Australia skipper Pat Cummins is getting geared up for the most anticipated contest of the year: the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India, which came after a mega nine-wicket loss against Pakistan in the second ODI at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.
Pakistan paceman Haris Rauf's fiery five-wicket haul floored the Australian batsmen on their home turf to wrap them for 163 all out in 35 overs. Fellow speedster Shaheen Shah Afridi claimed the figures of 3-26 in his eight overs to further stamp their fast-bowling dominance on seam-friendly and bouncy Australian pitches.
As a response, openers Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique set a perfect start for the visitors with the 137-run partnership. Ayub was at his attacking best hammering 82 off 71 balls laced with six sixes and five fours before spinner Adam Zampa got the sole wicket of Pakistan's innings in the 21st over. Babar Azam (15 not out) and Shafique, who struck an unbeaten 64 with four fours and three sixes, took the side home to a resounding nine-wicket win and levelled the three-match series 1-1.
Australia will miss some of their star players, including captain Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, and Steve Smith, for the series decider in Perth on Sunday.
The left-arm seamer Cummins bowled seven overs and didn't yield a wicket, feeling Australia failed in their game, particularly with their batting, as he mentioned, "Wasn't one of our best days. They bowled well, but we should have done better and scored more than 160. There was a bit of seam around there. We tried to attack (with some close-in fielders) but it wasn't to be," the pacer said in the post-match presentation.
With Cummins leaving for the BGT, wicket-keeper batter Josh Inglis will lead the team in Perth as the side shifts attention to the red-ball format and gears up for the challenge from India. "I will leave it to him, he has some experience. So let him be him. We have a week at home. Good training sessions needed, mind now switches to the red ball (for the upcoming Test series vs India), " added Cummins.
The first Test between India and Australia will be played in Perth on November 22.
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