Indian star’s wife takes aim at Tim Paine’s sledging outburst

Ravichandran Ashwin’s wife has taken a jab at Australian captain Tim Paine following his sledging barrage during the New Year’s Test at the SCG.

On day five of the match in Sydney, Ashwin combined with Indian teammate Hanuma Vihari for a match-saving 62-run partnership in the fourth innings.

The wounded pair survived a bouncer barrage from Australia’s pacemen to muster a gritty draw, setting up a mouth-watering series decider at the Gabba.

But Paine’s frustration reached boiling point in the evening session, the wicketkeeper resorting to verbally abusing his Indian rival.

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When Ashwin pulled out of a delivery as Nathan Lyon was halfway through his run-up, Paine said: “We can’t wait to get you to the Gabba, Ash.”

Ashwin quickly responded: “Just like we want to get you to India. It’ll be your last series.”

Paine shot back: “Maybe, are you a selector here as well? At least my teammates like me, d***head. I’ve got a lot more Indian friends than you do. Even your teammates think you’re a goose. Don’t they. Every one.”

Tim Paine of Australia.Source:Getty Images

They were uncharacteristic comments from Paine, who has been the poster boy of Australian cricket’s cultural transformation since the ball-tampering saga.

Writing for The Indian Express, Ashwin’s wife Prithi Narayanan detailed her reaction to Paine’s vulgar sledges, which she said “weren’t that good”.

“I heard (Ashwin) tell Hanuma, “Pathu Pathu ball, adulaaam” (We will play 10 balls each). It felt good to hear his voice,” Narayanan wrote.

“The same stump microphone would later bring up other voices, which weren’t that good!

“When Tim Paine started talking, my worry wasn’t what he was saying but that Ashwin was talking back. Something he hadn’t done until then.

“Was he losing focus or is the back pain irritating him that he is reacting? What if something happens now? Don’t do it, Ash.”

Ravichandran Ashwin and his wife.Source:Instagram

The Indian squad’s casualty list has grown rapidly throughout the Test series, and Ashwin was battling a niggling injury of his own this week.

Narayanan revealed the 34-year-old had tweaked his back during the SCG Test, and was in “unbelievable pain” the night before his heroic performance.

The man went to bed last night with a terrible back tweak and in unbelievable pain. He could not stand up straight when he woke up this morning. Could not bend down to tie his shoe laces. I am amazed at what @ashwinravi99 pulled off today.

“Over the years, I have seen him handle pain and know he has a high threshold for it, but I had never seen him like this,” Narayanan wrote.

“He was crawling on the floor. He couldn’t get up or bend down. I couldn’t imagine how he was going to play and the snack-break comment was said only in half-jest.

“As he was about to leave, he said, “I have to play. I have to get this done’.”

The fourth Test between Australia and India will commence at the Gabba on Friday with the series delicately poised at 1-1.

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