7 October - Chennai - Australia Captain Pat Cummins pre-match press conference
[Reporter:]
When you take on the host, what are the factors that you have to look into, especially to put on a good start?
[Pat Cummins:]
Yeah, I think there's a couple of obvious ones. The home crowd's going to be noisy and very one-sided, which is nothing new, and it's great. Also, they've played a lot of cricket in these conditions, so it's always tough playing against someone on their home grounds, but with that also comes pressure. There's a billion fans that are going to be watching closely, cheering them on. Yes, there we go.
[Reporter:]
You've been Ashes' captain now, you've been Test captain for a while, you've been ODI captain for a while, but just being World Cup captain, there haven't been too many who have done that for Australia. Has that sunk in and what does that mean to you, to be World Cup captain?
[Pat Cummins:]
Oh, it's really cool, first of all. Yeah, I think the most exciting thing about a World Cup is it is a campaign. It does feel like you're there with 14 other guys and you're on a journey to try and make the next couple of months as special as it can be. So, I love that. There's no forward planning and you're trying to manage different formats now. We're here for a World Cup and everyone's fully focused on that. So, I've really enjoyed that and the boys have been awesome so far and yeah, it's my third World Cup and first one is captain. They're all really special.
[Reporter:]
World Cup memories - are there any that stand out for you?
[Pat Cummins:]
Yeah, I mean ‘99, I didn't watch it live, but seeing those replays over and over again of the run out against South Africa, them standing on the Lords changing room balcony. 2003 I remember watching a little bit of Andrew Symonds, remember he had a great game and watched that one. And then 2011 was just as I started playing for Australia, so I saw a little bit of that, but I mean 2015 I still say is basically my career highlight. I didn't play in the final, I played a couple of games, but being part of that was just something special.
[Reporter:]
Pat, how is Marcus Stoinis – is he available for this game? I suppose as an extension do you have a team for us yet?
[Pat Cummins:]
We'll announce a team tomorrow at the toss. Stoinis, yeah, still touch and go. He's going to have a run out this afternoon, but probably up against it, he's got to jump through a few hoops. So, yeah, we'll see.
[Reporter:]
And just in terms of one-day cricket and where it's at, heading into this tournament, just What's your view of where ODI cricket is at as a format? Obviously, the World Cup is still huge, but do you think it has relevance outside this? I know Mark Nicholas, the MCC president, has said that it shouldn't be played outside world events.
[Pat Cummins:]
Yeah, it's a tough one. There's so much cricket on that you've seen over the last few years, you've got to prioritise different things at different times. So, there's been times where we've missed white ball cricket to focus on Tests. There's times where we've missed one day cricket to kind of focus on T20. And in a World Cup year like this we've probably more tended to rest from the T20s to get ready for a one-day World Cup so it's tough there's more and more cricket going in the calendar so there's going to have to be some give and take yeah, it's hard to know.
[Reporter:]
How much of the ODI series in March and last month helped you in this World Cup? Do you think Australia have the edge when it comes to head-to-head in World Cups with eight wins and four losses?
[Pat Cummins:]
It's no doubt helpful playing a lot here, not only for Australia but IPL. I've probably played more white ball cricket in India than I have in Australia over the last 10 years, so it's conditions we know really well. And I think the positive thing is that we've played some really good one-day cricket against India over here over the last few years so we can draw back on that and that can be front of mind. In terms of a World Cup record, we probably can't take too much credit for the World Cup wins in 1980s and 90s and early 2000s, but we're really happy with how we've played over here lately.
[Reporter:]
Your team has a lot of all-rounders in teams - like you, England, New Zealand. Going into this tournament, there's a lot of talk about all-rounders being the deciding factor of this tournament. So having so many all-rounders, how much does this flexibility help you?
[Pat Cummins:]
It's a luxury. I think in one day cricket more than any other formats you need all-rounders - you've got to try and find 50 overs. So, we feel really blessed to have people like Cam Green, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis in the side. They're like gold it means you can bat deeper so we feel in a really good place.
[Reporter:]
Those who have seen Australian teams playing for the last thirty years those who have seen on television or otherwise on the ground, have seen a special character of Australians being very aggressive, a little brash, sledging here and there, but this generation has mellowed down a bit. So, if the answer is yes, is it good or bad?
[Pat Cummins:]
Yeah, I don't know if it's for good or bad. I'd say it's more a reflection of who we are as people. You know, in any team you've got different characters. Most of our guys are pretty chilled out. So, I'm always proud seeing the players out in the field be really similar to the players who they are or the people who they are off the field. And yeah, I've been really proud over the last couple of years in all formats. You've seen a lot of that. But it is a World Cup. I think you're going to see some boys get fired up at different times. We're all passionate. We're all ridiculously competitive. So, I never really mind if a couple of our boys are puffing the chests out and getting themselves into the contest.
[Reporter:]
Mitch Marsh has been among the most prolific six-hitters in ODI cricket this year, almost on the same level as some of your opponents like Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. Having followed his career from close quarters, what do you think makes him such a powerful six-hitter?
[Pat Cummins:]
Oh, I mean, first of all, just his size. He's huge. And he's always been a power hitter. I think that's his most natural kind of trait as a batter. He's super powerful, can clear the ropes easily. He had an amazing T20 World Cup in 2021. And over the last couple of years, he's had a few injuries along the way, but when he has played, he's been top quality. So, he's one of those guys that is intimidating to bowl to. Top of your mark, you look and it's a big human on the other end and you know he can hit the ball a long way. So hopefully you see plenty of that this series.
[Reporter:]
On the all-rounders we saw Mitch Marsh bowling back in the game [inaudible] How do you plan to manage those all-rounders? Is it a case that Marsh could be available to bowl in one game, Stoinis or Green in the next, or do you plan for them to be available to bowl in every game?
[Pat Cummins:]
The plan at the moment is for whoever is playing to be on the table to bowl. Obviously if things shift then we'll manage that. The good thing is I think each game between Maxwell, Marsh, Green, Stoinis, I think we'll have lots of bowling. So, there might be some games where one or two of the all-rounders either don't bowl or bowl very little. Just the way the overs pan out. But yeah, Mitch is really good and all on track. So yeah, that's kind of been the design to hold him back from South Africa and start building up for the World Cup and it's yeah, he's going really well.
[Reporter:]
Over the years we have been used to – Whenever an Australian team comes to the World Cup big headlines, like something like - Mitchell is a star, the top order should be aware of that, or we will thrash the Indians, something like that. Was it because of the characters; the Warnie’s, the Ponting’s, from the 99 to 2007 phase, those characters, that's why we see that slightly. Is it because of the characters now you have in the team from compared to the previous generation?
[Pat Cummins:]
Yeah, I'd say so. I mean, times change as well. That's, 20 years ago, so, you know, the world changes a little bit. But I think, as I said, that probably doesn't come naturally to a lot of our guys. We want to go about our work quietly and when you're out in the field, you'll see the boys be just as aggressive. Davey Warner and Mitch Marsh are aggressive when they go out there and play, but we don't have to show it in getting in the opposition's face and things like that. But, yeah.
[Reporter:]
What about spicy quotes ?
[Pat Cummins:]
Spicy quotes? Mitchell Marsh is huge. There's your headline.
[Reporter:]
Adam Zampa has obviously been managed pretty carefully because he's so important. How's he tracking? I saw training - look like he had a bit of a gash on his face.
[Pat Cummins:]
Yeah, he swam into the pool wall apparently. He said he had his eyes closed and thought he was swimming in a straight line and swam into the step in the pool. So, looks impressive. Yeah, no, he's all good. He's just a little bit sore. So, we've had a pretty quiet week or two. But yeah, he's right to go.
[Reporter:]
We saw David Warner bat right-handed against Ashwin. So how do you see the prospect of him batting again against Ashwin, Jadeja and of course, Kuldeep? How do you see spin play for your batters?
[Pat Cummins:]
Yeah, they're a good bowling lineup, especially here in home conditions. So, they're going to be challenging. The good thing is we've played them a lot. So, our batters will have their own plans. And again, we've had success against them a few times. They've bowled well against us a few times as well. Yeah, Davey, we'll see if he bats right-handed or left-handed. Yeah, he's probably better left-handed, I reckon, but we'll see how we go.
[Reporter:]
Talking about your spin bowling, obviously with Adam missing out, the onus is going to be on Zampa as well as Maxwell. And coming to Maxwell, do you think it would be convenient for him to bowl 8 to 10 overs per match, especially in these conditions?
[Pat Cummins:]
Yeah, I think so. You know, again, it's good that we've got plenty of bowling, but yeah, we've seen Max, he's a front-line spin bowler. In the 2015 World Cup, he was the sole spinner in basically every single match I think other than one so really happy with how he's going. I thought he bowed really well in that third ODI against India So yeah, we've got 20 overs of spin out there if we need it.
[Reporter:]
Glenn Maxwell [inaudible] Is he working on new variations? What do you think?
[Pat Cummins:]
He’s always working on some things, yeah even if it’s not variations, its different fields, different ways you bowl - and yeah, I think with age and experience as well, you just get a bit more clever and you need that as a spin bowler. So, he's got an amazing knack of if he misses out with the bat, he contributes with the ball and vice versa. He's always in the game. So yeah, no doubt expecting a big tournament from Maxi.
[Reporter:]
Just want to know from you the importance of starting the tournament on a good note, especially against teams like India who are also the hosts of the competition.
[Pat Cummins:]
Yeah, every game is super important in World Cup, you can't take it easy in any of them. And what a better way to start than India, in the home conditions you'd imagine, they're probably tournament favourites. So yeah, if we win tomorrow that's awesome, if not, well, we know where we stand and maybe we need to change a few things but or you know double down on what we do well but yeah, it's exciting so yeah it should be a cracker.
[Reporter:]
Though most of the Indian wickets look flat on their surface but ball stops a bit do you think that is going to be one of the major challenges
[Pat Cummins:]
I hope so as a bowler. It's funny over here - you get the full range of wickets you get some better you know spin or stop and yet 250 might be a good score and then there's other wickets where you feel like you need more than 350, cause it's just so true. So, yeah, I guess one of the things I do like about playing in India is over the course of 50 overs it does feel like the wicket and the ball changes a bit. You know in Australia it can be pretty flat the whole 50 overs, here it does go through different phases.
[Reporter:]
You spoke about the number of seam bowling all-rounders with Green, Marsh and Stoinis. How do you strike that balance between them and maybe having enough specialist pacers too because you can't fit all of them in?
[Pat Cummins:]
Yeah, that's it. I guess the luxury about the all-rounders is they do make the side as the top seven batters. You know, they are genuinely pick themselves from their batting and their bowling is kind of a bonus. So, yeah, we're lucky that we're going to have seven or eight bowlers to choose from, but no doubt you'll see more from the specialist overs, 40, 50 overs of specialists, and the all-rounders will chip in when they need to.
[Reporter:]
This ground is considered as the happy hunting ground for Australia from the 1987 World Cup onwards. And also, the first match in this ground was during that ‘87 World Cup between Australia and India. Do you think you will keep that legacy in tomorrow's match?
[Pat Cummins:]
Yeah, hopefully. Yeah, it's a ground we've played quite often. It feels like whenever we tour India, there seems to be a game here. A few of the guys have played for CSK as well, or you know, a fair bit here for IPL. So yeah, it's a nice ground and we like playing here. Hopefully we keep that going.
[Reporter:]
I just wanted your assessment of what the pitch looks like. In March, 269 turned out to be your winning score here, and it took spin progressively through the game. Do you reckon it's going to be somewhat similar and obviously different to the ‘350’ games that you guys have been playing recently?
[Pat Cummins:]
Yeah, I hope so. Yeah, hard to know really. We'll obviously have a look tomorrow as well. We're still a day out. But yeah, it does seem like that's a bit of the trend is as the game goes on, it does spin a little bit more. But yeah, it looks like a good wicket. Hard, bit of grass. But yeah, I'm probably the wrong person to ask, because I'm terrible at reading wickets.
[Reporter:]
But how do you see as a captain, when you approach the middle phase of the 50-over spot, basically 11 to 40, do you see it as important for teams to actually go out and pick wickets or do you think okay, let's go safe for the defensive bowling option? How do you see captains in general going to use this - especially you being a bowling captain? So even if they got eight runs per over, it's OK to take four wickets so that you pull them back? So, do you see a lot of innings being bowled out early in this tournament? And do you see it dew when you practice?
[Pat Cummins:]
Yeah, I mean, first of all dew – there was a little bit two nights ago when we trained at night. So, it's hard to know how big a factor that is. You know, in T20 it's quite a big factor. In one day, cricket it's a bit longer, so maybe the ball gets a bit softer or, it's not as big a factor as T20, but it's hard to know. Yeah, in terms of that middle phase, I think that's the interesting part of ODI cricket, because there's a few ways you can go about it. You know, as a captain, the questions you want to ask are, are you trying to get out overs from your fifth or sixth bowler, or do you try and front end it and bowl your main guys trying to go after those wickets? But then if it doesn't work out your last 10 overs might be a bit more exposed. Sometimes if the ball's not swinging or spinning, maybe you try and just build pressure and get wickets that way, hopefully. So, it's, it is an interesting phase. You've got to try and think a little bit differently. So, it's probably one part of the capacity I do enjoy.