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Indian Express
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘You expect India to be here, but same could be said of South Africa too': Pat Cummins on WTC final
Australia captain Pat Cummins has said he expected India to be in the World Test Championship final while brushing aside any notion that South Africa had an easy way to the showpiece event set to begin at Lord's from Wednesday. Having already won the 50-over World Cup and a WTC final in succession, Cummins has the opportunity to make history by becoming the first captain to win successive WTC. Defending champions Australia start as firm favourites against South Africa and Cummins when asked if he was surprised about the opponent for the final said, 'In some ways you expect India to be around. England have been quite strong at home and New Zealand always seem to get to finals. But the same case could be made for South Africa in ICC events. We just don't see a lot of them in Test cricket but it's nice and different to an Australia-India final.' Soon after South Africa qualified for the final, former England captain Michael Vaughan ridiculed their road to Lord's saying they beat a team of nobodies pointing to the fact that they didn't play Australia and England in the current WTC cycle. But Cummins chose to keep aside all of it. 'You can only beat who you come up against. Our route to the final was pretty tough but I don't blame South Africa for having a different route,' Cummins said. Coming into the final, there is a bit of unknown about how these two teams which enjoy a storied rivalry would face-off at Lord's and Cummins said he expects nothing less from South Africa. 'It's hard to say because there are so many unknowns. We haven't played them much [with their last Test series ending in an easy Australian victory at home in 2022-23] but you've got to be really well balanced to make the final. Their bowling has always stood out and it's no different now. [Keshav] Maharaj is a really solid spinner and they've always got plenty of quick bowlers who pose a challenge.' A win at Lord's would also be a high point for Australia's attack which includes the famous four of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Cummins. The upcoming Ashes could well turn out to be the last time all four could play and the Lord's final is certainly the first big match all the four will feature in. 'We've got quite a few players who are past their mid-30s and there seems to be a natural attrition rate into the late‑30s. If you'd asked me a year or two ago I would have said: 'It's going to be a huge change. There's a little bit to be worried about.' But we've seen Josh Inglis, Sam Konstas, [Nathan] McSweeney debut throughout [Australia's] summer. [Beau] Webster's come in plus a few others have debuted in white-ball cricket. I don't think the transition will be as jarring as we first thought,' Cummins added.
NDTV
21 hours ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Pat Cummins' Blunt 'India' Remark On WTC Final Against South Africa
Ahead of the much-awaited World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final against South Africa, Australia skipper Pat Cummins is excited about playing an ICC summit clash against a team other than India. Both India and Australia are undoubtedly one of the best two teams in the world and are also cut-throat rivals. However, Pat Cummins and co spoiled India's dream of reaching the WTC 2025 final after they defeated them in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year. However, South Africa came in a surprise package and secured the finale berth. The WTC 2025 final will begin from June 11 at Lord's, London and there's no doubt that Australia will be entering the ground as the favourites. However, Cummins is not ready to take the Proteas lightly. "In some ways you expect India to be around. England have been quite strong at home and New Zealand always seem to get to finals. But the same case could be made for South Africa in ICC events," Cummins told the Guardian. "We just don't see a lot of them in Test cricket but it's nice and different to an Australia-India final," he added. The Australia skipper credited South Africa and even mentioned spinner Keshav Maharaj, who can pose a big challenge in front of them. "It's hard to say because there are so many unknowns. We haven't played them much but you've got to be really well balanced to make the final," said Cummins. "Their bowling has always stood out and it's no different now. Keshav Maharaj is a really solid spinner and they've always got plenty of quick bowlers who pose a challenge," he added. Earlier, Keshav Maharaj stated that he is determined to follow in the famous footsteps of Graeme Smith and his world number one team of yesteryears at the World Test Championship final. "I remember watching that when they lifted the mace," he said. "We know that apart from doing it for us, we want to honour the legends of the past and hopefully we will one day be seen in the same calibre and light to win such a coveted title and hold the Test mace," he added.
India Today
a day ago
- Sport
- India Today
Pat Cummins missing India in the WTC final: You always expect them to be around
Australia captain Pat Cummins said that it's finally nice to see something other than an India vs Australia final ahead of the summit clash of the World Test Championship (WTC). Australia and South Africa are set to lock horns in the WTC final on June 11 at Lord' the first time, India won't be a part of the blockbuster clash as they failed to seal a berth in the final, finishing third on the points table, having earned 50% of the points. Recently, ahead of the final, Cummins said that India have regularly appeared in the finals in the past few years, but it was nice to see some other team apart from some ways you expect India to be around. England have been quite strong at home and New Zealand always seem to get to finals. But the same case could be made for South Africa in ICC events. We just don't see a lot of them in Test cricket but it's nice and different to an Australia-India final,' Cummins told the Guardian. Cummins led Australia to World Test Championship crown in 2023, beating India in the final by 209 runs. He also led Australia to 2023 ODI World Cup triumph, beating India in the final by six Australia skipper will have his eyes set on defending their crown in the upcoming WTC final to maintain his clean record in ICC tournament Cummins also shared his views on South Africa's criticism of having a seemingly easier route to the WTC final saying that they can only beat the teams they play can only beat who you come up against. Our route to the final was pretty tough but I don't blame South Africa for having a different route. Their bowling has always stood out and it's no different now. Keshav Maharaj is a really solid spinner and they've always got plenty of quick bowlers who pose a challenge,' he Africa faced India, New Zealand (away), West Indies (away), Bangladesh (away), Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the current WTC cycle and finished on top with a points percentage of 69.44%. On the other hand, Australia faced England (away), Pakistan, New Zealand(away), India and Sri Lanka (away) on their way to the final.
Mint
a day ago
- Sport
- Mint
Pat Cummins remembers India ahead of SA vs AUS WTC final: Australia captain says playing South Africa is ‘different'
The ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 is all set to take place between Australia and South Africa. The match will be held at Lord's, London, from June 14–18, with a reserve day on June 19. What makes this final even more historic is that India, for the first time, have not qualified for the WTC final. Australian captain Pat Cummins spoke about India not being in the final. While speaking to The Guardian, he mentioned about Australia's archrivals. 'In some ways you expect India to be around. England have been quite strong at home and New Zealand always seem to get to finals,' he said. 'But, the same case could be made for South Africa in ICC events. We just don't see a lot of them in Test cricket but it's nice and different to an Australia-India final,' Cummins added. India featured in both previous WTC Finals, against New Zealand in 2021 and Australia in 2023. But, India narrowly missed out this time. South Africa's consistent red-ball performance under tough overseas conditions earned them a well-deserved spot. Australia, the defending champions, will now look to retain the WTC trophy. Meanwhile, South Africa are eyeing their first major ICC trophy in years. Michael Vaughan earlier criticised South Africa. The former England captain said the Proteas had reached the World Test Championship final without beating strong teams. He felt they didn't deserve their spot. England have yet to reach a WTC final. This year, they are Number 5 in the standings behind India and New Zealand, respectively. While reacting to Vaughan's comments, Cummins defended Temba Bavuma's boys. According to Cummins, teams can only beat whoever they play and that South Africa just had a different path to the final. When asked about their chances at Lord's, Cummins admitted it's hard to predict. 'We haven't played them much, but you've got to be really well-balanced to make the final. Their bowling has always stood out, and it's no different now. Maharaj is a really solid spinner, and they've always got plenty of quick bowlers who pose a challenge,' Cummins said.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Pat Cummins' sharp retort to facing South Africa in WTC final: ‘Nice to see something different to AUS-IND clash'
Pat Cummins-led Australia are gearing up to face South Africa in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at the Lord's Cricket Ground. Ahead of the marquee contest, Cummins said it feels 'nice and different' to see something other than yet another Australia-India final. The Australia pacer said that he is not at all surprised to see the Proteas making their way to the WTC final. Australia, the defending WTC champions, are the favourites for the summit clash, but one cannot count out South Africa, as the latter has a formidable pace attack. However, if one is to compare man-to-man then Australia are the clear favourites looking at the experience of both the teams. Pat Cummins still remains wary of the Proteas challenge and is not willing to take the Temba Bavuma-led side lightly. 'In some ways you expect India to be around. England have been quite strong at home and New Zealand always seem to get to finals. But the same case could be made for South Africa in ICC events," Cummins told the Guardian. Also Read: Pat Cummins mocked with a cheeky dig by English TV presenter ahead of WTC Final 'We just don't see a lot of them in Test cricket but it's nice and different to an Australia-India final,' he added. Ever since South Africa reached the WTC final, critics have argued about how Bavuma and co. made the trip to the summit clash on the back of victories in a two-Test series and how the Proteas didn't play against the top teams such as Australia, England, and India in the WTC 2023-2025 cycle. However, Cummins brushed aside this theory saying nobody can fault South Africa for having a 'different route' to the final. 'You can only beat who you come up against. Our route to the final was pretty tough but I don't blame South Africa for having a different route,' he said. It has been more than three months since both Australia and South Africa played a Test match. How both teams perform at Lord's, needs to be seen but one expects a cracking contest in front of the sold out stadium. 'It's hard to say because there are so many unknowns. We haven't played them much but you've got to be really well balanced to make the final. Their bowling has always stood out and it's no different now," said Cummins. 'Keshav Maharaj is a really solid spinner and they've always got plenty of quick bowlers who pose a challenge,' he added.
