The Indian media has responded to Mohammed Siraj’s fine over his second Test clash with Travis Head (who was only reprimanded) with a story titled: “Three instances when Australians got away despite crossing line”.

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That headline ran on the Hindustan Times’ website, with the accompanying article picking at the scab of some heated moments in the history of India v Australia cricket.

The dirt file included:

– The Michael Slater v Rahul Dravid confrontation of 2001, when the Aussie fielder claimed a catch but the Indian batter refused to walk and was given not out. Slater was reprimanded but not fined after unloading on Dravid and the umpire, S Venkatraghavan.

– A 2014 Border-Gavaskar series stoush where David Warner clashed on-field with Shikhar Dhawan and Varum Aaron in an emotional Adelaide Test, while Virat Kohli argued with Steve Smith. Warner was fined just 15 per cent of his match fee compared to 30 per cent for Kohli and Dhawan.

– Honorary mentions went to Glenn Maxwell “mocking” a Kohli fielding injury by clutching his shoulder during a 2017 Test in Ranchi, for which he wasn’t penalised; and also a Smith “cheating” allegation, when Kohli believed he had looked to the Australian dressing room for advice on whether to use a DRS review during the 2017 Bengalaru Test.

Yet of course, the file was headlined by the infamous Harbhajan Singh v Andrew Symonds clash, in Sydney during 2008.

“The 2008 New Year Test in Sydney was undoubtedly the lowest point in India-Australia cricket relations. With tempers frayed because of a string of questionable umpiring decisions and on-field altercations, the ‘Monkeygate’ scandal erupted — almost causing the tour to be called off,” the Hindustan Times piece read.

“Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds had an on-field altercation with Harbhajan Singh as the former accused the Indian spinner of calling him a ‘monkey’. Singh, who denied any wrong-doing, was suspended for three matches for the alleged racist slur. Later, the ICC appeals commissioner Justice John Hansen found Harbhajan innocent. The former India cricketer was instead handed a fine of 50 per cent of his match fees. Meanwhile, the Australian players, who exchanged the words including Symonds, were not penalised for their actions.”

Meanwhile, a piece in the Indian Express from Sriram Veera examined Australia’s relationship with its No.3 Test batter, with the headlined musing: ‘Why is Australia’s love for Marnus Labuschagne conditional and complicated?’

“‘Cmon Marnus, swing that f****** bat!’ Went a loud cry from the stands at long-off on the morning of the second day’s play at Adelaide,” Veera wrote.

“Marnus had bravely battled through the previous evening, holding the fort under lights against the pink ball, arguably in the toughest conditions to bat, to stop Jasprit Bumrah and Co from effecting the damage they had wreaked in Perth. Without Marnus’s knock, Australia might well have struggled, as it could have got Travis Head that evening itself. Who knows what could have happened then? Yet, the Australian crowd wasn’t too chuffed with Marnus. The story of his life.

“Of the recent players in the team, he is as “un-Australian” as they come. An Afrikaans South African whose family migrated to Australia when he was 10, so much about him can come across as alien to the local fans.”

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While Labuschagne made a potentially career-saving 64 in Adelaide, he and other Australian top-order veterans like Smith and Usman Khawaja are under the pump heading into the third Test at Brisbane. Many Indian media outlets, including The Times of India, picked up comments from Australian great Matthew Hayden regarding tactics for the Gabba – where the pitch is looking green.

“India, when they do get a chance to bowl, they need to rely on hovering in that fourth, fifth stump line a bit more. And most importantly, they need to use their bounce,” Hayden told Star Sports.

“It’s a key arsenal as part of a fast bowling unit in Brisbane. The red ball will definitely be more familiar in terms of Test match cricket. Australia have the running with the pink ball, they won so much with it.

“India must bat better, they must bat for time. They must bat a day of Test match cricket. under a day, unacceptable. Has to be in that 350 zone. India should bat first even if there are challenging conditons.

“Brisbane, different ball game! It’s a home game, but it’s actually a very good game for India as well because they’ve got memories of the last time they encountered Australia in the BGT.”

India is growing bullish over the prospects of one of its surprise picks for this Test series, Nitish Reddy. Writing for the Deccan Herald, Madhu Jawali said it was hoped that the limited-overs star could grow into a great Test all-rounder.

“The jury is still out on the wisdom behind (Harshit) Rana’s selection, but Nitish Reddy, another Test debutant for India this Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, has had some impact, particularly with the bat. Nitish has seen a remarkable rise in Test ranks after primarily being noticed as a merciless ball-basher in the last edition of the Indian Premier League for Sunrisers Hyderabad. While his batting alone wouldn’t have fetched him a place even in the squad, let alone in the playing XI, his medium pacers make him an irresistible package given the circumstances India are in insofar as their bowling resources are concerned.

“With every pace-bowling all-rounder that emerges on the horizon, India look longingly for a shade or two of Kapil Dev in him. While it’s impossible to replicate another all-rounder of that standard, they hope for someone who can man 10-15 effective overs and get some meaningful runs lower down the order to provide that balance in both departments, especially in overseas conditions.”

Meanwhile, another rising star of the Indian team – opening bat Yashasvi Jaiswal – managed to miss the team bus from their Adelaide hotel to the airport, en route to Brisbane. A Deccan Chronicle report said that the youngster left teammates waiting beyond a planned 8.30am departure.

“Rohit Sharma, after waiting for over 30 minutes, had got down the bus to have a brief chat with officials before getting back on the vehicle. The bus departed soon after the captain hopped in, casting off the 22-year-old player.

“Jaiswal walked out of the hotel five minutes later only to find out that the bus left. The team was to catch a flight to Brisbane scheduled for 10:05.

“However, the left handed batter along with the team’s security officer have taken a car to reach the airport.”