NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant‘s dismissal on the third day of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG sparked a heated debate between two Australian legends over his shot selection.
Pant tried to scoop Scott Boland to fine leg but ended up edging the ball, which was easily caught by Nathan Lyon at deep third man.
“That’s unacceptable. I know he’s a very aggressive player and a player that is a bit out of the box and unpredictable but you’ve got to read the game situation and read the field. There were two men back for that exact shot so the percentages are not in your favour, unless you hit it for six you’re going to be caught somewhere in the deep,” Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket.
“It’s just too hard of a shot and too risky of a shot to play with any degree of confidence and I’d be pulling him into line saying you didn’t need to do that. If you’re going to be attacking, run at the bowler and hit him over mid-off, I’d much rather that shot than that shot,” he added.
However, Waugh’s comment did not sit well with his compatriot Michael Husseywho defended Pant on the panel, stating that the wicketkeeper-batter thrives on playing audacious, unconventional shots.
“It’s a hard one though isn’t it because that’s the way he likes to play, he likes to play these crazy shots and if you start putting too much doubt in his mind then it might just confuse him more. It is a poor shot, don’t get me wrong,” he said.
England legend Michael Vaughanwho was also part of the panel, backed Hussey’s remark.
“Rishabh Pant is an exceptional talent, he plays in a way that not many play the game, wouldn’t you give him the licence to keep on playing in that fashion?”
“No, because that’s not an excuse,” Waugh remained defiant in his criticism of Pant.
“That’s an awful shot when his team needed him to make an innings. I get it he’s an aggressive player and I want to see him be aggressive but you’ve still got to have some boundaries with the shots you play. There’s got to be a level of restraint and percentages in your favour and that shot falling down.”
Hussey argued that if Pant had cleared the boundary with a six, Waugh would have praised him in the commentary box. He added that he wouldn’t want Pant to alter his natural playing style. However, the debate didn’t end there, as Waugh had the final word, challenging Hussey with, “So you’re saying that’s okay, as a coach?”
“Yep, I’d say go for it mate, do what you want to do,” Hussey replied.
“That’s why you’re not the head coach, just the assistant coach,” Waugh quipped, prompting laughter from both Hussey and Vaughan.
Hussey served as an assistant coach with the England T20 squad and in the IPL.
