Australia Test vice-captain Pat Cummins said that Kangaroos will take the confidence of winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 into the upcoming Ashes 2021-22 at home against England.
Australia out-classed New Zealand by 8 wickets in the final of T20 World Cup 2021 to lift their first-ever ICC T20I title. The Aaron Finch-led side displayed sensational performances throughout the tournament and won 6 out of their 7 matches.
However, the focus now shifts towards the five-Test Ashes 2021-22, which will kick start on 8th December at Gabba. Cricket Australia recently announced the squad for the first two Tests of the much-anticipated series, and as many as six players from the T20 World Cup-winning squad have been chosen.
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Cummins remarked that his side will take the confidence of T20 World Cup into the Ashes. He said that although it’s a different format but players like David Warner, who won Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup, will have huge confidence going into the summer.
Cummins admitted that over the last few years they have underperformed and have not won as many games as they would’ve wanted.
“Absolutely, I think we’ll take confidence from it. It’s a different format but you saw somebody like (batsman) Davey Warner, player of the tournament, that’s going to have huge confidence for him going into the summer.
“As an Australian side, I think we all probably felt like we’ve underperformed a little bit in the last few years, haven’t won as many games as we’d probably expect,” Pat Cummins told reporters.
Cummins said that winning T20 World Cup is an era-defining achievement for his side and everyone in the team is ‘buzzing’ and excited for the next challenge.
“So to get back out and win a title on the world stage ... it can be era-defining for a side. So everyone’s just absolutely buzzing, really excited for what’s next,” he said.
Australia last played a Test match against India in January, also in Brisbane and will play a three-day intrasquad warmup game ahead of the Ashes.
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Talking about the same, Pat Cummins said that it’s better to be ‘underdone than overdone’ coming into the big Test series. He added his feels fresh has given him the best chance to bowl as many overs in the summer.
“I always feel it’s better to be underdone than overdone coming into a big Test series. My body feels as good as it has in a couple of years. There’s no niggles, I feel really fresh. I think we’ve given ourselves the best chance to bowl plenty of overs and do well this summer,” he said.
The second Test match will be played at Adelaide, Oval on 16th December. The third and fourth Test match will be played on 26th December and 5th January at MCG and SCG respectively. The fifth and final Test match of the Ashes will take place on 14th January at Perth Stadium.
(Reuters inputs)
