Published 10:53 IST, December 3rd 2020
Does Shane Warne think Australians give more importance to IPL than international cricket?
Shane Warne questioned if playing in the IPL was more important for players than playing for Australia after Pat Cummins was rested for the third ODI.
India beat Australia by 13 runs in the third and final ODI of the series and managed to save their pride by avoiding a humiliating whitewash Down Under. Both sides went into Ind vs Aus 3rd ODI with several changes. While Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur and debutant T Natarajan replaced Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammad Shami and Navdeep Saini in the Indian team, Australia replaced Mitchell Starc, David Warner and Pat Cummins with Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar and Cameron Green.
Ind vs Aus 3rd ODI: Shane Warne slams Australian team management's decision to rest Pat Cummins
As far as the Australian team is concerned, David Warner and Mitchell Starc were forced changes due to injuries. On the other hand, in an attempt to manage Cummins' workload ahead of Australia's T20I and Test series against India, the right-arm pacer had been rested as he was coming back from playing in the recently concluded Dream11 IPL 2020. The decision to rest Cummins hasn't gone down well with former legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne who questioned if playing in the IPL is more important for players than playing for Australia.
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While speaking on Fox Cricket, Warne said that he was a little disappointed with the decision to rest Cummins. The Australian veteran acknowledged that it is a big, jam-packed summer. However, he reckoned that Australian players should not be resting after two games. Questioning the Australian team management's decision to rest Cummins, he asked if playing in the IPL forced them to take such a decision.
An upset Warne further slammed the Australian team management by saying that their players are allowed to go and play all these games in the IPL but then they need a rest because they have been playing in the tournament. Warne stated that players should start prioritizing playing for the country instead of franchise cricket.
The 51-year-old also asked the players to choose between playing in the IPL or playing for the country. He suggested players miss IPL games because they cannot miss international games saying that they need a break coming off an IPL. Warne opined that it is a One Day International for Australia and you don't need a rest to get through the summer after just two matches.
Meanwhile, the India vs Australia 2020 tour now moves on to the three-match T20I series. The Ind vs Aus 1st T20I will be played on Friday, December 4 at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. The live streaming of the Ind vs Aus 1st T20I will commence at 1:40 PM (IST).
SOURCE: AP & RAJASTHAN IPL TWITTER
Updated 10:53 IST, December 3rd 2020