Australian Test skipper Pat Cummins on Monday (11th July) said that playing the Test series in Sri Lanka will be vital for their preparations for the away series against India next year. He said that his side will take a lot of learning from the series against the Island nation.
The Test series between Sri Lanka and Australia ended in a draw as both sides displayed a magnificent performance. Although there were some sensational batting performances, it was the spin bowling from both sides that stood tall.
After Australia thumped Sri Lanka in the first Test by 10 wickets, the hosts staged a staggering comeback and defeated the Cummins-led side by an innings and 39 runs. Batting first, after winning the toss, the visitors had a decent outing in the first innings. On account of Steve Smith’s unbeaten 145 and Marnus Labuschagne’s 104 runs, they posted a total of 364 runs.
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In reply, Sri Lanka responded strongly with the bat as half-centuries by skipper Dimuth Karunanratne (86), Kusal Mendis (85), Angelo Mathews (52), Kamindu Mendis (61) and an unbeaten double century by Dinesh Chandimal (206) helped the hosts take a lead of 190 runs on the board.
Prabath Jayasuriya, who took 6 wickets in the first innings, claimed the same number of wickets in the second essay as Sri Lanka bundled out Australia for just 151 runs to win the match by innings and 39 runs.
Speaking to reporters, Pat Cummins said that his side has taken a lot of lessons ahead of their tour to India. He said that it was important for them to give the experience of the sub-continent to their players, who have not played in such conditions.
"Absolutely, last week and this week. I think half our batting lineup and half our bowling lineup hasn't played a lot over here in the sub-continent. So the experience on these two vastly different wickets, I think we got a lot of lessons out of it to take to India next year,” Pat Cummins said.
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Cummins admitted it was a reality check for them that it’s difficult to win away from the home and the loss will make more learning for them instead of a win.
“In Australia most likely you only play one spinner, so in the background you're trying to prepare a couple of other guys so they get the chance over in India. We turned up knowing it's a tough place to win series and games over here.
“So to come away with a series draw, the same team that won last week. It might be a reality check that it's tough playing away from home. And (the loss) makes for more learning than after a win,” he said.
Cummins said that ‘striking the right balance is the key in sub-continent conditions.
“You see that with the bowlers, someone like Joshy Hazlewood sitting on the bench. Glenn Maxwell was a conversation around his batting for this game.
“The challenge with playing in Asia is unless you give people a go, you don't know how someone like a Greeny can come out and show he's up to the task. Others might take a bit longer. So I think it's striking that balance,” he said.
Australia will tour India in 2023 where they will play four Tests, as part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in February-March 2023.
(AFP inputs)
