Ishant Sharma gives a funny reply to an Australian journalist

He will be again shouldering a major responsibility for India in the upcoming Test series against Australia and considering the fact that it is his fourth series Down Under, the expectations are even higher from Ishant Sharma. The lanky pacer, who finished as India’s highest wicket-taker in the Test series in England earlier this year and completed 250 scalps, is still remembered for his magical spell to Ricky Ponting in the Test match in Perth in 2008 that India won by 72 runs.

Ishant, who was just 20 then, was part of the Indian teams that toured Down Under in 2011-12 and 2014-15 and has taken 20 wickets in 10 matches so far after having an ordinary start of none for 146 in his first Test in Sydney. He averages over 62 in Tests played there and has three three-fers with the best of 3 for 38 in Brisbane in 2014.

Not every year do I come to Australia

Ishant had a funny moment during his interaction with the media ahead of the Test series starting in Adelaide on December 6. Amid the questions that were thrown at the bowler, a journalist asked him: “I think you’ve been coming here for 11 years now, is that right?”

To this, the 30-year-old pacer said: “Not every year I come here, but yes…” The journalist then corrected himself saying: “11 years since the first time.”

“The biggest thing right now is to win the series and that’s what everybody is focusing on right now. We are not even thinking about personal performances. Just one aim that is to win a series in Australia,” Ishant said on the eve of the four-day practice match against Cricket Australia XI that was supposed to start in Sydney on Wednesday. No play was held, however, on Day 1 because of rain.

India are yet to win a Test series in Australia even if they are touring the country since 1947-48. Their best results in that country came in 1980-81, 1985-86 and 2003-04 when they drew the hosts. They drew 1-1 in the rain-hit three-match T20I series against the hosts earlier this month.

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