Australian captain Tim Paine starred with the bat in the Adelaide Test match against India, as he scored a valiant half-century to help his team out of trouble and taking them to an improbable win.
Australia were 79/5 in response to India’s 244 when Paine made 73* to take them to 191. India was then bowled out for 36 in their second innings and Australia chased down the required 90 runs with the loss of just two wickets, to go 1-0 up in the 4-match series.
Talking about his batting, Paine, during a virtual pre-match press conference on Friday, said, "There have been few innings as a batsman, may be few and far between where I've had to impact the game. I've been lucky that I'm with such a great side where our top six normally does the job.”
"In the last Test, it was my turn to stand up and whether I'm going out there with 300-400 for five or 70/5, I've got a job to do. My role changes a lot depending on whom I'm batting with and the situations of the game. I got to be flexible. Sometimes it's going to be my turn to dig in and score runs and that was the case in Adelaide. I'm hoping this week they all come out and we will have a lot more on the board,” Paine added.
The Boxing Day Test normally witnesses a crowd of 80,000 but amid the pandemic, only 30,000 will be allowed at the MCG.
"Seeing the MCG sometimes with 30,000 in it you're a bit disappointed when you turn up but we're just lucky to be playing a Boxing Day Test at the MCG. It's certainly better than not playing the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, so everyone's excited,” Paine said.
However, there are still concerns about the third Test that is scheduled in Sydney from January 7 onwards. With a spike in Coronavirus cases in Sydney, Cricket Australia has announced that the MCG will be on stand-by for the third Test also if New South Wales closes its borders.
Paine, however, urged the media personnel and event staff to enter the bio-bubble with the cricketers, in order to ensure that the third Test goes off without a hitch at the SCG.
"It's not ideal but it's a small sacrifice for everyone to make to get the Sydney Test up and going... There's no doubt the New Year's Test in Sydney is a huge part of the Australian summer," Paine said on the eve of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Urging others to join them, Paine said living in a hub is not that bad after all. "I know the boys would certainly be excited to have another few people into the hub to talk to, I think we're getting sick of each other. If we get a few more people that we can chat to I think it would be good fun," he said.
"That's a decision they'll have to make. As I've said before, the hub life is not that bad, it's not like we're in jail or anything like that, it's still a pretty good way of living. I don't think any of us complain," he added.
(PTI inputs)
