Sunil Gavaskar tried to ‘distract, disrupt, annoy’: Former Australian star angry over Josh Hazlewood comments

After India comprehensively beat Australia in the first match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Pert, Pacer Josh Hazlewood made an interesting comment. Asked what the hosts could do to make a comeback in the five-match series, Hazlewood replied: “You’ll probably have to ask one of the batters that question… I’m probably mostly looking towards the next one test.” The comment was echoed by several former cricketers, who questioned whether there was a division in the Australian dressing room.

“I wonder if there’s a division in Andrew McDonald’s team between the batters and the bowlers,” Gilchrist said on Fox Sports.

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavsakar used this comment and wrote in a column for Sportstar about the panic in the Australian team.

“The panic in the Australian ranks is palpable, with former players calling for heads to be cut and some even hinting at cracks in the Australian team following Josh Hazlewood’s media interview at the end of the third day of game, where he suggested that it was up to the batters to now do something,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.

Today, former Australia coach Mitchell Johnson accused Gavaskar of using a media platform to “distract, disrupt, annoy” Australia.

“The other one that caught my attention was Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar’s column on Hazlewood, suggesting he was left out for his soft comments at the press conference rather than being left out due to a legit side injury Regarding Gavaskar and his comments in general – I’ve enjoyed working with him in the past and learned a lot just from listening to him talk about the game – his take this week n. is nothing more only a conclusion,” wrote Mitchell Johnson in a column for The Nightly.

“Gavaskar is using his media platform to distract, disrupt, annoy and take advantage of a comment made by Hazelwood. That is Gavaskar’s job, to comment on what he sees, but this has not been done for any other reason than to get a reaction and help India.