Since the controversial ball-tampering saga, the Australian cricket team was less aggressive on the field before the latest Perth Test against India. However, during the Perth Test, both skippers were involved in verbal spats and Australia seemed much aggressive in the recent days that resulted in their much-awaited Test victory after their six consecutive winless Test runs.
During the Perth Test that Australia won by 146 runs and levelled the series by 1-1 with two matches to go, the Indian skipper Virat Kohli and the Australian Test skipper Tim Paine both were involved in the on-field banters.
After the game, when Paine was asked about these banters, the Aussie Test skipper clearly opened up that they are not going to sit back and be walked all over.
Paine told, “At times you have got to draw a line and start sticking up for yourself and sticking up for your teammates. We are really passionate about playing for Australia and we are certainly not going to sit back and be walked all over. Sometimes those things happen and you have to get involved.
“Was it a decision as a captain to try and assert myself on the game? No. It was just two competitive cricketers trying to do their best to win the game.”
Chasing down the target of 287 runs in the fourth innings, the visitors India was bundled out for just 140 runs and the hosts won by 146 runs. After levelling the ongoing important home Test series, Paine claimed that he is happy to play the game with the competitive and hard-style nature, keeping aside the emotion.
The Aussie captain commented, “It’s probably a question he will have to answer. What I will say is that he I was really proud of the way our team conducted themselves on the field this week. I was really happy with the competitive, hard style of cricket we played.
“We speak a lot as a group of playing on skill and not emotion and for us that is really important. We know our best cricket is played when we put emotion aside, or most of it, and just concentrate on skill.
“Having said that there are times when you have to get involved, you have to stick up for your mates and I think we are finding a really good balance in that sense.
“I’m really happy with the way we are going about it. Its my role as captain to make sure we are staying on track, we know what works for this team, for me it is about making sure we keep going down that path.”
For the long times, the Australian cricketers have been criticized in the cricket world for their aggressive mouthful sledging. However, Paine makes a thin line on it.
The Aussie captain said, “It’s the nature of it and the language. What is said is important, not how much.”
