Former Australia captain Tim Paine doesn’t regret sledging Ravichandran Ashwin in the Brisbane Test during India’s tour of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21. Ashwin didn’t play in the fourth and final Test. Paine wanted to unsettle the spinner for troubling him by picking his wicket now and then.
India lost the series opener in Adelaide but made a sensational comeback to clinch the series 2-1. Ashwin was at his best during the third Test in Sydney, and the visitors managed to draw the game. The bowler played a vital role with the bat. He batted for around 43 overs despite suffering from a back injury.
Paine started teasing him from behind the stumps after his bowlers failed to dismiss the Indian player.
“I can’t wait to get you at the Gabba, Ash. I will tell you what, woohoo,” Paine said. But he has no regrets.
“I don’t have any regrets as Ashwin didn’t play in the final Test in Brisbane. I was not talking to the Indians, I was talking to him. I said that we can’t wait to get you to the Gabba,” Paine said while speaking to The Grade Cricketer podcast.
“He was annoying us. Ashwin is a great cricketer, and he has got me out a few times. My words were directed towards him because he was not going to play in Gabba because of his back spasm.”
The banter between the Aussie wicket-keeper and the Indian off-spinner didn’t last long as the latter continued to bat despite back issues.
“Just like we want to get you to India. That will be your last Test series,” Ashwin replied.
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