Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins has signaled a shift in his bowling strategy for the upcoming five-match series against India, indicating a greater reliance on all-rounders Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh. With the demanding schedule of five Tests in just over six weeks, Cummins believes their contributions with the ball will be crucial.
“The last couple of summers have been pretty light, quick test matches,” Cummins told reporters in Sydney on Monday. “I suspect this summer might be a bit different at times. We’ll be drawing on Cam Green and Mitch Marsh a bit more.”
While Green began his Sheffield Shield career primarily as a bowler, his bowling workload in Test matches has been limited. Cummins acknowledged the importance of having a reliable fifth bowling option, given that Nathan Lyon typically bowls a significant number of overs.
“Even someone like Cam Green basically started in (Sheffield) Shield cricket as a bowler, but hasn’t had to bowl heaps in test matches,” Cummins explained. “We’re really lucky Nathan Lyon bowls plenty of overs, so you don’t necessarily have to have an all-rounder. But it makes a big difference to have that fifth bowling option. We have six.”
In preparation for the series, Cummins will take a two-month break, opting out of the white-ball tour of England and Scotland in September. The decision, he explained, is to manage his workload and ensure he enters the series in peak physical condition.
“The priority at the moment is to smash out some gym work and start reassessing in a few weeks a path forward,” Cummins stated. “I’m just trying to fill up the bucket again after two years of non-stop bowling. (Hoping) come that first test in as good of a position as I have been in for a few years.”
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the prestigious series between Australia and India, begins on November 22nd in Perth. The teams will then travel to Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne for the subsequent Tests, culminating in the final match in Sydney from January 3rd.
