Cummins, Australia in Test groove for Proteas series

Be it the ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings or the current ICC World Test Championship Standings, South Africa and Australia occupy the top-two spots.

Both teams were also the finalists at last year’s WTC Final, a clash that saw South Africa emerge triumphant. The game and the pedigree of the opposition are something Australia are very well familiar with.

“Looks like a well-balanced side, which South Africa always have,” Australia captain Pat Cummins said about the Proteas playing XI on the eve of their series opener. 

“They've always got kind of big squads to choose from. So, it looks like they're going to be a challenge to spinners. It obviously tells you that they think it might turn a little bit out there,” he added about the conditions on offer in Durban.

Australia arrive into the Test series on the back of a 2-1 loss in the ODIs. Cummins believes the key to their success against a well-rounded South African side will be to get into the groove of the longest format.

“For the batsmen and for the bowling group as well, getting into that grind ‌is important. We haven’t played too many of those ‌kinds ⁠of test matches in the last few years, particularly ⁠in Australia,” he said.

“They’ve been quite fast-paced. A lot of our success has come off big moments, be it a Travis Head century or Starcy (fast ​bowler Mitchell Starc) running ‌through the top order, but I think we’ve got to get a little bit better, and we can get a bit better getting into the grind.

“It might not be the ‌glamorous stuff, but it’s that grinding out of ​sessions, not these whirlwind innings at times. Whatever tempo gets thrown at us or what the game ⁠needs, we must make sure we match that,” he added.

While South Africa had unveiled their lineup for the first Test, Cummins conceded that Australia were still running through their options for the series opener. 

“We don’t know our team at this stage; the selectors will come ‌down here and we’ll just want to have one more look at ​the ground,” he explained.

“We’re trying to work out what we think is the best batting line-up for ⁠these conditions. Obviously, Cam Green’s out and Josh Inglis isn’t here ⁠as well.

“So that’s a couple of changes that we’ve got to match up. What are the conditions going ‌to throw at us? We’ve got a full squad. Everyone brings something a little bit different and it’s just ​trying to work out what we think the best combinations are,” he added.

South Africa and Australia will square off in a three-match Test series as part of the ongoing WTC cycle.

Series schedule

First Test - October 9 to 13, Durban

Second Test - October 18 to 22, Gqeberha

Third Test - October 27 to 31, Cape Town