T20 World Cup 2021: Pace bowlers need to have few different varieties for success in UAE- Pat Cummins

Australia will kick start their campaign against the Proteas on 23rd October. 

By Ankitjit Singh - 21 Oct, 2021

Ace Australian pacer Pat Cummins said that fast bowlers will need a varied skill set to conquer the ‘tired’ pitches in UAE during the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. 

The Super 12s stage of the T20 World Cup is just two days away from now. Australian Cricket Team started their World Cup campaign by winning a thriller against New Zealand in their first warmup game.

They, however, were then dominated by Team India in the second warmup game as they lost the match by 9 wickets. 

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The Aaron Finch-led side displayed a poor performance with both bat and ball in the warmup match against India as they lost early wickets and then somehow managed to go past the 150 run mark. They then failed to put pressure with the ball as they managed just one wicket.

With just two days remaining for their first match, they would be hoping to rectify all their mistakes and come out all guns blazing in the Super 12s stage.  

Australian pacer Pat Cummins said that pitches in UAE are tired along with some good wickets however, as a bowler you need to have different varieties.

He added that bowling in the power play is different as compared to bowling in the death and as a pacer you need to adapt differently. 

"A couple of wickets have been tired and a couple of times you get some really good wickets. In Twenty20, you got to have a few different varieties. 

“Bowling with a new ball upfront is going to look quite different to how you bowl in the end. So you've got to be able to adapt and have two or three different spells within the 20 overs,” Pat Cummins said in a virtual match conference 

Pat Cummins explained how the pitches work in the UAE with respect to night games and day games. The pacer also talked about how he goes about adjusting his lengths according to the same.

Related: New Zealand on right track despite warm-up losses- coach Gary Stead

“The night games tend to be a bit more batter-friendly. There's a bit of dew around and the ball skids on whereas the day games are a bit drier. I think the biggest difference is when we talk about it being dry. 

“That kind of brings in the slower balls. Night games, if they start sliding on, you've got to look at other options. Maybe it's yorkers, bouncers, and try different deliveries where the pitch is friendly for us bowlers,” he concluded. 

Australia is placed in the Group 1 of the Super 12s stage with West Indies, England, South Africa, and two qualifiers. They will kick start their campaign against the Proteas on 23rd October. 

(Reuters inputs) 

By Ankitjit Singh - 21 Oct, 2021

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