India-Australia Rivalry No Less Than Ashes: Tim Paine

India are slated to tour Australia for a Test series Down Under at the end of the year. Though the schedule is yet to be announced, the series could be hampered due to the coronavirus pandemic. In an interview, Australia Test captain Tim Paine, compared the India-Australia rivalry with the prestigious Ashes.

In his last series as a captain, Australia squandered a Test defeat in their own backyard against India. It also marked India’s first Test series victory Down Under.

Tim Paine says it’s a series like the Ashes

Tim Paine will be itching to avenge his previous Test series defeat over India. Though with Steve Smith’s captaincy ban coming to an end there is a possibility that he might be handed back the captaincy role.

Paine also believes the team was different during India’s last tour to Australia. With David Warner and Steve Smith back in the rank, Australia have added the much needed ammunition to their side.

“It’s not so much about looking back and trying to get them back for what happened last time,” Paine said during a video press conference. “This is a different team, no doubt their team will be slightly different as well.

“But it’s two high quality teams, a really anticipated series, purely because of the quality of cricket, not for what’s happened before. India and Australia as a rivalry, it’s a series a bit like the Ashes that we all look forward to.”

Paine also had a special mention about Test cricket’s first-ever concussion substitute Marnus Labuschange, who has rose up to the ranks, and proved himself one of the finest batsman in the longest format.

“You put in 15,000 Test runs with two guys alone, Steve Smith and David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne’s come on in leaps and bounds and he’s now a top three or four batsman in the world himself,” said Paine.