The Australian skipper, Tim Paine, who also performs the wicket-keeping duties faced a lot of criticism on social media after he dropped a catch off Hanuma Vihari towards the end of the final day of the Sydney Test. It was the third catch that the Paine had dropped on the final day, having earlier grassed Rishabh Pant twice. Mitchell Starc induced an outside edge off Vihari’s bat and Paine decided to go for the ball in front of first slip, to take the catch but couldn’t hold on.
With Australia desperate to take the last five wickets of Team India in the final session of the Test, this drop was costly for the hosts and Paine was criticized by fans and experts alike. Tweeting about the same, one of the Indian fans wrote: “That guy too busy doing a podcast behind stumps”.
Vihari edges and a chance goes down late on the final day…
Live coverage: https://t.co/xdDaedY10F #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/UdVjUmKYrS
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 11, 2021
HAHA TIM PAINE DROPPED THAT. THE GUY TOO BUSY DOING A PODCAST BEHIND THE STUMPS
— Rahul Desai (@ReelReptile) January 11, 2021
A conversation between Paine and Ashwin had ensued earlier in the session as Paine, standing up to the stumps for bowler Nathan Lyon, engaged in distraction tactics against Ashwin, who was batting at that point in time.
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One of the Twitter users wrote: “Dear Time Paine, catches win matches not sledging”.
Dear Tim Paine, catches win matches not sledging.#AUSvsIND
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) January 11, 2021
“Paine only talks. Ashwin gives it back with ball, bat, and now words. Paine 1 | Ashwin 3” wrote another.
Paine only talks.
Ashwin gives it back with ball, bat, and now words.
Paine 1 | Ashwin 3 #AUSvIND
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) January 11, 2021
Paine received some harsh criticism for engaging Ashwin verbally and then dropping the catch off Vihari. One of the Indian fans tweeted: “Tim Paine’s lips and gloves – both don’t shut on time”.
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The conversation between Tim Paine and R Ashwin was quoted by some who could pick it off the stump mic. “Tim Paine: can’t wait for the Gabba Test. Ravi Ashwin: Can’t wait to see you in India, that’d be your last series.”
Tim Paine: "can't wait for the Gabba Test".
Ravi Ashwin: "Can't wait to see you in India, that'd be your last series."
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 11, 2021
Tim Paine's lips and gloves – both don't shut on time.
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) January 11, 2021
Tim Paine in 15 seconds. pic.twitter.com/g4yFkwpOdr
— Danish Sait (@DanishSait) January 11, 2021
Paine’s dropped catches went quite a way in deciding if the hosts won the match or India escaped with a draw. As it turned out, the Aussies fell well short of their target.
