1 week Ago By PTI
PERTH: Australian captain Pat Cummins anticipates the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against arch-rivals India to be a more "attritional" affair this year, with the two heavyweights of world cricket clashing over five Test matches instead of the usual four. Australia are keen to avenge consecutive series losses on home soil as they face India in the opening Test at Optus Stadium on Friday. "The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has always been very tight every series.
A five-Test match series gets really attritional; it's a big one, really," Cummins remarked during the pre-match press conference on Thursday. Cummins dismissed concerns about the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, which is scheduled for Sunday in Jeddah, coinciding with the third day of the match. He believes the magnitude of the series will keep players focused.
"Yeah, I think he [assistant coach Daniel Vettori] is there in the auction. I don’t think so [it will be a distraction]. Dan has flown over there, but he has been here for the whole preparation.
He has done all the meetings, all the chats, watching it. We came to know that anyway," Cummins said. "For the players, I don't think so.
Most of these guys have been there in the auctions before. They know they can’t really do anything. You’re a sitting duck and seeing whether you get selected or not.
It doesn’t make a difference to how we go about the first two days. It is not a distraction as far as I can see it," he added. Australia will, however, be under pressure, given their recent record against India.
The visitors have won the last four Test series, including historic triumphs on Australian soil in 2018-19 and 2020-21. "There will always be pressure when you are playing at home. India are a very talented side, and it will be a good challenge.
But we are not looking too far ahead," Cummins said. "It would be great to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India are a great side, but we are well prepared," he added.
Cummins also commented on Nathan McSweeney, who will make his Test debut as Australia look to fill the void left by retired opener David Warner. "He should play his natural game. He shouldn't try to imitate David Warner.
That's not his game. As long as he makes the bowlers bowl again and again, that's his game," Cummins advised. The Australian skipper also shared his thoughts on India’s young all-rounder Nitish Reddy, whom he played alongside in the IPL for SunRisers Hyderabad.
"He is an impressive youngster. Didn’t bowl much for SRH. He can swing the ball and is a really talented kid," Cummins noted.
Interestingly, both teams will be led by fast-bowling captains, a rarity in international cricket. Cummins leads Australia, while Jasprit Bumrah steps in for India as regular skipper Rohit Sharma is on paternity leave. "It should happen more (pacers leading teams)," Cummins said when asked about the unusual coincidence.
The blockbuster series promises to be a battle of endurance and skill, with both teams eyeing supremacy in one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries..
