The Australian skipper, Tim Paine clearly stated that his right index finger perfectly fine as he suffered a huge blow to it during Australia’s first Test defeat to India. The wicketkeeper was struck on a finger on which he has had several operations since breaking it in 2010.
Paine received some treatment from Australia’s physio and had the digit strapped up as his side fell to a 31-run loss in the first match of a four-game series in Adelaide. However, Paine insisted that there is no reason for concern, saying in answer to a question about the injury: “No doubt. I’m fine.”
Mitchell Starc wasn’t able to bowl with his complete brilliance at Adelaide Oval, as he registered the figures of 5-103 across India’s two innings. Questions over the star fast bowler’s form have been raised, but Paine sprung to the defense of Starc, who he expects to flourish in the second Test in Perth.
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Talking about the same, Paine said, “I think for the majority of the Test, Starcy actually bowled really well. He took some wickets. He didn’t set the world on fire but I think for a long time there’s been a really big gap between Starcy’s best and his worst and from what I’m seeing that is getting closer and closer every day. When Starcy’s on song there is no better bowler in the world. Particularly with the new ball and if he can get it to swing, I think in Perth the conditions will suit him down to the ground. I think it will be a swing and from what I’m hearing the wicket is going to be really fast. So he’ll be a handful.”
That Paine was Australia’s second-highest scorer in the second innings with 41 talked about Australia’s batting struggles, with numerous impressive contributions from the tail unable to atone for the failings of those higher up the order. The hosts had nobody of the quality of Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored as many as 194 runs including 123 in the first.
Describing the same, Paine said, “It’s pretty shattering. But India thoroughly deserved to win. We thought we could do it. But our batters couldn’t bat for long enough with our tail to win. I thought Pujara was probably the difference between the two sides.”
