If you have been following the ongoing India vs Australia Test series, we don’t need to tell you the level of sledges exchanged between the two teams. The stump mic has picked up some outstanding banter. Whether it is Tim Paine or Rishabh Pant behind the stumps. And since the fine art of sledging requires adequate research, Paine has been doing his homework. He knew Pant has not been selected for the T20I and ODI series against Australia and New Zealand.
He offered him a Big Bash League (BBL) contract along with a babysitting dig as he would not be playing the upcoming ODIs. Here’s how the Australian skipper tried to break Pant’s concentration on Day 3 of India vs Australia Test at MCG today,
“I tell you what, big MS (Dhoni) is back in the One-Day squad, we might get (Pant) down to the Hurricanes, this bloke. We need a batter. Fancy that, surely, extend your little Aussie holiday, Beautiful town Hobart too. Get you a nice apartment on the waterfront. Have you over for dinner you Babysit? I’ll take the wife to the movies one night and you’ll look after the kids?”
The 21-year-old, however, showed remarkable restraint. He just smiled at Paine’s comments and went on with his job. From the looks of it, he will get it a lot more on Day 4 of the third Test tomorrow.
Tim Paine doing some recruiting for the @HurricanesBBL out in the middle of the ‘G… #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/6btRZA3KI7
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 28, 2018
Here’s how Twitterverse reacted to the banter:
Tim Paine deserves some pay for the commentary work from behind the stumps @Sony #INDvAUS #AllInADaysWork
— Richie Lionell (@richielionell) December 28, 2018
This might actually happen in fourth innings
Not a huge fan of Pant’s but he could have replied ‘Dont think they can afford me with the finances they have mate, so they will have to stick with you for a while I’m afraid! ‘
— Raj Kapur (@rajkapur44) December 28, 2018
We would love that
At the end of the summer someone needs to put a compilation together of all his banter. Absolutely sensational stuff.
— Bevan Moore (@BevanMoore14) December 28, 2018
Delhi Capitals’ mainstay!
I don’t think Paine can afford Pant as a baby sitter. Money he earns in the whole year Pant earns in just 2 months by playing IPL.
— Pankaj Garg (@rockin_panku) December 28, 2018
Even Allan Donald agrees to it
So good
— Allan Donald (@AllanDonald33) December 28, 2018
LOL
@tdpaine36 : Our housing colony in Vikas Puri, New Delhi requires a Chowkidaar (for Night Shifts) we prefer you as you’re good behind the stumps?
We can have special night shift allowances for you as well!DM if interested.
— Yedhu Krishna Menon (@menonyk) December 28, 2018
He can do this during IPL
Little Timmy would make a great real estate agent.
Love that playful banter#INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/HiArU2Qvls— Milind Maheshwari (@Batfleck_06) December 28, 2018
Surely
He deserves a commentator contract Hurricane’s can’t afford Pant but Tim ‘s retirement plan set.
— Surendra R kumar (@suren_13) December 28, 2018
If only
Rishabh Pant should have told him to get his sun glasses off, rub his eyes and have a good look at the scoreboard. But,
surely Timmy boy is going to receive a mouthful when he comes to bat.— Suraj Mittal (@SurajMittal13) December 28, 2018
On Day 2, Pant targetted Rohit asking him to hit a six off Lyon and in turn he will become a Mumbai Indians (MI) fan. Rohit focused on the game at the moment while batting but before Day 3’s play shared what Ajinkya Rahane and him discussed after it. Here’s what he said,
“I was hearing that but when I’m batting I just focus on the job at hand. But I had a chat with Ajinkya Rahane and I joked that if he (Paine) gets a hundred here, I will put in a word about him to my boss at Mumbai Indians and we’ll buy him. Looks like he’s a fan of Mumbai.”
Amidst all the banter, Paine is flirting with the fine line between banter and starting a full flown sledging war with the Indian team. He will have a lot coming his way from Pant after the ‘babysit’ dig as Australia are set for a massive chase in the last two days of the Test.
ALSO READ: Tim Paine’s Banter About Rohit Sharma Made Everyone LOL Hard, Including Rohit
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