Australia captain Pat Cummins has confirmed that fit-again Josh Hazlewood will replace Scott Boland in the playing XI for the third Test, starting on Saturday at Gabba. Hazlewood missed out the pink-ball Test at Adelaide due to side strain.
“Hazlewood will play. Shame for Scotty (Boland), he has missed out often in the past. Big series, he might still get his chances. Josh bowled yesterday (at Allan Border field and not at nets at Gabba),” Cummins told reporters ahead of the third Test.
“Josh didn’t bowl at nets here Purely because of the lengths of run up wasn’t enough. So we took him to Allan Border field,” he added.
The Australian captain also revealed why Hazelwood was underbowled in the second innings of the opening Test at Perth.
“In the second innings at Perth, game was beginning to slip away, we made the call then that it was not worth the risk pushing Josh to bowl more,” he said.
Cummins showered praise on Scott Boland, who did a terrific job with the ball at Adelaide.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc, without cap, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of India’s Virat Kohli during the day one of the second cricket test match between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia. (AP | PTI)
“Boland is amazing how he is in the group, how he prepares. Showed his standard is still super high,” he said.
With the series locked at 1-1, Cummins is hopeful that team’s senior pro Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja will get back in form at Gabba.
“Smithy is looking fantastic at nets. Looking sharp. He got caught behind leg, I won’t read much on it. He is a leader in the group, been fantastic,” said Cummins.
“Khawaja is somewhat like Smithy. Has looked good at nets. He loves batting at Gabba, he knows it really well. Hopefully he scores runs,” he said.
The current Australian cricket team has been labelled as an ageing team by the former cricketers and the experts. However, Cummins doesn’t thinks so, he said: “I think players play longer than they did 15 years ago. We are big on picking best X1. We have the system for youngsters to come up well prepared. There aren’t any series these days to blood in youngsters for the sake of it.”
On the Gabba pitch, the Australian captain said: “The pitch looks a good wicket. Bit of sun baking. I don’t see it as green as it was against South Africa.”
Australia’s Mitchell Starc, left, celebrates the dismissal of India’s Rishabh Pant, right, during the day three of the second cricket test match between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
Pat Cummins also opened up about winning in Australia and the pressure of being the captain of the Australian cricket team.
“There is definitely pride in winning in Australia. You grow up playing here. The hardest thing is winning away from home,” he said.
“There is always pressure and when you are captain lot of it falls on you. Nothing new. We didn’t play well at Perth. Some of the other criticism can be dismissed.”
The Australian captain sent a stern warning to the Indian dressing room that they will used the short ball ploy again at the Gabba.
“Bouncers worked at Adelaide. I will give it a shot again here..”
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