Australian Captain Pat Cummins called Pakistan tour a tough call because of Pakistan pace battery with reverse swings in his pre departure media conference at Melbourne.
“A lot of the time the just reverse swings, and we didn’t really experience it this summer with grassy wickets and short games whereas over there it can be real weapon”.
“So we’re just trying to upskill that. we have not bowled a lot of reverse swing in the last year or so, but it’s a huge factor going to the subcontinent, Australian captain said.
“I am not sure it’s a competitive advantage, but it’s a reality of playing over there, Cummins accepted and acknowledged the reputation of Pakistan pace attack as masters of the skill.
Australian Cricket team who has started their journey to tour Pakistan from Melbourne as updated by Australian Cricketers on social media with happiness and joy while Cummins also comment awfully on tight playing schedule before departure but accepted as the need of the time as well.
“Normally you fly in, and you have a couple of weeks in a place, which has its pros but it also has its cons,”.
I think here, being able to spend a bit more time in Australia, we will be able to fly in, we will be fresh and if we can replicate similar conditions to what we might expect over there, we can literally land and in couple of days we all be up to speed for the test match.
Pakistan who played 66 Test matches in total with Australia and won only 15 while Australia have won 33 and 15 ended at draw but in last two host series trapped Australia with spin bowling attack at UAE back in 2018/19 and 2014/15 but this time Australia also has good plans with spin due and Cummins have threats in his pockets instead of fear.
“The way you have got to play spin and face reverse swing bowling, it can be quite different to what you might experience in a traditional Australian summer. Its a bit of fun as well. We are seeing new things and trying new things, so it adds an extra element to training.
“We are not expecting to have the spin friendly subcontinent conditions we have experienced in past Indian or Sri Lankan tours, It seems like the pace bowlers have done quite well and they (Pakistan) have got a really strong pace bowling line-up”, Cummins said in answer to a question.
Steve Smith is the only Australian Cricketer who has the much experience of subcontinent (with 48 average in test matches in Asia) and Cummins admiring him with great respect as his vice but he also comment his concerns of team selection.
I feel like I am lucky to have someone like Smithy, who is not only captained in India but also played quite a bit in subcontinent. It’s a new thing for me, captaining spin over there, but I don’t think I will be a deer in headlights. It’s an unfortunate reality of having a really, really strong squad, a couple of people are going to miss out on every test match. Cummins said.
“Sweppo (Swepson) has spent a lot of time around the test side, so even though he might not have played a lot of red ball cricket he has been bowling lots and lots and lots in the nets, And the same for Ash (Agar), he has been playing quite a lot of international cricket in the last couple of years so while it’s a different format and different feel, I am really confident that either of those will be able to slot straight in.
“In terms of the fast bowlers, Scotty Boland’s just had a fantastic summer, Joshy Hazelwood and Starc are superstars so already one of those are going to miss for the first test, you would expect. I think everyone realizes there is going to be some tough calls.
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood. Reserves: Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Haris
March 4-8: Rawalpindi First test
March 12-16: Second Test Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test Lahore
Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. On standby: Sean Abbott, Brendan Doggett, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Renshaw
Australia ODI and T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
March 29: 1st ODI Rawalpindi
March 31: 2nd ODI Rawalpindi
April 2: 3rd ODI Rawalpindi
April 5: Only T20 Rawalpindi
