On-field sledging has always been part of cricket. Australian Captain Tim Paine’s wife showed how the players could be great friends off-field through her Instagram post.
Banter across teams has been considered healthy until and unless no lines are crossed. But lines do get blurred all the time and things have gotten serious on-field. On the other side, players have always stuck by the fact that they leave the banter at field and are friends off-field.
Australian Captain Tim Paine’s wife Bonnie Maggs shared a picture with Indian wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant. This is what she shared:
The International Cricket Council (ICC) joined in the fun with the following tweet:
Both the teams were at Sydney for their 4th Test match. They also celebrated New Year there.
History behind the pictures:
In the recently concluded Boxing Day test match, the sledging went to next level when in Day 3 Australian Captain Tim Paine begun sledging Indian wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant. With Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s inclusion in the Indian ODI team, Pant has been left out. Paine used MSD’s reference and sledged Pant.
“Tell you what big MS is back in the one day squad. Should get this bloke down to Hurricanes. They need a batter.
“Fancy that extend you Aussie holiday, beautiful town Hobart too… get him a water front apartment”
“Have him over for dinner.”
“Do you babysit? I can take my wife to the movies while you watch the kids,” Paine bantered.
Bonnie’s comment on her pic with Pant says “Best babysitter”. She took her husband’s sledge and turned it into a fun comment.
Next day, on Day 4, when Paine came to bat, Pant decided to get back at him. He continued to sledge Paine as if conversing with Ravindra Jadeja and Mayank Agarwal.
“We have got a special guest here. Have you heard the word temporary captain ever [Mayank]? You [Jadeja] don’t need anything to get him out. Come on boys.”
“He loves to talk, that’s the only thing he can do. Only talking talking,” Pant sledged from behind the stumps which were picked up by the stump mic.
Pant was referring to the fact that Paine was made captain of the Australian team’s captain after suspension of Steve Smith and David Warner in infamous ‘Sandpaper Gate’ controversy. Both of the cricketers complete their suspension this month and there are rumours that Smith might return as Captain.
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