Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins is gearing up for a crucial showdown against India in the opening match of the Cricket World Cup. Cummins is confident that his team has a solid plan to counter the formidable Indian spinners. The victory in the third ODI at Rajkot has bolstered Australia’s confidence as they prepare for this blockbuster clash on Sunday.
India might have won the three-match series 2-1, but Australia’s 66-run victory in Rajkot, where they posted an imposing total of 352, has injected a sense of belief into the Australian camp. Cummins revealed that this confidence stems from their past encounters with Indian spinners.
“It (preparation) starts with training for the next few days before the game. The Australian guys play a lot of spin. Our batting order had played a lot in India and done well, so they know most of the (Indian) bowlers and have a plan (in place). We are confident. We had a good win in the third ODI (in Rajkot), which is probably a bit closest to our strongest XI. We have had pretty good records in ODIs in India,” skipper during a promotional event here.
Preparation is key, and Cummins emphasized that it all starts with rigorous training in the days leading up to the match. Australian cricketers are familiar with facing spin, which is a common feature of subcontinental conditions. This familiarity equipped them with the skills to confront the Indian spin attack.
Cummins will heavily rely on key players to guide Australia to victory in the World Cup. Among them, opener David Warner and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell hold pivotal roles. Despite being 36 years old, Warner has shown a resurgence in form. He has scored 390 runs in nine innings this year at an impressive average of 43.33 and a strike rate of 119.26, including four half-centuries and a century.
During the recent ODI series in India, Warner displayed exceptional form by scoring three consecutive half-centuries. Cummins praised Warner’s aggressive approach, stating, “Warner has been fantastic in the last month, particularly in white-ball cricket. Not only is he scoring runs, he is being aggressive. He is taking the game on and getting the innings to a great start.”
Australia’s preparations for the World Cup have been meticulous. They played a five-match ODI series against South Africa and had warm-up games against Pakistan and the Netherlands. Winning both the warm-up matches signalled that their preparations have been near perfect. Cummins mentioned that India feels like a second home to them, emphasizing the importance of adapting to the conditions.
Pat Cummins, relatively new to captaining the Australian ODI side, feels free of the pressure of leadership. He acknowledged the wealth of experience in the team and how he relies on senior players for guidance. Cummins highlighted the benefits of being a captain: “You get a feel of what exactly is going on out there. You bowl and also make decisions on who you bowl next and what different plans you have.”
