Pat Cummins, Australian pacer was impressed with the young India opener Shubman Gilland praised his display with the bat.
The Indian cricket team surprised the cricketing fraternity after emerging victorious in the second Test match against Australia after suffering a humiliating defeat in 1st Test at Adelaide registering their lowest Test score of 36.
Pat Cummins. Image Credit: Getty Images.
Pat Cummins: Shubman Gill Looked Good And Is Quite A Calm Character Taking Game On
The expectations weren’t high for the team after losing both Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami for the series. But India under Ajinkya Rahane showed character in the face of adversity to level the series 1-1 after winning by 8 wickets in Melbourne.
The two debutants Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj performed extraordinary well in the Melbourne Test and both justified their selection. While Shubman Gill looked calm and composed in his stay at the crease scoring 45 an unbeaten 35 in both the innings to emerge as the second-highest run-scorer for India in 2nd Test, Mohammed Siraj picked 5 wickets. Pat Cummins heaped lavish praise like several other former cricketers on Shubman Gill who has played only 3 ODIs before and impressed with his batting prowess.
“Shuby (Gill) looked good in his first Test. He is quite a calm character. Looks like, similar way he wants to play, wants to take the game on, which as a bowler provides opportunities, some days it will come off, some days it won’t,” he said.
Shubman Gill (Image Credit: Google)
Pat Cummins wasn’t surprised by India’s comeback and he says that they will assess the fight put up by the visitors and be ready for another integrating encounter when the third Test begins in Sydney from January 7.
India shrugged off the Adelaide Test humiliation to level the four-match series 1-1 with an eight-wicket win in Melbourne inside four days.
“Any side, once they have a big loss, you know they are going to come back little-bit harder. Everyone’s incredibly proud when you are playing at this level, so no real surprise that they (India) came out really hard,” Cummins said at a virtual press conference on Wednesday.
“They bowled and batted really well in this game and were absolutely up for the fight so we need to assess that ahead of the next game and make sure that we can combat that,” he said.
India took 131 runs first innings lead in 2nd Test after dismissing Australia for 195 courtesy Ajinkya Rahane’s ton as he led from the front. Australia were dismissed for 200 in the second innings to give India an easy 70 run target. Incidentally, both of Shubman Gill and Pat Cummins played for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2020.
Pat Cummins: Efforts And Execution Of Australian Pacers Was Really Good
Pat Cummins got the better of India’s batting mainstay Cheteshwar Pujara thrice in the two-Test matches so far but maintained that the bowling unit has not devised any special plan for the Saurashtra batsman.
“The reality is I don’t really know, just try and ball good balls, make a decision whether to play or leave it (for him) and just try and do it as long as we can. Fortunately, it has come off so far pretty early in his innings.”
Despite the eight-wicket loss in Melbourne, Pat Cummins said the effort of the bowling group was up to the mark in the Test where they created chances before Ajinkya Rahane spoiled their hopes.
“Our efforts and execution was really good. We created lots of chances, especially the first innings. So, pretty happy from that regard (but) there are things to work on. Rahane batted beautifully, so look at what we could have done differently and review that. Overall it was a good performance from the quicks and Lyona (Nathon Lyon),” he added while also praising his co-pacer Mitchell Starc.
David Warner (Image Credit: Google)
After Cricket Australia confirming Sydney as the venue for the third Test, 27-year-old Pat Cummins is delighted to play at his home ground.
“Happy to get back to the SCG. Really special Test match here and our record there is really good.” he added.
Pat Cummins, who has taken 153 wickets from 32 Tests, also feels that Aussies may not play with two spinners in Sydney despite the inclusion of Mitchell Swepson in 18 man squad.
“Not a selector, but I would say probably not, we are lucky that in our side we have got someone like Marnus (Labuschagne), he can bowl some leg-spin overs as well,” he signed off.
The third Test beginning January 7th at Sydney will in all probability see Australian opener David Warner back in action whereas opener Will Pucovski may debut as Joe Burns has been excluded from 18 man squad. Sean Abbott, Michael Neser and James Pattinson are back up pacers.
