourne saw Australia skipper Pat Cummins win the toss and opt to bat. Debutant Sam Konstas raced off the blocks to put Bumrah under pressure, getting to his half-century off 52 balls before Ravindra Jadeja got him for 60. Usman Khawaja (57) and Marnus Labuschagne (72) also raised their half-centuries but will be lamenting not reaching their tons.

Bumrah took three wickets, dismissing Khawaja, Travis Head, and Mitchell Marsh to reduce the hosts from 237-2 to 246-5. Ravindra Jadeja and Akash Deep also took one scalp each. Yet, Australia finished the day strongly at 311/6.