"Sunny is throwing haymakers over the top" - Aaron Finch slams Sunil Gavaskar for Josh Hazlewood remarks ahead of 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test
Former Australia captain Aaron Finch has slammed Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar for going over the top with his comments on Josh Hazlewood ahead of the all-important second India-Australia Test in Adelaide, starting December 6. Hazlewood has been ruled out of the match due to a side strain, leading Gavaskar to suggest that the ace pacer may have been dropped for his comments during the opening Test.
For the uninitiated, Hazlewood was asked about the Australian batters' approach towards their massive 534-run target after being reduced to 12/3 in Perth. He responded by saying that the batters needed to be asked the question instead of him.
These remarks led to several experts in the media suggesting a possible divide within the Australian ranks after the hosts suffered a 295-run defeat. Hazlewood was subsequently ruled out of the second Test due to injury a few days later, leading to Gavaskar's comments.
He wrote in his column for Sportstar:
"Hazlewood is out of the second Test and possibly the series too with a supposed side strain. Strange, that, since nobody had noticed anything wrong with Hazlewood at that media conference. Mystery, mystery - the like of which used to be common in Indian cricket in the past. Now, it's the Aussies and like Old McDonald, I'm simply loving it."
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Finch did not take too kindly to Gavaskar's remarks and said:
"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."
Several Australian players have dismissed claims of division within the Australian camp in the build-up to the Adelaide Test.
"That doesn’t happen in Australia... I know it happens in India" - Ryan Harris
Former Australia cricketer Ryan Harris also criticized Sunil Gavaskar for his comments on Hazlewood's injury, claiming such politics never happens in Australia like in India.
Australia have not won a bilateral Test series against India since 2014-15, losing their previous four affairs. This includes back-to-back home series defeats in 2018-19 and 2020-21.
Harris told The Indian Express:
"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. There’s no politics and no, you don’t miss a game (on Hazlewood) for saying what he said."
Meanwhile, Australia are under immense pressure after losing for the first time in a Test match at the Perth Stadium. A second consecutive defeat at Adelaide will leave the hosts in a precarious 0-2 hole in the best-of-five series.