Cummins Hails Australia's Strong Start to World Test Championship Campaign After West Indies Series Win

Monday - 07/07/2025 03:31
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy conceded that the pitches in the Caribbean need a change if they are to produce better batters in Test cricket

Pat Cummins, the captain of the Australian cricket team, has voiced his satisfaction with his team's impressive beginning to the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Australia, a consistent contender in the WTC, having reached the final in the previous two editions, has secured victories in their first two Test matches of this cycle. Their latest triumph was a series-clinching win against the West Indies in Grenada.

Cummins reflects on the team's strong recovery
Cummins reflects on the team's strong recovery © AFP

"Winning away from home isn't easy, so I'm really pumped with how we bounced back after Lord's (WTC Final)," Cummins stated following the Grenada Test. "It's been a good couple of weeks. With the pink ball Test coming up next week, it's great to have secured the series beforehand. These matches always present unique challenges. It's a dream start really, two wins from two, which sets us up well in the cycle, and we've played some really good cricket."

Cummins also acknowledged the contribution of the team's seasoned players, particularly highlighting Steve Smith's crucial half-century. Smith's innings proved vital in rescuing the team from a precarious situation in the second innings, where they were struggling at 28/3 with a lead of just 61 runs. "I think experience plays a significant role. We talked about having someone like Steve Smith in the team," Cummins noted. "He may not have played at Grenada, but he has experience playing on various wickets where you need to find different ways to score. It might not always be about hitting big drives down the ground; sometimes you have to grind your way to a 50, and I believe that comes with experience."

He further added, "With experience, you've encountered similar problems before, which gives you a sense of calmness to work through the issue. As a captain, it makes my job much easier knowing I have a team of settled players."

Regarding young opener Sam Konstas, who has struggled to make a significant impact in the series, scoring only 33 runs in four innings, Cummins showed his support. "Every innings can feel like the most important thing in the world," he said about Konstas. "But the reality is, even the best batters in the world don't perform to their average three out of four times. Failure is more common than success."

"As long as you learn quickly, move well, and give yourself the best opportunity, you should focus on that and evaluate yourself after a series or so, rather than after each innings."

Another opener facing scrutiny is West Indies' former captain Kraigg Brathwaite. His recent form has been inconsistent, and his 100th Test didn't yield the desired results. With scores of 4, 4, 0, and 7, his performance has prompted head coach Daren Sammy to consider his future for the upcoming game. "He hasn't looked good this series, and in a team that's searching for performances, we're getting close to considering giving someone else a chance," Sammy said. "But we'll have a thorough discussion with myself, the selection group, and the captain about this particular situation."

Sammy also pointed out the need for improved pitches in the Caribbean to foster better Test cricket batters. "It's difficult to produce the quality of batters needed to compete when you consider the surfaces we play on," he noted.

"If you look at all the averages, we barely have players averaging over 40 in first-class cricket. These types of pitches don't allow you to develop technically sound skills because there's always uncertainty. In an ideal world, we want our players to perform because of the conditions, not in spite of them. This is something that myself, the director of cricket, and the franchise system have been looking at closely to try and change. We're trying to send the head groundsmen all over to get the sort of wickets that allow batters to trust their techniques. We also have some technical deficiencies that carry on from the Under-19 and youth level up to the national team."

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