“Very Very Poor”: Michael Vaughan Unhappy With Tim Paine’s Choice Of Words Against Ravi Ashwin

Australian captain, Tim Paine is facing the heat from all corners after his conduct behind the stumps, as a keeper and as a leader of Australia’s Test team, in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar series against India in Sydney.

Paine dropped three important catches; two of Rishabh Pant and one of Hanuma Vihari. Had he hung on to at least one of Pant or even later that of Vihari, Australia would have had a massive chance of bowling the visitors out.

Apart from his fielding slipups, the Aussie skipper was indulged in an ugly altercation with the umpire, Paul Wilson and later with India’s off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin.

Unhappy with one of the decisions by the third umpire, Paine used obscene language and directed expletives at the umpire. He was caught sledging Ashwin on the stump mic when the off-spinner had dug ground while trying to save the Test match for his team.

Tim Paine has never once crossed the line of negativity: Michael Vaughan

Paine, as the match was slipping away from Australia’s grasp, took a dig at Ravichandran Ashwin in the last session of the Test match. The Tasmanian sledged Ashwin for not having many friends within his own team besides calling the off-spinner ‘d***head’.

It is also reported that the Aussie skipper has mocked Ashwin with an Indian accent. If true, it would go down badly on Paine in coming times considering the issue we have seen regarding the Indian team facing racial comments in the past couple of days.

This is what has upset former England captain, Michael Vaughan. He points out that since taking over the captaincy from Steve Smith in 2018 in South Africa after the ‘Sandpaper Gate’ scandal, Paine has led the team gracefully. However, Vaughan feels that in the Sydney Test, Paine has crossed some lines which were in poor taste.

“Let’s be honest the captain of Australia since sandpaper gate has led this team with great distinction,attitude & never once has he crossed the line of negativity in my eyes,but today his language behind the stumps & sledging today was back to the old days !! Very very poor !!” tweeted Vaughan.

Let’s be honest the captain of Australia since sandpaper gate has led this team with great distinction,attitude & never once has he crossed the line of negativity in my eyes,but today his language behind the stumps & sledging today was back to the old days !! Very very poor !!

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 11, 2021

Also Read: Come To India, It’ll Be Your Last Series: Ravichandran Ashwin Shuts Down Tim Paine After Aussie Skipper’s Shameful Jibe