He also said he expected a high-scoring game, unlike the first two.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think everyone in the team after the first two [losses] really came trying to make amends,\u201d Cummins said. \u201cMaybe even trying a bit too hard. For the first 25 overs, everyone in the field was diving around.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Sri Lanka were 0-125, the game seemed up. Then he coaxed a top edge from Pathum Nissanka, David Warner took a spectacular outfield catch and Australia were away. \u201cI would have liked the breakthrough to come earlier, but once we got it, I felt like we got on a roll which we earned,\u201d Cummins said.<\/p>\n
Cummins said he thought the game against a characteristically talented but unpredictable Pakistan team would be won and lost where one-day internationals generally are now, in the so-called middle overs. It\u2019s a phase that has been vexing Australia in this tournament.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Australian captain Pat Cummins: The balance is now right, he says.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cMost games of ODI cricket are won in those middle overs, either by not conceding wickets when you\u2019re batting or trying to get a few breakthroughs with the ball,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an area of the game we spend a lot of time on how to navigate through. We always (say) to our players, play what\u2019s in front of you. If you feel like it\u2019s a good opportunity to attack, go for it. If it feels like a moment where you need to bide your time and set up for the back thing, that\u2019s also ok.\u201d<\/p>\n The batsmen, in particular, would have to be on their games. To date, they\u2019ve been underwhelming.<\/p>\n \u201cEspecially at a venue like here in Bangalore, I daresay it\u2019s going to be high scoring,\u201d Cummins said. \u201cSmall outfield, pitch is always really good here, so batting is super important. I think the way the guys started last game really set the tone. Mitch (Marsh) and Davey (Warner) upfront: from the first over taking the game. That\u2019s what we want from our players.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re working really hard. They\u2019re doing all the right things and I\u2019m sure plenty runs around the corner.\u201d<\/p>\n The bowlers would prioritise wicket-taking over run-saving. \u201cI think you saw a bit of a shift in our last game,\u201d Cummins said. \u201cAgainst South Africa, we felt like we had them relatively under control, but we didn\u2019t get any wickets. Last game [against Sri Lanka], we were more aggressive, a few more bouncers, got a breakthrough and that\u2019s where you get into the game. It\u2019s always a balance.\u201d<\/p>\n Australia are likely to name an unchanged team. Cummins said he would not take the new ball. He said he would naturally take the effect of lights at dusk and a likely dewfall into account at the toss, but added that it was not as important as in a Test match. Historically, it made little difference. Cummins said leg-spinner Adam Zampa was still sore, but would play.<\/p>\n The skipper shrugged of suggestions from former captain Michael Clarke that he would be dropped. \u201cA couple of the boys let me know I was being dropped, so that was interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n Cummins said he had noted the Netherlands\u2019 shock win over South Africa and the way it had opened up the competition. \u201cIt was good, I won\u2019t lie,\u201d he said. Ultimately, what it demonstrated was that all 10 teams were here on merit and none could be taken for granted, he said. Australia\u2019s next game is against the Netherlands.<\/p>\n Meantime, Travis Head will meet the team in Delhi on Saturday, setting off an intrigue about selection for Australia\u2019s next match next Wednesday and for the rest of the tournament.<\/p>\n Head will return to his opener\u2019s berth, that\u2019s for sure. His swashbuckling batting at the top of the order and his useful off-spin were key to Australia\u2019s original blueprint. He has been sorely missed.<\/p>\n \u201cA couple of the boys let me know I was being dropped, so that was interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n Marsh most likely will ease down to No.3 and Steve Smith to No.4. Deploying Marsh any lower would be too smart by half. With his hard hands, he is vulnerable early to spin. Smith is probably the best player of spin in the team.<\/p>\n All-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis are needed for hitting power and bowling cover, which puts the squeeze on Marnus Labuschagne.<\/p>\n There are wheels within wheels here. Labuschagne is comfortably Australia\u2019s leading scorer in the tournament to date, but his strike rate is a modest 65. In mitigation, that is because he has had either to try to stabilise a wobbling innings or salvage the net run rate in a game already lost. It was the team thing.<\/p>\n Labuschagne was not in Australia\u2019s original plan until Head\u2019s injury. Asked in warm-up matches to demonstrate that he could bat a higher tempo if needed, he did. He\u2019s been a good team man, but cruelly, the best he can do for the team now is to make way.<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nMost Viewed in Sport<\/h2>\n
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