Sydney: After four Test matches in the high-octane Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India trail Australia 1-2.
Team India have had an inconsistent run since their thumping 295-run win in the series-opener at Perth, losing two of the next three Tests and escaping with a draw in the third match thanks to several rain interruptions.
Even as the batters have failed the team at crucial junctures, one man has stood out like none other from both teams — Jasprit Bumrah. India’s pace spearhead has posed problems for every Aussie batter and bagged a staggering 30 wickets in 4 Tests at a miserly average of 12.83.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who met both teams on New Year’s day ahead of Friday’s final Test at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), expressed his admiration and awe for Bumrah with a touch of humour.
While meeting the Indian players, the PM suggested hilariously the possibility of introducing a legislation to check Bumrah.
“We could pass a law here that says he has to bowl left-handed or off one step. Every time he has come onto bowl has been very exciting,” Albanese was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.
Albanese himself posted pictures with both teams on X, captioning it: “The Australian and Indian teams have already given us an incredible summer of cricket.”
The Australian and Indian teams have already given us an incredible summer of cricket. pic.twitter.com/oqVDOOr5Bm
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 1, 2025
The teams were invited to the Kirribilli House New Year’s Day at a New Year’s Day reception hosted by Albanese and his fiancee Jodie Haydon. The menu featured mouth-watering dishes like tandoori lamb cutlets, mini lobster and prawn rolls, spinach and cheese sausage rolls.
Albanese, an avid cricket follower, had met the visiting cricketers ahead of India’s match against Prime Minister’s XI last month as well.
The Sydney Test is a special event as it marks the ‘Jane McGrath Day’ in honour of legendary pacer Glenn McGrath’s wife who died of cancer.
On the third day of every Test at SCG, the venue is covered in a sea of pink and millions of dollars are raised for cancer support and awareness in Australia for the Jane McGrath foundation.
When the fifth test starts on Friday, the SCG will be a sea of pink in support of the great work of the McGrath Foundation. Go Australia! pic.twitter.com/SxE8NsQgos
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 1, 2025
