Paine Expresses No Regrets Over Sledging Ashwin During 2020-21 Sydney Test

Former Australia captain and wicketkeeper batter Tim Paine said he did not have any regrets for sledging Ravichandran Ashwin during the third Test of the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, adding that he was doing it to unsettle the India off-spinner who was annoying him by getting his wicket frequently.

India defeated Australia 2-1 in the three-match Test series after suffering a 36-run loss in the opening match at Adelaide. Ashwin batted for 42.4 overs with a sore back and along with Hanuma Vihari, drew the third Test in Sydney.

And failing to break Ashwin's resolve with the bat, Paine began poking the Indian from behind the stumps. "I can't wait to get you to the Gabba, Ash, I'll tell you what, woohoo," Paine said before an over from off-spinner Nathan Lyon. But Paine is not feeling even an inch of repent. "No, I don't because to this day Ashwin didn't play in that (Brisbane) Test match. I wasn't talking to the Indians, I was talking to him. I said we cannot wait to get you to the Gabba.".

".because he was annoying us, fair to say. He is a fantastic cricketer. He was getting me out all the time and that was annoying me as well," Paine said in a podcast of 'thegradecricketer'. Ashwin also retaliated in words that hurt Paine's stomach for saying: "Just like we wanna get you to India. That will be your last series." Sledge was aimed by the Indian spinner, and, says Paine, against it: "But no, that was purely directed straight at him and he pulled out of that Test match because of back spasm."

"Was that a good game in this match? No, I fronted up, which is all I do anyway. Actually day one of the Test match he (Ashwin) was jogging laps. Those back spasms couldn't have been that bad," he said.