Last Updated:
The Indian and Australian cricket teams attended a New Year’s reception hosted by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanesea
Australia PM Albanese meets Team India
In the lead-up to the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting Friday in Sydney, the Indian and Australian cricket teams attended a New Year’s reception hosted by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his fiancée, Jodie Haydon, at Kirribilli House on Wednesday.
The event, as detailed by The Sydney Morning Herald, featured light-hearted moments and high praise for players.
Prime Minister Albanese reserved special admiration for India’s fast-bowling ace Jasprit Bumrah, who has claimed 30 wickets in the four matches in the ongoing series. “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,” Albanese remarked during the 90-minute gathering.
Indian and Australian cricket teams met Australian PM Anthony Albanese today, ahead of the start of the fifth Test match between the two teams in Sydney(Photo source: Anthony Albanese/ X) pic.twitter.com/LaFDEkJkhZ
— ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2025
Sam Konstas, Australia’s promising new talent who impressed with a remarkable 60-run debut innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, had his fan moment when he posed for a picture with his childhood hero, Virat Kohli. The 19-year-old Australian batter was involved in a shoulder collision with Kohli earlier in the series, a moment that resulted in the veteran Indian batter receiving a 20 percent fine and a demerit point. Konstas’ parents, present at the reception, also made sure to capture a photo with Bumrah.
Albanese humorously took some credit for Konstas’ rise, referencing his performance in the Prime Minister’s XI match, where the young cricketer scored a century.
“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 Prime Minister quipped.
India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, addressed the gathering on behalf of skipper Rohit Sharma, sharing his reflections on the tour without delving into the series’ ongoing drama. “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,” Gambhir said.
With Australia leading the series 2-1, captain Pat Cummins expressed his excitement for the decisive clash. “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,” Cummins stated.
- Location :
Sydney, Australia
