Australia’s top order are working hard to set things right at the World Cup and a batting-friendly wicket like Bengaluru should provide the right platform to score plenty of runs when they play Pakistan, skipper Pat Cummins said on Thursday.
Australia lost their first two matches without crossing 200 runs but won their last game against Sri Lanka to move up to seventh in the standings. However, their top order has failed to get going despite some promising starts.
Marnus Labuschagne is the only Australia batter to score more than 100 runs in the tournament so far and Cummins said it was important they stepped up in Bengaluru, where the team batting first has averaged 335 in the last three ODIs. “Especially at a venue like here in Bangalore, I dare say it’s going to be high-scoring, smaller field. The pitch is always really good here,” Cummins said ahead of today’s game.“Batting is super important. I think the way the guys started the last game really set the tone. Mitchell (Marsh) and Davey (Warner) up front from the first over taking the game on. That’s what we want from our players and they’re working really hard, they’re doing all the right things. I’m sure plenty of runs are around the corner.”
Pakistan started the tournament with two wins before losing to India and they sit fourth in the standings. Cummins said the Asian side are “well-structured”, identifying Mohamed Rizwan and captain Babar Azam as their biggest batting threats while Hasan Ali has been the pick of Pakistan’s fast bowlers with seven wickets.
“They have some really good quick bowlers who can do some damage, some spin bowlers that can bowl 20 of their overs,” Cummins said. “Rizwan’s the leading run scorer, Babar Azam’s always good, a couple of other batters that have scored a lot in ODIs lately. So they’re a really strong side pretty much in all facets.”
Sri Lanka and South Africa had century opening stands against Australia and when asked if Cummins would take the new ball going forward, the 30-year-old said Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood would continue to open the bowling.
“We look back at the last couple of games and, yeah, we haven’t got the wickets. But there’s probably been three chances in each of the first 10 overs that we just haven’t got – LBW, missed by millimetres, or play and misses,” Cummins said. “We’ve been really happy with the guys up front.”
Cummins backed leg-spinner Adam Zampa to return to full fitness after suffering from back spasms. Zampa took 4-47 in the win over Sri Lanka. “I think it’s getting better each day so it shouldn’t be any worse than the last game,” said Cummins who added that opener Travis Head is likely to join the team soon after recovering from a hand injury.
Bouncers could also be awaiting Pakistan on Friday, with opener Imam-ul-Haq dismissed twice to short balls already this tournament.
“Against South Africa we felt like we had them relatively under control but we didn’t get any wickets,” Cummins said. “Last game we were a little bit more aggressive, a few more bouncers and fortunately that got us a breakthrough and that’s where (we got) into the game.
Cummins also thanked the Netherlands for throwing the five-time champions a shock World Cup lifeline with their surprise victory over South Africa. “Yeah, I mean it’s good, I won’t lie. I think it just evens all the teams out really,” said Cummins. The Dutch stunned South Africa by 38 runs in Dharamsala on Tuesday.
It was South Africa’s first loss of the tournament and prevented them from taking their record to a perfect three wins in three. Instead they are only two points ahead of Australia in what is expected to be a tight battle for the top four places which will decide the semi-final line-up.
“They played really well,” added Cummins. “I think what we’re seeing in this tournament is 10 really strong sides. It’s not sides that are just making up numbers.
“They’ve all qualified and they’re all here because they’ve earned their spot. There’s no easy games. Everything’s pretty full on.”
Head-to-head record
Last 10 meetings
DATE VENUE RESULT
26/01/2017 Adelaide Australia won by 57 runs
22/03/2019 Sharjah Australia won by 8 wickets
23/03/2019 Sharjah Australia won by 8 wickets
27/03/2019 Abu Dhabi Australia won by 80 runs
29/03/2019 Dubai Australia won by 6 runs
31/03/2019 Dubai Australia won by 20 runs
12/06/2019 Taunton Australia won by 41 runs
29/03/2022 Lahore Australia won by 88 runs
31/03/2022 Lahore Pakistan won by 6 wickets
02/04/2022 Lahore Pakistan won by 9 wickets
OverallAustralia wins: Pakistan wins: Tied: 1
No result: 3