NEW DELHI: While there is so much talk about spin bowling, Australia captain Pat Cummins said his side should not forget about their intimidating pace bowling attack.
“I think sometimes, talking about a couple of spinners, you forget how good a lot of our fast bowlers have been in all conditions. Even some of the SCG wickets, there haven’t been a lot in them for quick bowlers, but the quick bowlers have found a way,” Cummins told reporters on Saturday in his first media interaction after arriving in India.
Cummins said his team is not fretting over its spin combination as it has enough options to support veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon in the high-profile four-match Test series against India beginning in Nagpur on Thursday.
The touring Australians have named Mitchell Swepson along with finger spinner Ashton Agar to team up with Lyon.
“We’ve got plenty of options here (with) finger spin, wrist spin, left arm (pace) when (Mitchell) Starcy comes back,” Cummins said.
“We’ll obviously pick the bowlers that we think are going to take 20 wickets. But how we split that up, we’re not 100 per cent sure yet.”
Asked if it would be a two-pronged spin attack, he said: “I wouldn’t say it’s a given. Obviously it’s very conditions dependent. Particularly in the first Test, once we get to Nagpur we will see that.”
The Australians are in Bengaluru for a training camp before heading to Nagpur on Monday.
“The good thing is someone like Agar was in our last team, Swepson played the last two overseas tour, so a bit of experience.
“Murphy played in the last tour. We feel that we got a lot of support in that department for Lyon.”
The 29-year-old Cummins pointed out that middle-order batter Travis Head also offers off-spin option.
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Border-Gavaskar Trophy: All records
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<p>Not surprisingly, Sachin Tendulkar still leads the charts here. Sachin was invincible against the mighty Aussies and would regularly smack the likes of Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, and others all over the park. In 34 Tests vs Australia, Sachin scored 3262 runs at an average of 56.24 and struck 9 hundreds which is the most by any player in Border-Gavaskar Trophy.</p>
<p>One of the best captains and batsmen of all time, Ponting is the highest run scorer for Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. ‘Punter’ was a regular nightmare for the Indian bowlers. His iconic pull shots were the highlights of his gameplay. In 29 Tests vs India, he scored 2555 runs at an average of 54.36 and had 8 hundreds under his belt.<br /></p>
<p>When it comes to perfect stroke playing and elegance, Laxman was tailor-made for that job. He was a regular nemesis of the Aussies. The unforgettable knock at the Eden Gardens in 2001 of 281 in a partnership of 376 with Dravid, which led to India’s historic victory was played against the Aussies. In 29 Tests vs Aus, Laxman struck 2434 runs at an average of 49.67 and had 6 centuries.<br /></p>
<p>One of India’s most reliable batsmen, Rahul ‘The Wall’ Dravid was rock solid at the crease and played on for his team. His 180 in the partnership with Laxman in the 2001 Kolkata Test vs Australia was crucial. In 2008 he frustrated the Aussies with his solid defense, taking 40 balls to open his account. In 32 Tests vs Aus, Dravid scored 2143 runs at an average of 39.68 and had 2 hundreds.<br /></p>
<p>Clarke was a run-machine for the Aussies and was particularly prolific against India. One of his most iconic knocks was played in 2012 at Sydney when he struck a mammoth 329* vs India. He was one of the few Aussies who was adept at playing spin, especially on tough turning Indian tracks. In 22 Tests vs India, Clarke scored 2049 runs at an average of 53.92 and struck 7 hundreds.</p>
<p>Kumble is regarded as one of the best spinners to have played the game. ‘Jumbo’ leads the charts of most wickets in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Against Australia, Kumble scalped 111 wickets in 20 matches which is the most by a bowler against the Aussies. His best bowling figures are 8/141. He also got 10-fifers.<br /></p>
<p>Harbhajan Singh was one of the premier bowlers for Team India. He had a great on-field rivalry against the Aussies. Fans will never forget his hat trick against them in a historic test match at Eden Garden in 2001. He was the first Indian to claim a Test hat-trick. In 18 matches vs Aus, Bhajji took 95 wickets at an ER of 2.94. His best bowling figures were 8/84 and he got 7-fifers.<br /></p>
<p>Nathan Lyon is the highest wicket-taker from Australia against India in the red-ball format. He is just one wicket away from Harbhajan’s mark of 95 wickets. Lyon is known for his sharp spin which disturbs the concentration of the batsmen. In 22 Tests vs India, Lyon got 94 wickets at an ER of 3.14. His best bowling figures were 8/50, with 7-fifers.<br /></p>
<p>Ashwin is a true nemesis of the Aussies. Along with Nathan Lyon, he is also in the race to become the highest wicket-taker in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His carrom ball delivery is one of the main weapons in his arsenal. In 18 Tests vs Aus, Ashwin has scalped 89 wickets at an ER of 2.72. His best bowling figures are 7/103, with 5-fifers.<br /></p>
<p style=”line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;”>Jadeja is one of the prominent leg-spinners in world cricket. Jadeja is fifth on the chart of the most wicket-takers in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In 12 matches, Jadeja scalped 63 wickets at an ER of 2.22. His best bowling figures are 6/63 and he got 3-fifers.</p>
<p>This partnership in the 2012 Adelaide Test between Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke is the highest partnership by runs in the Border-Gavaskar trophy. Ponting scored an iconic 209, while Clarke contributed 166 runs.<br /></p>
<p>In a game that everyone thought India would lose, this magical partnership between Laxman and Dravid brought the Aussies to their knees. Laxman scored his highest Test score of 281 and Dravid scored 180. Because of this partnership, India won the historic test match and later on won the series as well.<br /><br /><br /></p>
<p>The Border-Gavaskar series started in 1996. In 15 series, India have won the series 9 times, while Australia have won 5 series and 1 draw which was in 2003-04.</p>
<p>Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for most hundreds by an Individual in the Border-Gavaskar trophy. Tendulkar has got 9 tons in this rivalry under his belt.</p>
<p>Anil Kumble holds this record. The leg-spinner got 10 five-wicket hauls in an inning in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.</p>
<p>Rahul Dravid holds the record for most catches. In 32 matches, he took 46 catches, especially in the slips.<br /><br /><br /></p>
<p>Steven Smith holds the record for the most runs in a single series since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was introduced, In the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar trophy, Smith scored 769 runs, at an average of 128.16, with 4 centuries and 2 fifties</p>
“Travis Head also bowls really good offspin. We have to balance things. We have got a plenty of variety there to choose from. We have not locked in any bowling line-up so far.”
Cummins has come a long way since he made a Test comeback after six years in Ranchi during the last tour of India in 2017.
An injury-prone Cummins then dished out a hostile spell to dismiss the star Indian trio of KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane en route to figures of 4/106.
“It was my first Test in six years. I just wanted to reaffirm that’s where I wanted to be in Test cricket. I really enjoyed that spell, you can’t be worried about your body or different things. You just got to go all out. I really enjoyed that.
“Test cricket can be really, really harsh. you have got to accept that it’s going to be grinding times, and you got to be out for it and embrace that challenge. Coming here to India when a lot of the talks are around, big spinning wicket, it’s not always the case.
“You need to get into the grind at times. That role of the fast bowler, bowling a lot of overs for not a heap of reward but doing your job for your team. I really enjoy that aspect of the last tour. Much to play for this time,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)
