‘Beaten Us In Men’s, Women’s Cricket’: Aussie Minister Quips During Meeting With Jaishankar

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in a lighthearted moment quipped that her Indian counterpart S Jaishankar is the minister she has most met in her current role. She also, in a humorous nod, acknowledged

the dominance of both Indian men’s and women’s cricket teams.

“This is our 26th meeting, which means you still are the person I have met most in this job,” Wong said.

“You have beaten us in both Men’s and Women’s Cricket,” she quipped again.

Indian women’s cricket team toiled in the league phase and suffered three successive defeats but clinched the last semi-final spot, before knocking out record seven-time champions and heavy favourites Australia in the recently concluded Women’s World Cup.

India then beat South Africa by 52 runs to win the tournament for the first time.

In the same month, Indian men’s team claimed a 2-1 win in the five-match T20 series against Australia.

During the meeting, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that there has been a “remarkable expansion” across all pillars of the India-Australia cooperation, including trade and investment, defence and security, education and skills, science and technology, and space and energy, but most of all in “our vibrant people-to-people links”.

In his opening remarks at the 16th India-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue here, co-chaired with his Wong, he also said the recommendations that “we will make to our prime ministers will be key for them to take into account” when they meet fairly soon.

Jaishankar’s remarks assume significance as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Johannesburg from November 21 to 23 to attend the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit hosted by South Africa.

Senator Wong arrived here on Wednesday on a two-day visit to India and met Jaishankar at the Hyderabad House on Thursday evening.

In his address, Jaishankar emphasised the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Australia.

“As we mark five years of that partnership, the warmth and the ease of cooperation are there for all to witness. We have seen a remarkable expansion across all pillars of cooperation, including trade and investment, defence and security, education and skills, research and innovation, science and technology, space, energy and so on, but most of all in our vibrant people-to-people links,” he said.