"This is a harshly treated team at times" - Former Australia captain lauds Pat Cummins' team after 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test win
Australia made a brilliant comeback in Adelaide to win the second Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test and level the series 1-1. Former captain and wicket-keeper Tim Paine lauded the home team for turning things around after the defeat at Perth.
The hosts suffered a massive 295-run loss in the opening Test at Perth. However, they came back hard in Adelaide to trounce India by 10 wickets. With the hosts winning the second Test, the third Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, scheduled to begin on Saturday, December 14, becomes all the more important.
Speaking on SEN Breakfast, Tim Paine expressed his relief after Australia's victory in Adelaide.
“We spoke a couple of days ago about the pressure that was on them and the response that people were wanting to see. This is a harshly treated team at times, but they are one of the great teams," Paine said.
Paine praised the hosts, stating that the way they responded under pressure was huge. He particularly mentioned the likes of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, who rose to the occasion as senior players in the side.
“The big boys stood up I thought particularly the captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc – the pink ball wizard, Travis Head was amazing and Marnus I thought was really pleasing," he stated.
Paine also described the last session of play on the opening day as Test cricket at its absolute best. Talking about Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney, Paine praised the two for battling it out the way they did, saying:
“You’ve got one of our absolute champions who’s averaged 60 plus at times fighting to save his career and you’ve got a kid in his second Test trying to establish himself."
Paine added that seeing good players fighting so desperately is a good thing to witness in professional sports.
“For Marnus and Nathan McSweeney at different points of their career to be able to nail down get through … that just put Australia so far out in front of that Test match," he said.
Australia will be eager to win the Border Gavaskar Trophy
The BGT 2024-25 series hangs in the balance with the score tied at 1-1 and three Tests to go. Australia will be pleased with their effort in Adelaide and will want to carry forward the momentum, while India will be desperate to bounce back in Brisbane.
Looking back at the last four BGT series, India have won all of them (2016-2023). Speaking on the aforementioned show, Tim Paine stated that Australia will want to tick off winning the BGT.
“They have won everything but the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and they know that, they’ve spoken about that, this is the one they want to tick off," he concluded.