Xtra Time Web Desk: Australian Test Captain Tim Paine has recently revealed that the reason for their side’s loss to India was that they had allowed themselves to be distracted during the four-match Test series, which cost them the win earlier this year. India had beaten Australia 2-1 in the series, following a win at the Gabba in Brisbane, which hadn’t seen an Australian loss for the last 32 years prior to that.
“Part of the challenge of playing against India is they’re very good at niggling you and trying to distract you with stuff that doesn’t really matter and there were times in that series where we fell for that,” Tim Paine said, according to news.com.au. “The classic example was when they said they weren’t going to the Gabba so we didn’t know where we were going. They’re very good at creating these sideshows and we took our eye off the ball,” he added.
Speaking at an event in his home country of Australia, Paine pointed his finger at reports speaking on India being unwilling to go to Brisbane for the final test in the midst of strict quarantine rules being instated. In the end, India did play at Brisbane, and ended up winning to clinch the series. The players and staff got a warm welcome upon their return to India.