Cricket Australia erred in not inviting Gavaskar to present BGT trophy, says Clarke

Cricket Australia erred in not inviting Gavaskar to present BGT trophy, says Clarke
Cricket Australia erred in not inviting Gavaskar to present BGT trophy, says Clarke

New Delhi: Cricket Australia should have invited Sunil Gavaskar alongside Allan Border to present the trophy named after them, feels Michael Clarke. Australia won the BGT series after a decade, beating India by a 3-1 margin in the five-match contest.

Former India captain Gavaskar was present in Sydney as a commentator but was not called to the podium as Border handed over the trophy to Australia skipper Pat Cummins.

It led to all-round criticism as Gavaskar informed that he wasn’t invited, instead told that he would not be required to do the honours if Australia won the series.

The move was not well received by former Australia skipper Michael Clarke, who thought Cricket Australia made a big error in its judgement call.

“I just think Cricket Australia missed a trick. Now I know a lot of people don’t know that it was planned before the series started, that if India were to win, Sunil Gavaskar would present the trophy. If Australia were to win, Alan Border would present the trophy. So it wasn’t a surprise to those two guys. But to me, it just doesn’t make sense. Like, they’re both there,” Clarke told ESPN.

“No matter who won, in my opinion, they both should have walked out, they both should have been on stage, they both should have presented the trophy. I think we’re very lucky to have both Allan Border and Sunny Gavaskar in the country commentating at the right time.

“You don’t get that very often. Both legends of the game that the trophy is named are still around and are in the country at the same time. So I just think we missed a trick there.

“I think it sounds to me that, you know, it obviously affected, it offended Sunny as well, and I can understand why. I think they both should have been on that stage presenting that trophy no matter who won.”

Bumrah a ‘freak’

India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was named the player of the series after finishing as the leading wicket taker with 32 dismissals in five matches, leaving Clarke impressed.

“The thing I’ve thought about Bumrah, after the series finished and I was sitting and thinking about his performances, I actually think he’s the best fast bowler ever across all three formats,” Clarke said.

“I know a lot of great fast bowlers, Curtly Ambrose, Glenn McGrath, didn’t get to play T20 cricket, so I’m not talking about those guys, but in regards to anyone who has played all three formats, I think he might be the best ever.

“He’s actually that good in any conditions, that’s what makes him great; any conditions, any format, this guy’s a freak.”

 Sunil Gavaskar was present in Sydney as a commentator but was not called to the podium as only Allan Border handed over the BGT to Australia skipper Pat Cummins.  Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today