Tim Paine burns Virat Kohli with brilliant sledge
Stump microphones have picked up a heated exchange between Tim Paine and Virat Kohli late on day three of the second Test.
Having battled through the better part of eight days of intense Test cricket in relatively cordial fashion, the captains clashed verbally as tensions bubbled in Perth on Sunday.
Kohli and teammates went up vociferously for a caught-behind appeal in the final over, desperate to dismiss Paine.
It was turned down and India had no interest in reviewing but stump microphones picked up Kohli having a dig at his counterpart.
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“If he messes it up, it’s 2-0,” Kohli said, referencing the series lead he is so determined to take at Optus Stadium.
Paine replied “you’ve got to bat first, big head”.
It was a reasonably tame exchange but things appeared to become more heated at the end of play, when Australia reached 4-132 to boast a 175-run lead.
Kohli and Paine continued to exchange words as they walked towards their respective dressing rooms.
“Tim just asked him where he was going for dinner,” Nathan Lyon laughed.
“I’ve played enough cricket against Virat to know what he’s like.
“Virat’s Virat.
“Virat Kohli is a great player. He plays on emotion.
“I’m not worried about what he’s doing or India’s doing.”
Aussies take 175-run lead into day four
Kohli’s classy century, debated dismissal and haughty histrionics dominated a drama-packed third day, where Australia hold a 175-run lead after finishing at 4-132.
Kohli was in the thick of things from go to whoa on Sunday, when Aaron Finch retired hurt with a finger injury but was cleared of serious damage.
Kohli, who marched to the crease on Saturday with India in deep trouble at 2-8, outclassed Australia’s star-studded attack in a composed knock of 123 to help India post a first-innings total of 283.
Australia lost 4-61 in the final session before Usman Khawaja and Paine, unbeaten on 41 and eight respectively, thwarted the prospect of a more-dramatic collapse.
