A video went viral of an ex-Australian player's 'Sourav Ganguly' reference in a dig at Pakistan during the Boxing Day Test. Vaughan agrees
There is a popular story about Sourav Ganguly and Steve Waugh that goes around whenever India and Australia's cricket rivalry is up for discussion. It is said that Ganguly deliberately made Waugh wait at the toss before the start of the Test series between India and Australia in 2001 and continued to do so throughout the three-match series, which India won. Ganguly, of course, later went on to clear the air, saying that he was late for the toss in the first Test because he had forgotten his blazer, but the former captain did agree that he used it as a tactic in the next two Tests to annoy the Australian skipper.
A proof of that was on full display when former Australia cricketer Kerry O'Keefe took a cheeky dig at Pakistan using Ganguly's reference. O'Keefe was not particularly pleased with the Pakistan team's gesture of giving out Christmas presents to the Australian team and their families before the Boxing Day Test. O'Keefe said it was not possible to beat Australia with this kind of mindset.
O'Keeffe said in a video that, "This Test series is being played in the best of spirits. You're not going to beat Australia in the best of spirits. Christmas presents yesterday. Would Sourav Ganguly have arrived with Christmas presents for Steve Waugh? No.”
Watch the video here.
O'Keefe said an opposition team needs to be feisty against Australia. "You've got to play feisty cricket against the Aussies. You have to have some spite. This is too pleasant. And then opening the boxing day with a half-volley," added O'Keeffe, who played 24 Tests and 2 ODIs for Australia between 1971 and 1977.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan, who was a part of that panel, kind of agreed with O'Keefe as he said, “You can't bring Christmas presents.”