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Pat Cummins (Source: X)
Australia's red-ball skipper Pat Cummins has taken a break for eight weeks ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024, starting November 22. Cummins wanted to relax for two months before playing red-ball cricket against Pakistan and India in the upcoming days. Moreover, both series are home games for Australia and fall under the WTC cycle, so they must prepare intensely.
"Everyone that comes back after a break is a little bit fresher, you never regret it. I've been bowling non-stop since the World Test Championship final, nearly 18 months ago. This gives me a good seven or eight weeks completely off bowling so the body can recover, then you start building up again for the summer. It means you can hopefully bowl for a little bit longer, maintain pace is a bit easier, make you less susceptible to injuries,” as per Fox Sports reports.
This break was much needed for the Test captain since he has been playing a lot of cricket lately, starting June 2023, as he featured in the World Test Championship final, The Ashes, the ODI World Cup 2023, IPL (Indian Premier League), and T20 World Cup 2024. Cummins will be on break for the upcoming white-ball series against England and Scotland and return directly for the home series against Pakistan.
I don't know if there'd be too many drawn games: Ricky Ponting
With the approaching of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024, former Australian legendary captain Ricky Ponting predicts Australia's series win. As per the former player, India will lose the series, 1-3. The series is important for India and Australia since they are ranked 1st and 2nd in the WTC points table. A single mistake can turn the tables and they wouldn't want that to happen. While Australia has won one WTC Finals, India is yet to win the mace.
"I don't know if there'd be too many drawn games. I'm obviously going to tip Australia to win and I'm never going to tip against Australia. There will be a draw somewhere and there will be some bad weather somewhere, so I'm going to say 3-1 to Australia," said Ricky Ponting.