‘Always in back of your mind’ – Pat Cummins on plans to use short ball against India during Brisbane Test

Australian skipper Pat Cummins addressed the media on Friday ahead of the huge third Test against India. The game starting on Saturday is set to witness a huge challenge for the batters, with the pitch slated to be bowling friendly. Brisbane has always been a favourite venue for fast bowlers in the last few years. 

One of the questions asked by the media to Pat Cummins was about the barrage of short balls to the Indian batting unit. ANI quoted the Australian skipper as saying, “Yes, it potentially worked out in the Adelaide Test. It’s always in the back of your mind as a bit of Plan B, or if it’s looking really uncomfortable and likely to take wickets. Maybe it comes with Plan A for some of the batters.”

Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins targeted India’s batters with short balls in the previous Test match. With a six-wicket haul in the last game, Starc helped Australia bowl out the visiting side for just 180 runs in the 1st innings of the last game. According to various reports, the pitch is set to have lots of pace and bounce. 

Pat Cummins makes huge statement on using home advantage 

Australian skipper Pat Cummins, during his chat with the media, has said that his team intends to make use of the home conditions. India has won the last two series Down Under, and the home team haven’t won the Border Gavaskar series for a decade. 

The 31-year-old Aussie skipper said, “I think there’s definitely pride in winning in Australia. These are our home conditions. These are the conditions we grew up playing with. I think the hardest thing in cricket nowadays is winning Test series away from home. To make that World Test Championships, you have to win everything at home and try and pick up some overseas wins where you can. We definitely go into every home series here expecting to win. That’s what we grew up watching, and that is the standards we set for ourselves.". 

When asked to speak on the batting strategy against natural stroke makers like Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head, the Aussie skipper replied, “I think everyone goes about it a bit differently. You know, Trav and Mitch are natural shotmakers. That’s the way they go about it. Everyone has got their own method. I think the most important thing is you play to your strength and Trav did that last week.”