Test cricket in Australia and on-field banters have an age-old relation with each other. The history of cricket of such examples but the recent one between Rishabh Pant and Tim Paine has gone to all new height.
Remember how the Australian skipper asked the Indian young gun about his babysitting skills? Well, Pant may have had sledged him back by calling him a ‘Temporary Captain’ but he accepted the challenge of babysitting off the field and did it on the record!
Both Indian and Aussie cricketers were invited at the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison’s residence. Paine attended the gathering with his wife Bonnie Paine and two kids and guess what, Pant posed for a picture with them.
The ICC shared the picture on their official Twitter handle and the caption read, “*Challenge Accepted*”.
Paine’s epic banter for Rishabh Pant
During the third day of the Boxing Day Test, Paine wanted to distract the young Indian wicketkeeper and trolled him over MS Dhoni's return to the ODI side. Since Pant hasn’t found himself in the squad, the Australia captain sledged Pant over his axing and asked him whether he would be interested in playing for the Hobart Hurricanes in the ongoing Big Bash League.
“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 waterfront apartment”
“Have him over for dinner.”
“Do you babysit? I can take my wife to the movies while you watch the kids,” said Paine and the entire conversation was captured by the stump mic.
Here’s the video:
Indeed they pulled each other’s leg during the boxing but this gesture from Pant is a great example which states why cricket is called the Gentlemen’s Game!