A frustrated Tim Paine was heard complaining about India wasting time as Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin battled through injury at the crease in the final session on day five at the SCG.

“Get on with it, it is getting ridiculous,” chirped Tim Paine from behind the stumps as Hanuma Vihari was adjusting his chest guard at the wicket. Vihari, who was struggling with a hamstring injury, had copped a bouncer barrage from the Aussie bowlers with India looking to save the Test match.

Vihari was the latest in India’s long line of injuries on this tour. Ashwin and Vihari had rebuilt India’s innings after Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara fell within 10 overs of each others following a brilliant partnership.

While Australia expected to run through the rest of India’s batting line-up, Vihari and Ashwin resisted and it gave way to some short pitch bowling from the Aussie quicks. Even as Ashwin struggled to cope with the bouncers, Aussies persisted with the tactic, evoking comparisons to the ‘bodyline series’ from fans on social media.

Paine’s comment that came immediately after another of those short ball spells had Indian fans in a rage as Vihari was limping ever since the issue with his hamstring and Ashwin had stood through several blows on his body after the short ball spell.

 


Ashwin’s wife, Prithi Ashwin, also took to Twitter to question Paine’s sportsmanship.


Australia’s persistent short ball tactics had also irked fans, especially when not a single Aussie player came forward to check on Ashwin after he had copped a blow to his body.

However, amidst the intensity, it was worth noting that Marnus Labuschagne stepped forward to help Ashwin put his guard on when he was adjusting a few balls later.

 

 

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