India vs Australia | Gaining respect as important as winning games, asserts Tim Paine

12/05/2018

Australia Cricket team captain Tim Paine has stated that they always play to win but this series will also be about gaining the respect of the cricket fans and his country. India and Australia will play a four match Test series over the next couple of months, beginning tomorrow at the Adelaide Oval.

The much awaitedfour match Test series between India and Australia will begin tomorrow at the Adelaide Oval tomorrow. Paine has stated that gaining the respect of his country and cricket fans is as much on the priority list as winning the matches.

"Gaining the respect of our country and fans is as high priority as winning," said wicketkeeper Paine.

"We play to win but clearly we realised we needed to do work in some areas."

The comments seem to have been made in the backdrop of the ball tampering saga that hit the Australian Cricket world earlier this year in March when three of Australian mainstream players - Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft - were banned by Cricket Australia for their involvement in the match against South Africa.

On the other hand, the Indian captain Virat Kohli said that sledging will happen in the Test series but will be within the limits and will not cross the line which has been done earlier. India’s tour to Australia in 2007-08 was one the most controversial ones and the teams would be wary of any such incidents repeating itself in the upcoming Test series.

"We don't expect bowlers to just come in and bowl and just walk back, Obviously there are going to be times when you have to put the batsman under pressure, not necessarily crossing the line but just getting into their heads,” Kohli said.

Kohli also went on to justify a bit of “banter” and said if an important person is at the crease then the opposition will try their hands to pressurise him through various means which is only fair. He also added that a bit of banter is not harmful.

"It is going to be there, but it's not going to be at the level that has happened in the past where both teams have lost control. But the competitiveness will be there because you want to get guys out. If you are up against an important guy you will go hard at that person be it in your body language or putting in a word or two.

"At times when situations are difficult you do find ways to upset the batsman's rhythm and I think a bit of banter is not harmful at all."