New Delhi: Former Australia captain Tim Paine has recalled his sledging battle with Ravichandran Ashwin in the third Test of the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy and still maintains that he doesn’t regret engaging in a banter on the field in that match.
The former keeper-batter said he felt annoyed to get frequently dismissed by the Indian off-spinner.
India won the series 2-1, their second successive series triumph in Australia, achieving it after going down in the series opener in Adelaide.
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Ashwin was instrumental in forcing a draw in the third Test in Sydney, batting for 42.4 over with a back pain with Hanuma Vihari to save the match for India.
Australia were desperate for the win and tied various tricks to unsettle Ashwin as he doggedly defended.
Paine thus began a chat with Ashwin from behind the stumps.
“I can’t wait to get you to the Gabba, Ash, I’ll tell you what, woohoo,” Paine had said as Ashwin braced to face off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Though it didn’t yield desired results, Paine said he doesn’t regret indulging in some sportsmanship.
“No, I don’t because to this day Ashwin didn’t play in that (Brisbane) Test match. I wasn’t talking to the Indians, I was talking to him. I said we cannot wait to get you to the Gabba.
“…because he was annoying us, fair to say. He is a fantastic cricketer. He was getting me out all the time and that was annoying me as well,” Paine said in a podcast show named ‘thegradecricketer’.
Ashwin didn’t refrain from commenting, replying to Paine: “Just like we wanna get you to India. That will be your last series.”
Paine said that his sledging was not aimed at any other Indian team but only towards Ashwin.
“But no, that was purely directed straight at him and he pulled out of that Test match because of back spasm.”
“Did I had a great game in that match? No, but I fronted up. Actually day one of the Test match he (Ashwin) was jogging laps. Those back spasms couldn’t have been that bad,” he added.
