After Australia’s massive win, Tim Paine says this team ‘harshly treated’ | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former Australian skipper Tim Paine commended Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney for their resilient performance on the first day of the second Test against India in Adelaide, highlighting their efforts against the swinging pink ball as crucial to Australia’s 10-wicket victory.
Labuschagne, who had been struggling recently, and debutant McSweeney, forged a vital 57-run partnership in the challenging final session of the first day. They faced a potent Jasprit Bumrah, whose skills were amplified by the pink ball’s movement under lights.
Paine emphasized the significance of their partnership, describing it as a contest between a champion bowler at his peak, a seasoned batsman battling to regain form, and a newcomer seeking to establish his place in the team.
“I thought the last session of the first day was Test cricket at its absolute best,” Paine said on ‘SEN’.
“You’ve got an absolute champion running in full steam under lights with a pink ball. 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.
“I thought both of those guys for different reasons were huge. That was just as good as professional sports get when you’ve got players that are so good fighting so desperately,” he added.
Australia rebounded strongly from their heavy defeat in the first Test in Perth to level the five-match series at 1-1. The third Test is scheduled to begin in Brisbane on December 14. Paine acknowledged the pressure on the Australian team after their initial loss and the public’s expectation for a strong response.
“A bit of relief I would have thought, no doubt. The pressure that was on them and the response that people were wanting to see,” Paine said.
“This is a harshly treated team at times, but they are one of the great teams. 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 added.
Labuschagne scored a fifty, while McSweeney contributed 39 runs in the second innings. Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Travis Head also made significant contributions to Australia’s victory. Paine reiterated the importance of Labuschagne and McSweeney’s partnership in setting the stage for Australia’s victory.
“It does not get any better than that…it doesn’t get any harder. 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,” Paine noted.
While Australia extended their brilliant record in pink-ball games, Paine did note that India hasn’t played many day-night games.
“I thought the way they responded under immense pressure was huge, albeit in a pink ball Test where we have a great record and India don’t get to see it that much.”