"It’s close to the only thing I haven’t really ticked off" - Pat Cummins on Test series win over India
Australian captain Pat Cummins has acknowledged that a Test series win in India is only one of the few things he needs to tick off his list. The 31-year-old is gearing up to lead Australia in the upcoming five-match Test series against India Down Under.
Australia face a litmus test against India, having lost the last four Test series to the Men in Blue. India got the better of the Aussies twice in Australia and will hope to topple them for the third consecutive time in their backyard.
Speaking during an event, Cummins was quoted as saying by The Syndey Morning Herald about the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy:
"I was thinking about it the other day. It’s close to the only thing I haven’t really ticked off. I’ve not beaten India in a Test series yet. A few of the guys have, but I haven’t."
Cummins first played in a Test series against India in 2017 as Australia lost a hard-fought rubber. Nevertheless, he has been quite penetrative in the last two series contested at home, notably finishing as the leading wicket-taker in the 2020-21 leg with 21 wickets in four Tests.
"I always thought I should be myself because it’s all I really know" - Pat Cummins on being captain
Cummins shared that he has idolized certain players for a long time, hoping to replicate them as captain. However, he added he realized the need to be himself, elaborating in the same interaction:
"My whole life, you look up to the Australian captain and you know who it is, and you’re like ‘oh wow, they’re so accomplished, and they must have all their shit together. And then suddenly when you are captain you’re like ‘oh, I’m going to be that type of person. In the initial phases, it was awesome that I had loads of support, and those who had to make the decision chose me and thought I was up for it before I even knew I was myself, I suppose."
"So it was like ‘OK, do I want to try and replicate other people, or do I just want to be myself?’ And I always thought I should be myself because it’s all I really know," he added.
Cummins will mark his return to Australian colors in the ODI series against Pakistan, starting November 4.