'We'll build towards that': Cummins eyes World Cup after Ashes series
As Australia come to the end of a hectic six-Test schedule in just eight weeks, captain Pat Cummins and his support staff are already laying the groundwork for their next big assignment: the 50-over World Cup.
While Cummins’ immediate focus is attempting to win the fifth and final Test at the Oval to ensure Australia’s first series victory in England for 22-years, there will be little time for his rest and recuperation.
There will be little respite for captain Pat Cummins as Australia refocuses on the World Cup following the last Ashes Test at the Oval from Thursday.Credit: Getty Images
He is expected to fly to South Africa in early September for a white-ball series as a lead-in to Australia’s World Cup campaign, with the tournament running in India from early October to late November.
While Cummins is expected to skip the three T20 matches in Durban from August 30, the five-match one-day component begins a week later. He is unlikely to play all five games, but the tour will be a major part of Australia’s World Cup planning and preparation.
Australia are yet to name a T20 captain to replace Aaron Finch; however, Cummins has been appointed one-day captain for the World Cup. What happens beyond that will be considered as part of a review given Cummins is carrying a heavy workload as Test captain and the team’s leading bowler.
“I see the white ball as very much we’ve got an ODI World Cup, that’s a big campaign,” Cummins said after training at the Oval on Wednesday. “We’ll build towards that. I know the selectors have been really clear that I’m a bowler first in that team so if we need to manage some of those games leading into the World Cup that takes precedence over the continuity of being captain every single game.
“We’ll manage that, but there’s a great team around us of players and staff so while I’m the captain, and it’s a bigger workload it’s manageable.”
Cummins denies he’s feeling captaincy fatigue, although he had his toughest couple of days in charge when England’s batsmen ran riot during the fourth Test at Old Trafford before rain washed out most of the last two days.
“I haven’t felt it so far,” he said. “Coming into this series I felt like six Tests was going to be really busy. But it’s all been good. Obviously there have been some challenges, some moments when you scratch your head, but I feel in a really good place physically and in terms of the captaincy. I feel like I’m learning new things every game, and it’s been manageable.”
Despite what appeared to be an unravelling at Old Trafford Cummins believes he is improving as captain, having led Australia in 20 Tests for eleven wins, four losses and five draws.
Loading
“I’ve certainly been exposed to more,” he said. “Both teams have seen passages of play which I haven’t seen before, having nine fielders out. Hopefully I can adapt a bit more and be a bit quicker for this week ... I don’t think I was at my best last week, but hopefully I’ll be better this week.”
Cummins highlighted the second session of the second day at Old Trafford, when England scored 178 in 25 overs, a run rate of better than seven an over.
“Day two middle session was where the game really ran,” Cummins said. “In some regards I’m happy we tried a few different things. I think it’s easy to let it flow and not change anything so I’m happy we changed a few things but it didn’t come off. I think revisiting a couple of those plans. What we would do differently.
“I’m always one for focusing on what we do really well, so I think just shifting our focus at times back to us.”
Likely teams
Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Josh Hazlewood, Todd Murphy.
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c) Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, Josh Tongue.
Pitch: Captain Pat Cummins believes the Oval pitch is similar to the one Australia played India on less than two months ago in the World Test Championship final. Australia won by 209 runs, with the now injured Nathan Lyon claiming 4-41 in the second innings on a surface that encouraged increasing turn. This should open the door for Todd Murphy to return to the side.
Weather: Mild weather has been forecast with the chance of a shower on Thursday, day one of the match. There may be plenty of cloud about, which will encourage both captains to bowl first. However there should be few interruptions across the five days, should the match last that long.
Key players
Australia: Steve Smith was the star of the 2019 Ashes series, scoring 774 runs at an average of 110 across four Tests. Now across four Ashes Test in this series he has 248 runs at an average of just 31. However, Smith started this tour with a century at the Oval against India in the World Test Championship final and would like to finish the series that way.
England: The express pace of Mark Wood since his recall for the third Test at Headingley has changed the complexion of the series. Wood has 11 wickets at 17 and a strike rate of just 31 across the past two Tests. He can only bowl short spells for maximum impact. The Australians need to keep him bowling and wear him out.
Watch every ball of the 2023 Ashes series live and exclusive on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
Loading
