Former Australia skipper Tim Paine has said that he doesn't regret sledging Ravichandran Ashwin over the Gabba Test during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, because the latter didn't get to play that Test. He added that he did it so that he could unsettle Ashwin, who looked very resolute on the ground, and had troubled him by picking his wicket every now and then.

After losing the series opener at Adelaide, India defied all odds to clinch the series 2-1. Ashwin played a crucial role in drawing the third Test in Sydney, batting for around 43 overs with an aching back besides Hanuma Vihari, who battled a hamstring injury.

After not being able to break Ashwin's stand with the bat, Paine began poking him from behind the stumps, sledging him in a typical Australian style.

"I can't wait to get you to the Gabba, Ash, I'll tell you what, woohoo," Paine was heard saying on the stump mic. But he has said that he doesn't regret sledging Ashwin.

"No, I don't because to this day Ashwin didn't play in that (Brisbane) Test. I wasn't talking to the Indians, I was talking to him. I said we cannot wait to get you to the Gabba," Paine said while speaking to The Grade Cricketer podcast.

"...because he was annoying us, fair to say. He is a fantastic cricketer. He was getting me out all the time and that was annoying me as well," Paine admitted.

"But no, that was purely directed straight at him and he pulled out of that Test because of back spasm. Did I had a great game in that match? No, but I fronted up. Actually day one of the Test he (Ashwin) was jogging laps," Paine revealed.

The banter between the Aussie wicketkeeper and Ashwin lasted a while as the latter kept on batting despite his back not cooperating.

"Just like we wanna get you to India. That will be your last series," Ashwin replied.

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