Paine relief: Australia win for first time since ‘sandpapergate’
PERTH, Australia: Australia captain Tim Paine was a relieved man after his team beat India by 146 runs in Perth Tuesday to level the series with their first Test win since the ball-tampering ‘ sandpapergate’ scandal that rocked international cricket.
Set 287 to win, India resumed at 115 for five on the final day and never threatened to pull off a miraculous victory, losing their last five wickets for just 21 runs.
India were dismissed for 140, with spinner Nathan Lyon claiming 3- 39 to finish with eight wickets for the match and guide the home team to a drought-breaking success, their first in seven Tests spanning almost 10 months.
It was Paine’s first Test win in five matches since taking over from the suspended Steve Smith in South Africa, and also the first victory for new coach Justin Langer, coming in his hometown.
Paine, who was involved in a verbal spat with Indian counterpart Virat Kohli on the
We’ve got some inexperienced players in terms of Test matches played, to get a win like that against the best Test team in the world is going to give them a huge boost of confidence. Tim Paine, Australia captain
third and fourth days, said the overwhelming emotion was relief at finally being able to put a dark period in Australian cricket behind them.
“I’m relieved personally,” he said.
“It’s been hard work — the first two Tests of this series have been really tough.
“We’ve got some inexperienced players in terms of Test matches played, to get a win like that against the best Test team in the world is going to give them a huge boost of confidence.”
Kohli defended his side’s decision to play four fast bowlers instead of picking Ravindra Jadeja to replace injured spinner Ravi Ashwin.
Despite the lively and at times unpredictable wicket, Kohli said the Indians were confident they could chase down the target, but paid credit to the Australian bowlers.
“We had the belief we could do it,” he said.
“They were more relentless and got the balls in the right areas for long enough.”
Both captains played down the on-field banter during the match, saying it never crossed the line of what was acceptable.
Australia’s previous Test win was against South Africa at St George’s Park in March.
It was during the following Test at Newlands that Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to alter the ball and Australian cricket was plunged into turmoil.