With the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy looming, Australian captain Pat Cummins has opted for an eight-week break to ensure peak physical condition for the high-stakes series against India.
Pat Cummins prioritises Border-Gavaskar Trophy with eight-eeek break
“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,” Cummins was quoted as saying by Fox Sports.
“It means you can hopefully bowl for a little bit longer, maintaining pace is a bit easier, makes you less susceptible to injuries,” he added.
The 31-year-old Pat Cummins has been on an unrelenting cricket schedule since recovering from a wrist fracture sustained during the Ashes series. His relentless workload includes leading Australia to ODI World Cup glory, participating in Test series against Pakistan, West Indies, and New Zealand, as well as representing his country in the T20 World Cup and the Indian Premier League. Following his participation in Major League Cricket in the United States, Cummins has decided to prioritize his well-being with an eight-week break.
“I’m very sore today after a week of gym. Hamstrings, even ankles, kind of build up over months of bowling, but you can’t really nail it while you’re in the midst of the season,” Cummins added.
Australia's Border-Gavaskar Trophy Drought
Australia has endured a challenging period in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with India securing four consecutive series victories since 2017, including landmark triumphs on Australian soil in 2018-19 and 2020-21. Determined to break this losing streak, Pat Cummins has expressed a burning desire to claim the coveted trophy during his captaincy.
"It’s the trophy I haven’t won before … this is the one trophy a lot of our group haven’t ticked off. 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 try and be up there in the upper echelon of teams. That’s what lies ahead of us this summer," Cummins concluded.
Notably, the highly anticipated India-Australia Test series will start on November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The five-match series will then move to Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney, promising a thrilling battle between the two cricketing powerhouses.
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