"It's the trophy I haven’t won before" - Pat Cummins desperate to lift the Border-Gavaskar Trophy this summer
Australian captain Pat Cummins has set his sights firmly on winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 31-year-old is optimistic about regaining the coveted trophy this summer.
Australia haven't held the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since the 2014-15 tour held Down Under. India have emerged victorious in the last two series on Australian soil and are eyeing a hat-trick of series wins this summer.
Speaking to Fox Cricket, Cummins, who has played four series against India, pointed out that winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been an unfulfilled dream for most players of the current crop. The right-arm speedster, however, is confident that his team can get the job done at home.
"It’s the trophy I haven’t won before … this is the one trophy a lot of our group haven’t ticked off," Cummins said. "We’ve achieved some amazing things over the last few years as a Test group. You kind of back yourself to win every series at home. I think you need to to try and be up there in the upper echelon of teams. That’s what lies ahead of us this summer."
"They’re a really good side. We play them quite a lot, we know them really well, but we feel like we’re really well placed also," he added.
Despite losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year, Australia beat India in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval. Cummins and Co. also defeated India in the 50-over World Cup final.
"I’ve basically been bowling non-stop since the World Test Championship final" - Pat Cummins
The Aussie speedster, who is skipping the upcoming Scotland and England tour, believes that the break will hold him in good stead for the home summer. He said (as per the aforementioned source):
"Everyone that comes back after a break and is a little bit fresher, you never regret it. I’ve basically been bowling non-stop since the World Test Championship final, nearly 18 months ago. This gives me a good seven or eight weeks completely off bowling so the body can recover, then you start building up again for the summer."
The blockbuster Test series against India begins on November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.