The Australian Test skipper Tim Paine recons that he is sick of all the ball-tampering talk and it is time to move on and focus on defeating the Indian team from winning their first Test series Down Under. The ball-tampering scandal in March has haunted Australian cricket, with Steve Smith and David Warner banned and a swathe of executives from the governing body axed or falling on their swords in the aftermath.
With the world’s number one Test nation awaiting them in Adelaide in the first of four Tests from Thursday, Paine said it was time to start looking forward.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, Paine said, “There has been so much talk in the last 10 months that everyone is sick of it. There has been so much talk, it’s time for action. There are 11 guys going out and trying their best who will be so keen because of what has gone on.”
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The odds are in favor of the visitors as they have the world’s best batsman in Virat Kohli combined with a potent pace bowling attack. The last time they met, India won an engrossing series 2-1 on home soil, despite Steve Smith smashing three centuries.
But the Indians have never won a Test series in Australia and if pace bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are firing the tourists could find it difficult to do it this time. In the wake of the tampering scandal, Australia vowed to overhaul their infamous win-at-all-costs attitude, tone down the sledging and be more respectful.
Paine said his message to the team was to keep their cool but also play to their strengths. He said, “It’s just about picking your time and picking your moment and doing what the team requires.”
The previous series between the two rivals have been heated, with the combative Kohli usually front and center. But this time around, the Indian skipper is insisting of looking for confrontations, although he added that “if they want to play a certain way we will reciprocate”.
During a chat with Macquarie Sports Radio, Virat said, “I think from last time around, I’ve become more assured of myself, I don’t really find the need to prove anything to anyone.”
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India suffered a huge blow ahead of the Test with young opener Prithvi Shaw ruled out after suffering an injury in his ankle ligament damage during their final warm-up game against a Cricket Australia XI. But veteran opener Murali Vijay has grabbed the opportunity with both his hands and scored a century in the same match and is expected to face the new ball with KL Rahul.
The Indian middle order is also looking in good form with Cheteshwar Pujara, Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari all making half-centuries in the CA XI game. And they have an experienced set of pacers in Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah.
