Tim Paine V Ravi Ashwin
India’s victory over Australia is without doubt going to go down in history as one of the best test series of all time. It was full of iconic moments, sadly for Australia captain Tim Paine there’s one in particular that he won’t remember fondly.
It happened in the third test at Sydney. Ravi Ashwin was helping India bat to a draw, frustrating the Australians and especially Paine who was keeping wicket. “I can’t wait till you come to the GABBA Ash,” remarked Paine. It seemed a safe claim. Australia had not lost at the GABBA for 33 years and would be clear favourites for the final test. Fast forward a week and India’s dramatic victory has left Paine with egg on his face.
Sledging has always been a part of cricket but the comments Paine made to Ashwin, swearing at the Indian spinner were not in the spirit of the game. This will have no doubt made India’s victory even sweeter. Here are some other examples of comments in sport that have not ended well.
‘CaNt wAiT tO gEt YoU tO tHe GaBbA’
— Cricket Shouts (@crickshouts) January 19, 2021
via @dangoodey pic.twitter.com/f7UlkPzOLQ
Mitchell Johnson V Jimmy Anderson
You would think that Paine would have learnt from former Australian bowler Mitchell Johnson. In the 2011 Ashes series Anderson was not on his usual brilliant form and Johnson took the opportunity to say “Why are you chirping now mate, not getting wickets?” The comment was presumably meant to rattle Anderson, but instead he steamed in, demolished the stumps of Ryan Harris, turned around to Johnson and placed a finger over his lips. Iconic.
Will we ever get tired of Jimmy Anderson shushing Mitchell Johnson? Probably not. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/yu08grsjVO
— Betting Tips at OLBG.com (@OLBG) November 16, 2020
David Haye V Tony Bellew
Boxing and Wrestling are renowned for their trash talking with both fighters always confident that it will be them coming out on top. This was certainly the case when David Haye and Tony Bellew fought in a heavyweight contest. The two men had a massive rivalry and genuine hate for each other and sparks flew in interviews. While Bellew was all about proving people wrong, Haye called his opponent “fat” and claimed he did not have to even train to beat him, even taking a selfie in a jacuzzi with some champagne. When it came to fight night it was Bellew who had the last laugh, easily beating Haye and then doing it again in the rematch with Haye putting his loss in the first fight down to injury.
Atletico Madrid V Cristiano Ronaldo
You would have thought Atletico Madrid would have thought better than to have a dig at Cristiano Ronaldo who had caused their downfall so many times. Nevertheless that’s exactly what they did after beating Juventus in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final. They won 2-0 and a member of the Atletico team was claimed to have said “Ronaldo is nothing without Real.” However, Ronaldo had the last laugh scoring a hat trick in the second leg, and copying the celebration Diego Simeone had used in the first leg. Not being able to resist one final dig Ronaldo said “I’ve won five Champions Leagues, you guys zero.”
Golden State Warriors V LeBron James
The 2016 NBA finals are absolutely legendary because of great games, iconic moments and the Cleveland Cavaliers comeback that has never been seen before or since. Perhaps the turning point of the series came at the end of Game 4 with the Warriors just about to win and take a 3-1 lead. Draymond Green committed a flagrant foul on LeBron James and called him a b***h. Klay Thompson also sarcastically remarked that LeBron had his feelings hurt. LeBron didn’t answer back but let his basketball do the talking. He had three incredible games that saw the Cavaliers complete the historic comeback and in his interview after the victory said “they hurt my feelings”.
