NEWS
Follow UsFresh from the thumping 3-1 win in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25, Australian captain Pat Cummins hinted that he might not lead the team on their tour of Sri Lanka as part of their last series of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle.
The statement came in the wake of Australia securing a final berth at the WTC Final for the second time in a row. They will face South Africa in the final at Lord’s, starting June 11.
“In terms of Sri Lanka, we’ll wait and see. Becky’s [Cummins’ wife] hanging on at the moment, so we’ll play it by ear. But most likely, I might struggle to get over there,” Cummins said at the post-match press conference after his side beat India in the fifth and final Test in Sydney on January 5 (Sunday).
Cummins credited new entrants on the side Beau Webster and Sam Konstas for carrying a positive attitude on the field. While Webster played a knock of 57 and 39* and also took a wicket with the ball alongside three catches to make it a memorable debut, Konstas was once again in the firing range of Jasprit Bumrah and Co and braved it immaculately.
“Beau was huge in this Test. He’s one of those quintessential all-rounders where you feel like they’re going to contribute in every facet of the game.
That’s what he does for Tasmania and he proved that in this Test match with some really important overs. I thought he bowled beautifully, took some great catches and (played) two really important knocks,” Cummins said about the debutant, who became the first player from Tasmania to hit a Test fifty since Ricky Ponting in 2012 and to take a Test wicket since James Faulkner in 2013.
Cummins also backed the Tasmanian 31-year-old to give tough competition for a spot in Australian playing 11 to Cameron Green, when the latter returns from an injury layover.
“When you kind of build the package together, you think that if they’re (both) in the best kind of six batters, but they can also contribute a little bit with the ball and they are both amazing kind of gully, second or third slips fielders as well.
So, yeah, just because he’s an all-rounder, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have two of them,” said the Australian captain on the possibility of playing with two out-and-out all-rounders.
Cummins was also quick to defend his fellow New South Wales man Sam Konstas, who was playing only his second Test and came under the radar for former cricketers for his ultra-aggressive nature on the field.
"I think people mistake a bit of confidence for bullying or abuse. You're allowed to walk around with your shoulders puffed back and play a few cricket shots. I don't think that's illegal, but some people take offence to that and want to put him back in his place.
We say the same to all our players, just bring yourself every day, be yourself, and go about it how you think represents yourself the best and how you want to play. I think he's been really good in this series. He stood up for himself when he needed to."
