AUS v IND 2020-21: ‘They became very desperate and petty’, Ian Healy slams Australian team for their on-field conduct

Healy feels Australian team crossed the line on the final day of the Sydney Test.

By Salman Anjum - 13 Jan, 2021

Former Australia wicketkeeper Ian Healy on Tuesday (January 12) lashed out at his country’s skipper Tim Paine for sledging India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin during the fifth day’s play in the third Test at SCG.

According to Healy, Australian team crossed the line with their on-field behaviour on the final day of the Sydney Test.

See Also: "Paine can't get away with that language", Stuart Broad unhappy with his abusive sledging

"They overstepped the mark there. They became very desperate, they became very petty and Ashwin had an answer for the lot," Healy told SEN Radio.

Paine has come under the scanner for using an abusive word during the verbal duel with Ashwin when the Indian held vigil with an injured Hanuma Vihari to eke out a draw for his team, which was chasing a mammoth 407 in the fourth innings.

While the Australian captain went on to say that it was all part of the game at the post-match press conference, Healy refuted his remarks.

"He's wrong. It's not all part of the game. There's a thing called the preamble to the laws of cricket and it is a thing that was designed by Sir Colin Cowdrey and it's about how you play cricket and how you're supposed to play cricket," he said.

Meanwhile, Paine has apologised for his on-field antics, saying that he ended up "looking like a fool" by sledging Ashwin.

Even though Australia’s famed bowling attack couldn’t bundle out India at SCG and there is a concern over David Warner's fitness heading into the Gabba Test, Healy feels the home team will "get it together".

"The bowlers were fantastic, I wouldn't be splitting them up, I'd be giving them a chance in three days time to get that right and really enjoy Brisbane," he said.

"Don't split them up. I thought the bowling was fine.

"Wade's position will come into question, Warner, was he fit enough, there'll be some chaos painted, but I think Australia will galvanise and get it together," Healy added.

By securing a famous draw in Sydney, Team India also kept the series levelled at 1-1 going into the fourth Test, starting January 15 in Brisbane.

(With PTI inputs)

By Salman Anjum - 13 Jan, 2021

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