Published: Nov 22, 2018, 02:54 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 22, 2018, 02:54 PM (IST)
Cricket Australia will be resting their pace trio of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins from Sheffield Shield duties in a bid to keep them fresh for the four-Test series against India starting next month.
On Thursday, Australia named a 14-man squad for the first two Tests against India to be played in Adelaide and Perth. The tour kicked off on Wednesday with the hosts registering a four-run win in the first T20I of a three-match series.
The frontline bowlers were also rested from the T20I series with Australia calling format specialists in their place.
“I think Josh, Starcy and I are all going to rest up this Shield game and be right to go in Adelaide,” Cummins was quoted as saying in media reports on Thursday. “Ideally, it would be nice to maybe sneak in another bowl, it’s about a 16-day gap, but that Shield game (at Perth Stadium) is probably a bit too close to the Test match. Just in case you’re out in the field for two or three days and suddenly have a quick turnaround.”
Cummins recalled how Australia’s previous tour of India (in 2017 for four Tests) churned out fierce contests but he isn’t expecting the story to be repeated this time around.
“The Test series against India 18 months ago was super, super fiery. I don’t think we’ll see it that fiery. We’re both playing for our country, we’re both proud teams, and we like to be aggressive with our body language. I’m sure there will be a little bit of fireworks through the series, but it will make for good viewing and it will be the competitive streak in all of us coming out rather than trying to bully anyone. I’m sure there will be heated moments, but it will be a good contest I reckon,” he said.
Cummins had generated controversy when he had predicted how Virat Kohli won’t make a century during India’s tour of Australia. He has clarified saying it wasn’t a dig but a compliment.”[Kohli] is a great competitor. That passion hasn’t gone away. Every game looks like he’s playing his last game he’s that passionate.
“I’ve copped a bit of stick for [the prediction]. I was trying to pay him a compliment. Like any Australian cricketer and fan, the best result is if he scores runs … he’s an absolute gun and their best player. He’s going to be the big wicket. He had a good series out here last time, so we’ll wait and see,’ Cummins said.
