1 week Ago By Sandip Dighe
Pune: The cricketing rivalry between India and Australia spilled over to the Aundh Military Station on Wednesday, over a week before the real willow war starts Down Under. Soldiers from both nations played a friendly cricket match during a break from their joint military exercise — Austrahind III — being conducted at the station. Their "combative" spirit was evident during the "fiercely fought" tie.
The Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) will tee off with the first Test in Perth from Nov 22. The Australian soldiers are in Pune to practice and share best military practices, fostering bonds and camaraderie for their future collaboration under a UN mandate. Australia's contingent commander, Brigadier Amanda Williamson, emphasised the friendly rivalry during the opening ceremony.
"Australians and Indians are always great friends until we start talking about cricket. We share a deep love for the game. I am pleased to see that our programme includes many opportunities to discuss and play cricket, and I look forward to watching that competition on the pitch during the exercise," she said.
After completing the morning drills during the joint military exercise on Wednesday, teams from both nations played the cricket match on the PT ground, where a temporary pitch was laid. The grass was trimmed for an optimal playing surface. The match was a 10-over-a-side game played with Cosco light balls.
Five officers from each side comprised the teams. Full contingents from both nations cheered their teams. The Indian team won the toss and opted to bat.
They scored an impressive 107 runs, losing five wickets. In response, the Australian team managed to score only 52. "For the first time, a cricket match was played between the troops.
The overall atmosphere was friendly and fantastic. It was a great evening for both the teams," a senior Army officer told TOI. Troops from both nations have been playing cricket every day after completing their daily tasks, according to the officer.
"It has become a routine for some of them. They understand the ‘cricketing language' well," the officer added. Typically, the joint military exercise focuses on serious matters such as military drills, war stories, defence and strategic affairs, advanced military weapons and systems, and war tactics.
"Cricket is the second most popular topic among the participating troops," said another officer. "They often discuss past matches and famous rivalries, including the battles between Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne. A frequently debated topic is the current performance of the Indian team, recently whitewashed on home turf by New Zealand," said another Army officer.
A cameraman from the Australian contingent shared his excitement about the upcoming five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series. "India has beaten us twice on home ground. Given the current form, the Aussies have a better chance to regain the trophy," he said on the sidelines of the opening ceremony.
"I want to see how the Indian batsmen perform on bouncy tracks. This series has become a major sporting event in Australia this summer, and I would love to watch it once I return home. But yes, we have a good chance to upset India," he said with a smile.
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