The much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Test series is yet to get underway but things have already started getting heated up as India ace Ravichandran Ashwin has hit back at Ian Healy for his recent comments on Indian pitches.
The much-awaited series will begin on February 9 in Nagpur as India and Australia will renew their celebrated rivalry in Tests. Australia are playing a Test series in India for the first time since losing the series in 2017. They have not won in India since 2004/05 season.
And as they desperately seek to end their barren run in India, their former wicketkeeper Ian Healy has said that it won’t be possible if India produces ‘unreasonable’ pitches.
“I think if they produce fair Indian wickets, that are good batting wickets, to start with, (that) probably spin and spin pretty consistently but spin a long way, late in the match we (Australia) win,” Healy said on ‘SENQ Breakfast’.
Ravichandran Ashwin reacts to Ian Healy’s comments:
With Ian Healy causing a stir with his comment, Ravichandran Ashwin decided to react to it. The India spin spearhead, who is known for his no nonsense approach while speaking, stated that Healy’s comments has set a much-needed spark ahead of the series.
“Anyway, an Australian broadcaster and former player Ian Healy, has given a few gems before the BGT. He has given a few statements that say Indians will make sure Australians feel uncomfortable in India
“I don’t believe they will give us wickets that will look even slightly closer to what we will actually get during a game. So he has said that Australia’s approach is only correct. The support staff might have given their opinion, but Ian Healy’s quote has set a spark with this take. It’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy guys. So we need this spark, right?,” Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Speaking further, Ravichandran Ashwin pointed that the Australians won’t stop bantering ahead of the series. He also made it clear that he was aware of the recent remarks made by Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja as well as some other Australian players regarding the Indian pitches and conditions.
“Besides, banter will keep coming from the Australian camp for sure. We saw what Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja had to say. Even Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw have said some controversial things. Renshaw said that you need to analyse a few things in India like who is taking the new ball and stuff,” said Ashwin.
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