Last Updated:
Gavaskar’s cheeky digs at insinuating that the atmosphere in the Australian camp was questionable or tensed, invoked responses from the likes of multiple former Australian player including Aaron Finch.
Josh Hazlwood will look to help Australia reclaim the BGT title. (PTI Photo)
Former Australia player Aaron Finch and Ryan Harris retorted back with a few choice words of their won at Gavaskar who decided to go over the top with his comments about Josh Hazlewood aftre IND’s win in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
After Day 3 of the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, when AUS was left battling at 12-3 chasing a mammoth total of 534, Hazlewood took to the media to vent his frustrations when asked about how the team could come back from the collapse.
Hazlewood’s remarks indubitably left pundits and former players alike stunned, with Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar also sharing his two cents on the same.
“The panic in the Australian ranks is palpable, what with former players calling for heads to be chopped off and some even hinting at cracks in the Australian team after Josh Hazlewood’s media interview at the end of the third day’s play, where he suggested that it was up to the batters to now do something,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.
Gavaskar’s cheeky digs at insinuating that the atmosphere in the Australian camp was questionable or tensed, invoked responses from the likes of multiple former Australian player including Aaron Finch.
“It’s not jabs anymore. Sunny is throwing haymakers over the top. It’s quite funny because, having spent a lot of time with him during the first test, he was not saying things like that. He was very respectful of the current Australian group. But now he has just gone bang, Finch said in an ESPNCricinfo show hosted by Neroli Meadows.
Former Australia women’s cricketer Lisa Sthalekar, who was part of the same show, alo added to the comment, stating, “He’s just stirring the pot here. We’ve all had the privilege to work with him and he is very cheeky”.
Former Australia fast bowler Ryan Harris though was not taking it in stride and humour calling Gavaskar and the whole situation “garbage”.
“Look, there are no, factions. That’s just all garbage. I’ve even heard Mr Gavaskar coming out and saying there’s some faction. It’s all rubbish. That doesn’t happen in Australia. I know it happens in India. I’ve lived there,” Harris told The Indian Express.
“There’s no politics and no, you don’t miss a game (On Hazlewood) for saying what he said. I’ve spoken to a couple of the boys here at and everyone’s smart. They just know our media and how they work. The Australian media have jumped on it, because we went so bad in Perth. But you’re allowed to be outplayed,” Harris added.
“Actually, you know, what Australian media and people have got to realize is that India have won here the last couple of times and they’re a very good team. I mean, it’s only one test. I mean, I have all the respect for Gavaskar, he’s a legend of the game. He is just throwing a little grenade over here and the media have just got hold of him and are having a feast,” Harris said.
