'Ridiculous': Angry fans claim 'bias' after second Test drama

A fierce debate has reignited on social media after an incident with stand-in India skipper Ajinkya Rahane that was eerily similar to one involving the Australia captain.

Tim Paine was fortunate to survive a run out on the opening day of the second Test after appearing to be dismissed for just seven runs.

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The incident was referred to the DRS, with the Aussie skipper surviving after the third umpire deemed there was insufficient evidence to conclusively say he was out.

On day three at the MCG, Rahane was no so lucky after an incident that was so close to being a carbon copy of Paine's two days earlier.

Rahane had already done plenty of damage after making an incredible century on day two when he and Ravindra Jadeja looked for a quick single on Monday.

Marnus Labuschagne pouned on the ball with one hand and fired it in to Paine, who whipped the bails off as Rahane tried desperately to make his ground.

Like Paine's first innings run out, the incident was again referred to the DRS, with replays appearing to show the captain's bat short of the crease at the moment the bails were whipped off.

Rahane - who was culpable for running out regular captain Virat Kohli in the first Test - accepted his fate and fist-bumped Jadeja as he made his way back to the pavilion for 112 runs.

However, many viewers weren't as accepting of the dismissal as Rahane, with some accusing the umpires of double standards in reference to the Paine incident.

Skipper departs after superb century

Rahane was showered with praise across the cricket world after "one of the great" Test batting displays on day two.

The 32-year-old stepped into the giant shoes left by regular skipper Kohli to play what could turn out to be a match - and even series-defining knock.

Rahane's 12th Test century lifted the tourists to an 82-run first-innings lead, which they built upon on day three.

India's batting display on day two was a far cry from the opening day where 11 wickets fell as the Aussies were rolled for 195.

However, in a positive sign for the hosts, fast bowler Mitchell Starc believes the MCG pitch will offer more for the batsman the longer the Test goes on.

Starc says the Aussie batsmen will need to cash in their second innings if they are any chance to avoid heading into the third Test with the series tied at one-all.

"Once the ball got a bit softer, the wicket is pretty placid," Starc said.

"By the end of (Sunday) there's not too many demons in it anymore.

"That's a typical Melbourne (pitch), it flattens out, even with that bit of extra grass to what we're normally used to here. It's become a pretty flat wicket.

"It's important for us now when we get the chance to bat again is to bat really big and bat us into the game again."

The MCG pitch has received serious criticism in recent times for producing run-feasts, with the dull Boxing Day Test Ashes draw in 2017 a low-point.

Indian opener Shubman Gill, who scored 45 on debut, is adamant the pitch will deteriorate and bring spinners Ravi Ashwin and Jadeja back into the game.

"As the time goes on, there's going to be more cracks and the wicket is going to be more challenging for the batsmen," he said.

"It's still important that we capitalise on this lead that we have and then get them all-out as quick as possible."

with AAP

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