Aussies mulling first Test team: Cummins
As Pakistan keep their deck under wraps, Pat Cummins is also keeping his playing cards hidden on the eve of Australia's first Test match in the country for 24 years.
Pat Cummins Sport News
Pakistan vs Australia: 'Looks a good wicket', Pat Cummins upbeat for historic Rawalpindi Test
Pat Cummins and Babar Azam on the eve of the match. Rain forced both teams to cancel their practice sessions Thursday, but the forecast is clear for Friday and most of Saturday, with showers likely on the last three days of play. Despite the weather, Cummins and Azam were geared up for the historic Test -- to be played in front of a sell-out 16,000 crowd in Rawalpindi, the garrison city just south of the capital, Islamabad. Australia haven't toured Pakistan since 1998 as security issues kept international teams from visiting, and as a result are unfamiliar with the local pitches. "It looks like a good wicket... as expected," Cummins told reporters on the eve of the match.
Australia Captain Pat Cummins Upbeat For Historic Pakistan Test
Australia's first Test in Pakistan in 24 years starting Friday is threatened by rain, but even storm clouds failed to dampen the mood of rival captains Pat Cummins and Babar Azam on the eve of the match. Rain forced both teams to cancel their practice sessions Thursday, but the forecast is clear for Friday and most of Saturday, with showers likely on the last three days of play. Despite the weather, Cummins and Azam were geared up for the historic Test -- to be played in front of a sell-out 16,000 crowd in Rawalpindi, the garrison city just south of the capital, Islamabad.
Australia consider two spinners for Rawalpindi Test vs Pakistan
cricket captain Pat Cummins did not reveal the makeup of his team for the opening Test against Pakistan but said playing two spinners remained an option in Rawalpindi on Friday. Veteran Nathan Lyon remains Australia's frontline spinner for their first tour of Pakistan in 24 years. The tourists, however, are tempted to field a second spinner on a pitch where Cummins expects decent turn even if not from the very first session. "I don't have an XI yet. We're pretty sure but we just want to have another look at the wicket," Cummins told a media conference on the eve of the match. "We have got a fair idea of what we want to do but don't want to make the call too early without fully knowing what the wicket is."
Cricket-Australia consider two spinners for Rawalpindi test v Pakistan
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Australia cricket captain Pat Cummins did not reveal the makeup of his team for the opening test against Pakistan but said playing two spinners remained an option in Rawalpindi on Friday.
Australia consider two spinners for Rawalpindi test v Pakistan
ISLAMABAD : Australia cricket captain Pat Cummins did not reveal the makeup of his team for the opening test against Pakistan but said playing two spinners remained an option in Rawalpindi on Friday.
India vs Sri Lanka: Shubman Gill readies for first Test on home ground
Sri Lanka at Mohali, there's another cricketer who will be hungry to take the ground on Friday. Local boy Shubman Gill, one of the architects of the historic win against Australia at the Gabba, is most likely to play his first Test in front of his home crowd. Gill's memorable 91 runs in the chase of the famous Brisbane Test, helped India breach the 'Gabba' fortress and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2021. That innings was like a trailer of a blockbuster career in the making. A product of India's robust domestic set-up, Shubman gave glimpses of his batting prowess by tackling the fiery trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc with ease. The Punjab youngster's knock also sent out a message that the next generation of Indian cricket is ready to take forward the legacy of the stalwarts of the past decades.
Jonny Bairstow stakes claim for extended run at No 6 for England with second century of the winter
Even Jonny Bairstow would struggle to work out which phase of his Test career he is currently on given the shaky hold he has had on an England place but after a second hundred of the winter he should at least have some certainty over his position for a while.