Australia captain Pat Cummins is motivated to "make amends" against India in the forthcoming five-match Test series, where he hopes to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in more than a decade.
The two teams will compete in a five-match series beginning November 22 in Perth. India will be playing a five-Test series down under for the first time since the 1991-92 tour.
India will enter the competition with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy firmly in their grasp, having held it for nearly a decade and won two straight series in Australia.
"We've had a bit of a break, so I'm excited for the five-match Test series. Excited to get into it. We haven't had a lot of luck against India over the last few Test series, but we always pride ourselves on playing well here in Australia,” Cummins told Star Sports' Press Room.
India won the last Border-Gavaskar series in Australia 2-1 in 2020-21. Rishabh Pant's unbeaten 89 in the second innings of the last Test helped India chase down 328 and win by three wickets at the Gabba.
It followed a humiliating collapse in the first Test in Adelaide when they were dismissed for 36, their lowest-ever Test score.
"The last two series were a long time ago, so I think we've gotten over it. But we have really high expectations when we play Test cricket in Australia. I think that's from the fans and the media as well. So anytime we don't win down here, of course, you look at those series a bit more closely.
The last series, in particular, was a really tough one. It went right down to that last session at the Gabba, and unfortunately, we couldn't pull it off. A lot of the guys in the team are the same as those who played in that series, and we're here to make amends," he added.
Cummins identified Rishabh Pant as India's "X-factor," but stressed that his team is focused on rectifying the setbacks from four consecutive series defeats to India.
"Rishabh had a great series here in Australia last time. He's always a bit of that X-factor in the middle order. You never quite know what you're going to get, which is exciting, even as the opposition. And he's always got something to say behind the stumps -- he's very funny, makes me laugh,” Cummins stated.
Asked how the Australian bowling lineup rates talented youngsters like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, Cummins said: "I've played a little bit against Shubman. Haven't seen a lot of Jaiswal, just a bit in the IPL. But they both look like young guys who've scored a fair few runs in different formats. We'll get down here and have a good look at them. But yeah, we're still a little while away from the series, so I can't say I've been planning too closely for them yet.”
Cummins also lamented the absence of crucial all-rounder Cameron Green, who has been sidelined for six months after opting for surgery to treat a stress fracture in his lower back.
"He's a big loss for us. Not only for his batting, but he's probably the best gully fielder I've ever seen, and a great bowler we need as well, so we're really going to miss him," he said.
(PTI inputs)
