As far as sledging goes, Tim Paine’s display late on Day 5 was fairly feeble. It wasn’t funny or witty or clever or even notable for anything aside from the fact Paine was the sledger in question.
It certainly won’t be going down in the annals of Australian cricket for its ugliness, given some of the exchanges which have come before.
In years gone by, Paine calling Ravichandran Ashwin a dickhead, then following it up with some afters about how few friends he has, would hardly have generated a headline. Today it’s rightly drawn condemnation and led to the captain fronting up to a press conference he wasn’t scheduled for to apologise for his behaviour.
Post-Cape Town 2018, the Australian Test team has undergone genuine change from the overly combative, abrasive unit which preceded and led to the ball-tampering incident. Paine has been central to that overhaul, winning plaudits aplenty for the way he and his side conducted themselves on the field – all the while retaining the Ashes overseas and leading the side to the world no.1 ranking.
So to see that same leader turn to churlish, boorish behaviour and throw out a few personal insults was particularly jarring. Surely this wasn’t the same skipper who’s espoused playing with skill, not emotion. Surely a captain whose coach has talked about the difference between banter (good) and abuse (bad) didn’t resort to the latter.
It was, of course, and he did.
Trundling out such dross from behind the stumps would have been poor form in any Test, but it was particularly stupid during this match, a point Geoff Lemon made in The Guardian yesterday.
You would think that during a match when the major story was Indian players being abused from the stands, and making their own stand against it, and when the previous evening Ashwin had been their eloquent spokesman on how hurtful that was – you would think that an Australian hopping into him the very next day would obviously be a terrible look.
Not obvious enough, apparently, although it wasn’t the only case of Paine missing a trick on Day 5.
Tim Paine. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
His three dropped catches, particularly the first, when he grassed Rishabh Pant on three, were crucial in allowing India to secure their unlikely draw, and his field placements and choice of bowlers were awry too.
In the final hour of the match, it took ten overs to hand the ball to Josh Hazlewood, who extracted more reverse swing in Sydney than any other quick, and Pat Cummins was given just two of the last 28 overs. Marnus Labuschagne bowled just as many in that time.
Add in a fine for dissent earlier in the match and it was a Test full of mishaps for the captain, but the one which has been – and will continue to be – most scrutinised is the decision to go verbal at Ashwin, not because it was particularly nasty, but because it went against the playing ethos Tim Paine and Justin Langer have promoted.
Paine acknowledged as much when he fronted the press today, saying he was “bitterly disappointed with the way I went about it”.
“I’m someone who prides themselves on the way I lead this team and yesterday was a poor reflection of the team,” Paine said.
“I let the pressure of the game get to me. It affected my mood and from there, it affected my performance…”
“I’ve had a really poor game as a leader. I’m a captain who wants to enjoy the game and wants to play the game with a smile on their face. Yesterday I fell short of my expectations and our team’s standards.”
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Given his record since taking the captaincy, Paine deserves for this to be treated as, to use his words, “a blip on the radar”. Certainly calls for him to be removed as captain over this one incident are premature, knee-jerk in the extreme.
However it’s also worth pointing out some of Langer’s words from a little under a year ago.
“One thing is for sure. It will only take one piece of bad behaviour for people to say, ‘There you go, that’s the Australian cricket team. Their culture is still shit’.”
Even the most cursory glance online will tell you he’s been proven right on that front.
With the fourth match starting in just a couple of days, it’s up to Paine to back up his apology with his on-field behaviour – and win a Test series while he’s at it.
WillowWiz
Roar Rookie
Completely agree with you, Edge. Sledging - a euphemism for abuse - is primarily an Australian problem, and it distracts from the otherwise often enjoyable cricket the Baggy Greens play.
Insight Edge
Roar Rookie
I agree this sledging or "mental disintegration crap is due for a review. Its nothing short of bullying an opponent. Just exactly when was such conduct in the "Spirit" of the game? Those good enough at test level don't engage in such rubbish and you can add Buttler to Dohni as good examples and Knott from long ago. Paine was never good enough as wicket keepr or batsman but just happened to be around at the right time much like Misbah from Pakistan. West Indies did not and still don't engage in such conduct which is restricted primarily to Australians. Lets face if Jeffery Dujon was never standing close to the batsman to sledge them even if he wanted to!
Irie
Roar Rookie
When I've captained (usually from 1st slip) I've wanted everyone thinking about the game. No captain can do it all. We're all fallible and we can't see everything at once. I don't care if they're at fine leg or point or mid-off. Everyone has a different viewpoint, a different perspective of the game and I always much preferred as much input as possible.
Irie
Roar Rookie
"cultural difference" sums up a lot, but seems to be ignored all too often
Irie
Roar Rookie
I'd go into cultural reasons, but that will offend someone no doubt. Suffice to say the insights of my Chinese wife are very interesting though not politically correct even if directed against her own race
Irie
Roar Rookie
My Chinese wife is racist then as she is is the one that calls out poor Chinese behaviour is sporting events, when we've travelled overseas, in business dealings etc. The things you learn in a cross-cultural marriage
Irie
Roar Rookie
As do most every keeper I've played against. It's amusing when you can carry on the "conversation" while the bowler comes in. Even better when you despatch him to the boundary, turn to the keeper and say "Sorry, missed that part...what were you saying again?"
Irie
Roar Rookie
Ummm, lying about something, covering up a mis-deed makes you an accessory. Covering for a cheat isn't exactly a noble act
Andy
Roar Rookie
The sledging used by Paine was more over the top and abusive than the previous witty remarks on the last tour, and this seems to have tarnished his reputation. Obviously he was getting frustrated that day, and let his emotions get the better of him. For the people calling for him to be sacked, it’s one game. Everyone has bad games sometimes. He has another chance to show his captaincy skills at the Gabba, give him a break.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Eddie I didn't have time the other day, but here's a link to the actual conversation. So perhaps before you accuse someone of lying you should take a look in the mirror. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhk9ePIYBEQ
Rob
Guest
Did Pant’s first innings chatting to Wade maybe lead to increase chatter when a player is taking guard? Talking while a bowler is at top off his mark with ball in hand and when a player has taken guard is deliberately distracting the batsman. Pant does it continual and they did it relentlessly to Maxwell and others last tour of India.
Rob
Guest
Willow Wiz, I’m seeing a genuine desire to target Australians as rule breakers? If the Pant substitute and Jadeja torn hammy /concussion after they finish batting is okay with the rule book, then underarm was also allowed in the rules. Poor choices of the use of the rules, but hey all good it’s allowed. I’ve seen plenty of catches claimed by Indians and other nation that hit the ground. I’ve seen plenty of players from other nations ball tamper. I’ve seen plenty of players belt the ball and stand their ground forcing the umpire to raise his finger. I’ve seen players appeal continually and then snicker about falsely claiming an opponents wicket? India, England, WI, Pakistan, Australia are all guilty. What’s your take on keepers calling out as a ball is being hit by a batsman? What’s your take on keepers gibberish as a batsman has already taken guard and bowlers being his run up? Exhibit (A) Pant who pushes the gibberish boundaries to purposely distracting the batsman levels IMO. I think the result was Paine’s engagement with Ashwin. Will fully distracting a batsman when the ball is in play is illegal. Batsman takes guard and bowler begins his run up the ball is in play. Un-sportsman like behaviour escalates quickly like lollies on balls suddenly becomes grit in the pocket. It’s all related and equally viewed IMO.
Tanmoy K.
Guest
Like Rishabh Pant, Tim Paine is also a talkative wicket keeper. After dropping Pant twice Paine lost his temper and gone out of his mind. At the beginning of the 5th day Australians expected to win the match by Lunch itself, but that didn't happen mainly due to him, made him mad inside.
Max
Roar Rookie
So the bangladeshi troller "kopa shamsu" back to his anti india spitting venom. why change name ? do u watch cricket? India got thrashed in South Africa and England? seriously SA vs Ind - 2-1 series with close matches. Eng-Ind- 4-1, but india lost 3 matches which were were close and competitive. Looks like u just check the outcome. not how the match was played. Its like saying England thrashed Aus at headingley test 2019. Only in Newzealand I agree 2-0 . Newzealand dominated India. But 2 test series is very few test matche sample to derive and NZ also got thrashed when visited india last time. But I agree India played poorly in NX stop being anti-India. You are the same guy who says India won at home in 2017 in spinning condition bcoz Starc was injured? seriously are u that cricket illiterate? Bro even keefe was MOM in one of the match and u expect Starc to be deciding factor in a test series in India. LOL When India won in Aus 2018 , people said Warner and Smith missing. How about now with India having 10 players injured?? which team visits Aus and Eng in a span of 2 years and 3 years for away matches?? India did it by playing away 2 times Aus -2018 and 2020 & Eng- 2018-2021 while Aus last visited India in 2017 and Eng visited India in 2016.
Rob
Guest
Stumps don’t move over the 5 days. Seriously he scuffed around the crease shadow batting. Those markers weren’t even effected after 5 days of scratching. What happens when bowlers go up on day one and scuff up the crease? Seriously it’s a nothing issue from an eccentric player being bored. If he scuffles around in the danger area it’s would be an issue.
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
You were the one claiming "get your facts right". Citing members of the public, sometimes with vested interests, as "facts" or "evidence". Can't help but picture your cartwheels when an Indian was in the papers saying Australian's weren't racist. Like Christmas all over again for Chop.
James
Guest
Sorry 2013 v Pakistan when he rubbed it against his zipper.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Ha yes I do remember that now. I ignore half the comments on here. Lol
WillowWiz
Roar Rookie
Think of all the kids watching the game he's let down. He could've looked to have been a role model to, not just the millions of Aussie kids, but the hundreds of millions of Indian kids watching as well! The message that he sent across, instead, was: "hey, it's totally okay to verbally and emotionally abuse someone from the opposition when the heat and pressure of competition gets to you! This is what it means to play "hard-but-fair"!" Great going, Timmy, what a massive missed opportunity. :unhappy:
WillowWiz
Roar Rookie
I reckon Ashwin should've just looked to shut up and get on with it - as should've Payne.