BGT 2024-25: Vaughan Supports Cummins to Regain His Speed in Adelaide Test
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New Delhi, Dec 4 (NationPress) Former England captain Michael Vaughan is optimistic that Australian captain Pat Cummins will find his top form in the upcoming pink-ball Test in Adelaide, following a subpar performance in the initial match against India.
Australia faced a hefty 295-run loss in Perth as India excelled in every aspect, ending Australia's unbeaten streak at that venue. Cummins, usually the leader of Australia's bowling attack, had difficulty making a notable impact, taking only three wickets while allowing 153 runs over 40.4 overs.
“He’s an exceptional captain and bowler. However, I’ll mention that he appeared to be somewhat out of rhythm in the First Test. He hadn’t played any longer format cricket since March. Therefore, I believe that this week in Adelaide, he will improve his pace based on his performance from last week. I think the First Test will benefit him—he’s regained some overs under his belt, and I expect him to be better for it,” Vaughan commented on Fox Cricket’s podcast The Follow On.
Vaughan highlighted that a slight decrease in pace might render Cummins more susceptible to opposing batters. “Pace is crucial for Pat Cummins. If he drops to around 135 (or so), it grants the batters a bit more time to adapt to the movement and precision he delivers,” he added.
“We witnessed this during the Ashes a couple of years back when England put pressure on him, and when they challenged Australia, England appeared dominant. The field was spread, making run-scoring significantly easier.”
With Josh Hazlewood sidelined due to injury, Scott Boland is anticipated to join the lineup, introducing a different aspect to the bowling unit. Vaughan stressed the significance of Cummins’ leadership and performance in Adelaide, especially with the pressure to equalize the series.
“This week feels critical for Australia. They are one-nil down. The last time India played there, they bowled Australia out for 36 and dominated, yet they lost that series. From a strategic viewpoint, this Australian Test side hasn’t shown consistent excellence for quite some time.”
Australia entered the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with hopes of reclaiming the series for the first time in ten years. However, their difficulties in Perth have placed them at a disadvantage.
“This Australian team hasn’t secured any major series victories. They had the Ashes, but they managed a 2-2 draw, and any true cricket enthusiast knows that England had them under pressure. Rain in Manchester saved them, and England dominated them in two matches. It feels like a team that hasn’t played consistently top-notch cricket for a while,” Vaughan concluded.
