Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the Indian and Australian cricket teams at Kirribilli House ahead of the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, beginning Friday at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The reception featured mateship, light-hearted banter, and recognition for stellar performances in the ongoing series.
Albanese heaped praise on Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, whose sensational run of 30 wickets in four matches has left Australian batters reeling. Bumrah also achieved a milestone, becoming the fastest Indian pacer to claim 200 Test wickets in his 44th match.
The Prime Minister, drawing laughter from the players, quipped:
“We could pass a law here that says he has to bowl left-handed or off one step. Every time he comes on to bowl, it’s incredibly exciting.”
The Prime Minister also lauded young Australian batter Sam Konstas, who impressed in his debut innings at the MCG with a brisk 60 off 65 balls. Albanese humorously claimed credit for Konstas’ rise, noting his century during the Prime Minister’s XI match that caught the selectors’ attention.
“Of course, he got his break in the Prime Minister’s XI. I’m claiming some of the credit, which is about my only contribution to national cricket.”
The event saw moments of warmth as Konstas posed for pictures with Indian star Virat Kohli and Bumrah. Albanese was also seen sharing a laugh with Kohli, showing him something on his phone. Legendary Australian pacer Glenn McGrath presented the Prime Minister with a pink cap from the McGrath Foundation, highlighting the importance of Day 3 at the SCG, known as Jane McGrath Day.
Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, speaking for skipper Rohit Sharma, reflected on the challenges of touring Australia.
“Australia is a beautiful country to travel but a challenging place to play. The crowds have been absolutely amazing. We’ve got one more Test match to go, and hopefully, we can entertain the fans.”
Meanwhile, Australian skipper Pat Cummins expressed his determination to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, last won by Australia in 2014-15.
“Last week in Melbourne was one of the best Test matches we’ve been part of. Over the five days, I’ve never seen anything like it. We’re looking forward to this week—it’s a decider, our chance to win the series. Can’t wait.”
With Australia leading the series 2-1, India faces a must-win scenario to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a title they’ve held since 2017. The high-stakes clash promises intense competition, with fans eagerly anticipating a thrilling finale at the SCG.
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