Aussie pacer Josh Hazlewood jokes about 'mankading' this Indian cricketer at MCG
Australia's fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has joked about mankading India's Test No. 3 Chesteshwar Pujara during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which will start at the end of this year.
Pujara was the highest run-getter in India's maiden Test series victory Down Under that took place during the 2018-19 season. He scored as many as 521 runs from seven innings at an average of 74.42. Hazlewood praised the efforts of the gutsy batsman, who faced 1,258 balls in the series where he recorded three centuries and a fifty.
One of Pujara's centuries came during the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) where he scored 106 off 391 balls in epic innings of 481 minutes. Keeping that knock in mind, Hazlewood recently joked that he would save the controversial dismissal of 'mankad' for Pujara at the MCG.
"I have saved that (Mankad dismissal) for Pujara on the flat wicket of MCG," Hazlewood said.
Meanwhile, the Australian captain Tim Paine suggested that even though 'mankad' is included in the rule books, he would not want to do it because of the controversy it creates.
🗣 "I hope I don't find myself in that situation." - Meg Lanning
— #7Cricket (@7Cricket) February 19, 2020
🗣 "I reckon I'll save that one for the next time ... at Pujara." - Josh Hazlewood@gradecricketer chats with the Aussies about the Mankad 😅 pic.twitter.com/8pSpWSU8a6
Last year, Virat Kohli became the first-ever Asian captain to win a Test series Down Under when India defeated Australia 2-1 by winning the Tests at the Adelaide Oval and MCG.
The schedule of India's tour of Australia later this year is yet to be announced. Kohli and Co are set to play their maiden away Day-Night Test, which will take place in Australia. India reportedly will also play a Day-Night Test in England as well next year.