In a tongue-in-cheek manner, former Australia Test captain Tim Paine has justified his viral ‘Gabba’ sledge to India off-spinner R Ashwin during the 2021 Sydney Test, which ended in a draw.
With the series tied 1-1, India pulled off an improbable draw in the third Test in Sydney. Chasing a record 407, India were in with a chance when Rishabh Pant (97) launched a counter-attack along with Cheteshwar Pujara (77), but their departure in quick succession reduced them to 272-5.
Just when it looked like Australia would wrap up the rest of India’s batting order, R Ashwin came in and batted with Hanuma Vihari for the next 256 deliveries to draw the match. What’s more remarkable was that Ashwin was battling a back issue while Vihari batted with a hevily strapped right hamstring during their 62-run marathon stand.
After not being able to breach the duo's defence, wicketkeeper-batter Paine attempted to rile up Ashwin in a war of words. "I can't wait to get you to the Gabba, Ash, I'll tell you what," Paine was heard sledging on the stump mic.
Later in the series, India secured a memorable victory at Gabba, Brisbane, where Australia had last lost a Test 32 years back, in 1988. They played with a second-string side, without some of their key members including Ashwin, who missed out due to a dodgy back and won the series 2-1.
Speaking on The Grade Cricketer podcast recently, Paine quipped that he has no regrets to date for sledging Ashwin.
"No, I don't [have any regrets] because to this day Ashwin didn't play in that (Brisbane) Test. 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.
"But no, that was purely directed straight at him and he pulled out of that Test because of back spasm. Did I had a great game in that match? No, but I fronted up. Actually, on day one of the [Brisbane] Test he (Ashwin) was jogging laps. Those back spasms couldn't have been that bad," Paine added cheekily. Ashwin took Paine's light-hearted take on the sledging incident well, and commented on a clip of the podcast with laughing emojis.
Having won twice in their previous two attempts, India are gearing up for another Australia tour, starting this November. They need to win it to be sure of a World Test Championship final berth following their home series defeat against New Zealand.
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