Tim Paine
Tim Paine. Credits: Twitter

Former legendary wicket-keeper, Ian Healy has slammed the antics by the Australian team, skipper Tim Paine in particular, in the recently drawn third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) against India.

Paine was heavily criticized for his sledging and altercations in Sydney – even by some of former Australians, which seems hypocritical – for sledging the Indian batsmen, and engaging in an altercation with the umpire.

Tim Paine Fined By ICC For Breaching Code Of Conduct
Tim Paine. (Photo: Twitter)

Paine hurled out expletives when he was unhappy with one of the decisions by the third umpire, Bruce Oxenford, demanding some consistency in the DRS system, and also quarrelled with the on-field umpire, Paul Wilson

“There’s no f***ing consistency Blocker. There’s a thing that goes past it,” said Paine, shockingly, for which he was fined 15% of his match fee and handed a demerit point for showing dissent.

They overstepped the mark there: Ian Healy

Tim Paine, Ravichandran Ashwin
Tim Paine, Ravichandran Ashwin. Credits: Twitter

The intensity, which the fans have been demanding to see on the entire tour, was in full show on the fifth day at the SCG. As Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari battled out to save the Test match, Paine, who could see their victory slipping away, decided to sledge Ashwin – he called the off-spinner a ‘di****ad’ and both were engaged in a war of words.

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Ashwin responded to Paine’s warning of coming to The Gabba, where Australia haven’t lost since 1988, with  “Can’t wait for you to come to India. It’ll be your last series.”

Apart from Paine’s sledging, Matthew Wade had hit Vihari twice while throwing the ball, to which the batsman took the blow, but didn’t retort back with any words. Steve Smith, the Man of the Match in Sydney, was accused of scruffing Rishabh Pant’s batting guard – however, in a recent viral video, it was revealed that the ground staff has broomed the batting area and Smith did nothing illegal.

Ian Healy
Ian Healy. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

Healy opines that the hosts overstepped their line as they became very desperate for victory. Healy, who took over 500 international catches, says that Paine was pretty mean to Ashwin. The fourth and the last Test of the series begins on 15th January – Australia need to win the match in order to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, otherwise, even a draw would mean India would retain the trophy.

“They overstepped the mark there. They became very desperate, they became very petty and Ashwin had an answer for the lot,” Ian Healy told Sen Radio.

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