Pat Cummins has decided to take an eight-week break as he’ll be preparing for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a series against India that will be played later this year. Cummins just finished off with Major Cricket League and decided to step up from the white-ball tour which will be held next month in United Kingdom.
Pat Cummins to recharge and prepare for Border-Gavaskar Trophy
The Australian skipper took this decision so that he could prepare himself mentally and physically. He believes that stepping away from the UK tour will give him the chance to recover from any physical strains and return in top form. His goal is to lead Australia effectively in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a series that holds significant importance for the team following their recent consecutive series defeats to India at home in 2018/19 and 2020/21.
“Everyone that comes back after a break is a little bit fresher, you never regret it,” Cummins was quoted as saying by Fox Sports.
“I’ve basically 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, maintaining pace is a bit easier, makes you less susceptible to injuries,” he added.
India has last two consecutive wins
India’s previous tour of Australia is remembered as one of the most extraordinary series in cricket history. After a disheartening start in Adelaide, where India was dismissed for just 36 in the day/night Test and suffered a seven-wicket loss, the tour appeared doomed.
Despite the absence of then-captain Virat Kohli, who left for personal reasons, and a slew of injuries that forced India to rely on a makeshift bowling lineup in the final Test, the team overcame the odds and secured a 2-1 series win.
The highlight of their triumph was at the Gabba, a venue considered a fortress for the Australian Test team, which had remained unbeaten there since 1989.
“It’s the trophy I haven’t won before” Pat Cummins eyes for the title
Pat Cummins, who was part of the Australian squad during India’s 2020/21 tour, will be aiming to prevent India from achieving a hat-trick in the series win.
“It’s the trophy I haven’t won before… this is the one trophy a lot of our group haven’t ticked off,” Cummins said.
“We’ve achieved some amazing things over the last few years as a Test group. You kind of back yourself to win every series at home. I think you need to try and be up there in the upper echelon of teams.
“That’s what lies ahead of us this summer. They’re (India) a really good side. We play them quite a lot, we know them really well, but we feel like we’re really well placed also,” he added.