Australia‘s Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins had a funny reply when informed that the hosts have no excuses for losing to India in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He playfully suggested that he would find one.
India has defeated Australia in the last two Test series played at home, winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2018-19 and 2020-21 by 2-1 margins. The next edition of the series will run from November 22 to January 7, starting with the first Test in Perth.
In a light-hearted chat on The Grade Cricketer Podcast, Cummins acknowledged that both home losses to India were tough, but he felt the 2018-19 defeat was the more painful of the two. Cummins stated:
“I thought the series before that [in 2018-19] was worse because we got completely beaten. That series [2020-21] was quite tightly fought I thought. They played fantastically well to win at The Gabba. That was annoying, but I felt the series before, where we were like completely outplayed, that one hurt more.”
In response to the Australian fast bowler’s remarks, one of the interviewers noted that the hosts had valid excuses for losing in 2018-19 since they were without David Warner and Steve Smith, who were suspended due to the ball-tampering scandal. He then jokingly said that the Aussies have no excuses this time. Cummins wittily replied:
“I will find some (smiles). He [Cameron Green] was going to open the batting and bowling.”
You can watch the video here: (from 42:45)
All-rounder Green has been sidelined from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to a fifth stress fracture in his lower back. The 25-year-old is set to have lower spine surgery and will be out of cricket for at least six months.
Pat Cummins’ Performance in the Last Two Border-Gavaskar Series at Home
Cummins had a solid performance in the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, despite India winning the series 2-1. He took 14 wickets in four Tests, averaging 27.78, with one five-wicket haul, ranking as the fourth-highest wicket-taker behind Jasprit Bumrah (21), Nathan Lyon (21), and Mohammed Shami (16).
In the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the right-arm pacer was the top wicket-taker, claiming 21 wickets in four matches at an average of 20.04, including three four-wicket hauls, with a best of 4-21. Overall, the 31-year-old has played 13 Tests against India and taken 50 wickets at an average of 26.18.
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