Currently, the Australian cricket team is under immense pressure as Team India has put a humongous first innings score of 622/7d in the Sydney Test. However, despite being floored by the oppositions, the hosts’ skipper Tim Paine showed he had not lost his sense of humor during the press conference after the stumps on Day 2.
Cheteshwar Pujara (193) and Rishabh Pant (159*) have made sure that the chances of Australia winning this Test match become negligible and hence, Paine was set to face some more tough questions. These can’t be happy times for him but he still he managed to share a light moment with the media when he answered a reporter’s phone in the middle of the press conference.
Paine was answering a question when a phone rang and momentarily distracted, the Australia captain took the call.
WATCH – Tim Paine Appreciates Rishabh Pant’s Babysitting Gesture
Here is what Tim Paine was heard telling the caller: “Tim Paine speaking. Who is it sorry? Oh okay, who are you after? Casey in Hong Kong! Oh, Martin! Oh alright, he’s in the middle of a press conference. Can I get him to call you back? Alright.. no worries, I’ll ask him to check his emails. Alright! Thanks, Casey, cheers!”
The press contingent listened to Paine’s call in engaged attention. Here is the video of the same:
A cheeky phone call derailed Tim Paine's press conference after play! 🤣🤣 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/zMT1cT8IOd
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 4, 2019
Tim Paine took over the captaincy reins after the ban of Steve Smith and David Warner for a year over their roles in the ball-tampering scandal. Since then, Australia has lost one Test to Pakistan and two to India – Paine oversaw his first Test win as captain against India in Perth.
While many have appreciated Paine’s leadership, it seems all is not well within the Australian dressing-room.
ALSO READ: Rishabh Pant Accepted Tim Paine’s Babysitter Challenge
The Australian pace triplet of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins endured a difficult day Thursday as India reached 303 for 4 at stumps. India piled on the agony on the second day and bowling coach David Saker revealed that the bowlers and Paine were not on the same page about the tactics to be deployed on a green-tinged SCG pitch.
Talking to ABC Grandstand, Saker said, “I think the bowlers wanted one thing, Tim wanted one thing. That’s not been the case as the general rule but when you were watching from the sideline you could see there was some confusion.”
