Pat Cummins Who’s Ready For Virat Kohli’s Challenge, Feels Fresh And Happy Not To Bowl To Steve Smith

Dec 11, 2020 at 6:22 PM

facebook iconlinkedin iconmail icontwitter iconWhatsApp iconTelegram icon
Pat Cummins Who’s Ready For Virat Kohli’s Challenge, Feels Fresh And Happy Not To Bowl To Steve Smith

Pat Cummins, Australian pacer feels fresh as he was rested for T20I series against India after playing first two ODIs of three-match ODI series while gearing up for battling it out with India’s batsmen for four-match Test series.

Pat Cummins also bowled 52 overs in recently concluded IPL 2020 where he picked 12 wickets in 14 games.

Steve Smith and Pat Cummins.
Steve Smith and Pat Cummins. Image Credit: Getty Images.

Pat Cummins Feels Fresh Despite Not Playing Tests For 7-8 Months Or So

Pat Cummins picked 3 wickets in 2 games bowling 18 overs in first two ODIs and has 143 wickets in 30 tests averaging 21.83.

“I feel fresh, that week or so I had at home was great preparation. A good balance between downtime and doing little things I haven’t been able to do over last few months but of course still training, build some strength up, preparing for this pretty long stint. If I could pick out the perfect preparation think that was pretty close to it given all the circumstances,” Pat Cummins said during the virtual press conference.

“I hadn’t played a red-ball game for about seven or eight months. I think the good thing this time around is we have an eight or nine-day lead-in. Today we have a centre-wicket so I’ll probably go out there and bowl eight overs or so simulating a Sheffield Shield match,” he added.

Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

When asked about his preparedness to take on one of the great batsmen of all time in Virat Kohli, he said, “I’m happy I don’t have to bowl to Steve Smith. I saw Kane Williamson’s double hundred last week. So, I’m pretty glad I’m not playing there (in New Zealand) as well.”

“I think when you are in the moment, you try and maybe lift (the rivalry with the opposition batsman) a little bit. You sense it at the wicket when someone walks out there,” he added.

Steve Smith averages 62.84 while Kane Williamson averages 52.55. Kane Williamson scored a career-best 251 in 1st test against West Indies before like Indian skipper Virat Kohli heading home to attend the birth of the first child. Steve Smith was Man of the Series in ODIs after scoring consecutive centuries in first two ODIs where he amassed 216 runs averaging 72 in three matches. He scored 82 runs in three T20I games averaging 27.33 and will look to make amends in 4 match test series.

Pat Cummins: Michael Clarke Been A Great Supporter And Enjoyed Playing Under Him In Initial Years

Former Australia skipper Michael Clarke backed pacer Pat Cummins as Tim Paine’s successor. The wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine has been widely praised with captaincy credentials since taking over when Steve Smith was slapped with a ball-tampering ban in 2018. Still, he is currently aged 36, and there has been occasional criticism of his form as he is yet to score a ton despite playing 31 Tests.

“He has been a great supporter for me in the whole career. I loved having him as captain when I played (under him) I felt like he made me walk taller in my early years when I was trying to find my fate for Australia,” the Test vice-captain said.

Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke-Photo Credit: Getty Images

India and Australia will now face each other in the upcoming four-match Test series after the conclusion of ODI and T20I series. The first match will be a day-night affair, and Virat Kohli will head back home after the conclusion of the first Test as the BCCI has granted him paternity leave to attend the birth of the first child.

The series will be telecasted on Sony Ten 3, and Sony six channels. The first Test of the series will be a pink-ball day-night contest, beginning December 17 at Adelaide. Australia had won the ODI series while India won the subsequent T20I series by same margins 2-1.

Related Article
AUS vs WI: I Don’t Think He’s Paying Enough Attention To His Side’s Underachievement – Ian Healy Slams Pat Cummins For Being Too Nice
AUS vs WI: I Don’t Think He’s Paying Enough Attention To His Side’s Underachievement – Ian Healy Slams Pat Cummins For Being Too Nice

Jan 29, 2024, 4:03 PM


Australia Stars Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc Set To Play T20Is Against West Indies And New Zealand
Australia Stars Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc Set To Play T20Is Against West Indies And New Zealand

Jan 20, 2024, 2:39 PM


AUS vs WI: They’re Doing All The Right Things – Pat Cummins Opens Up On The Test Future Of Cameron Bancroft And Marcus Harris
AUS vs WI: They’re Doing All The Right Things – Pat Cummins Opens Up On The Test Future Of Cameron Bancroft And Marcus Harris

Jan 16, 2024, 4:10 PM


AUS vs WI: Pat Cummins Named The ICC Men’s Player Of The Month For December 2023
AUS vs WI: Pat Cummins Named The ICC Men’s Player Of The Month For December 2023

Jan 16, 2024, 3:20 PM


Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc And Josh Hazlewood All Set To Feature In Test Series Against West Indies And New Zealand
Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc And Josh Hazlewood All Set To Feature In Test Series Against West Indies And New Zealand

Jan 7, 2024, 11:06 AM


AUS vs PAK: It Is Going To Be Hard To Replace David Warner – Pat Cummins After Australia Bid’s Farewell To Legendary Opener
AUS vs PAK: It Is Going To Be Hard To Replace David Warner – Pat Cummins After Australia Bid’s Farewell To Legendary Opener

Jan 6, 2024, 3:16 PM


Desktop Banner
Mobile Banner