Australia captain Pat Cummins said that he was sure that his team’s batters will perform when they face off against Pakistan in their upcoming ICC World Cup 2023 match on Friday, October 20 in Bengaluru.
Australia has won just one match out of the three played thus far. They lost to India and South Africa, before registering their first win over Sri Lanka. On the other hand, Pakistan is coming off a humiliating drubbing at the hands of India in Ahmedabad.
The M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is typically a batter’s paradise due to a flat wicket and smaller boundaries. Australian batting has not fired so far in the World Cup with Josh Inglis and Mitchell Marsh are the only Australian batters to make a fifty in the ongoing tournament.
But captain Pat Cummins is confident the team’s batting will click soon as they get ready for the Pakistan match.
“You know, especially at a venue like here in Bangalore, I dare say it’s going to be high scoring, smaller field. The pitch is always really good here. So, yeah, batting is super important. I think the way the guys started last game (against Sri Lanka) set the tone,” said Cummins during his pre-match press conference.
“You know, Mitchie and Davey upfront from the first overtaking the game on. That’s what we want from our players. They’re working hard. They’re doing all the right things. I’m sure plenty of runs are around the corner,” said Cummins.
Cummins also lauded Josh Inglis who hit a match-winning 58 against Sri Lanka after he had replaced an out-of-form, Alex Carey. He also said that Australia was not taking Pakistan lightly, who are seething from their defeat to India.
“Alex has missed out on the last couple, which is unfortunate. We know he’s a class player, but Josh, he stepped up last game, which is awesome,” he said.
Cummins said: “They’re a side that always seems to be right up there. Some really good quick bowlers who can do some damage, some spin bowlers who can bowl 20 of their overs. and then they’ve got, you know, I think Rizwan’s the leading run-scorer, Babar Azam's always good, a couple of other batters that have scored a lot in ODIs lately. So, they’re a really strong side pretty much in all facets.”
(PTI inputs)
