In what came as a shocking piece of commentary in the ongoing Test match between India and Australia, Australian commentator Kerry O’Keefe took a jibe on air at India’s Mayank Agarwal on his debut.
Mayank Agarwal, who debuted for India on Wednesday, was a subject of mockery by O’Keefe when he remarked that the Indian batsman might have scored his triple century in domestic cricket against ‘some canteen staff or waiters’. The comment not only came as a discredit to Agarwal’s batting prowess but also was a dig at India’s domestic bowling units.
Furthermore, former Australian cricketer, Mark Waugh too said that Mayank Agarwal’s first-class batting average of 50 would be equivalent to 40 to that in Australia.
These remarks by the Aussie commentators have not been taken well by the fans who have taken to social media to express their displeasure. Labelling the comments as racist, they found fault in dishonouring the batsman’s batting abilities.
Another Twitter user commented, “Pretty sure this will be the last commentary stint for O’Keefe. Racism will not go unnoticed by officials.”
Mayank Agarwal has been presented with an opportunity in the current Indian side on the back of a consistent run in domestic cricket. The 27-year-old batsman from Karnataka, who averages more than 50 in domestic cricket, has carried his impressive touch to international cricket as well. Mayank Agarwal scored a sublime 76 in the first innings of the ongoing boxing-day Test match in Melbourne before being scalped by Pat Cummins.
Discussion about this post