Pat Cummins believes SCG pitch has 'huge connection' with India

Before the third Test against South Africa, Australia captain Pat Cummins claimed that the Sydney surface has a big connection to the Indian conditions in the hopes that it will provide his team the best possible head start for their forthcoming red-ball series in India. Australia will be touring India for a four-match Test series which will be a part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

A victory at the SCG will almost certainly guarantee Australia a spot in the World Test Championships final, which will take place at the Oval in June. Australia are currently facing South Africa at home, and leading the three-match series 2-0. The third and final Test of the series will be a Pink ball Test and will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

In light of the approaching tour of India, which commences on February 9, where Australia has historically struggled in subcontinental conditions, a dry, spinning surface is anticipated at the SCG.

“It's a huge connection to India. Fast bowling and reverse swing is going to come into it, which we can expect in India. Probably get more spin overs here, our batters are probably going to face more spin here as well, so it's a really good connection. Even personally, captaining here might be a little different to the last few Test matches,” Cummins was quoted as saying by Times of India.

Australia presently leads the WTC points standings with 10 victories out of 14 Test matches. The Border Gavaskar Trophy will be the last outing for Cummins & Co. as well as the Indian side that is placed second in the WTC rankings. Before facing arch-rivals England in the Ashes, Australia will be eyeing to complete their trophy cabinet by adding the WTC mace.

“It's been a big driver for us over the last couple of years. I think playing in London (in) a final against India, say, at a neutral venue, that's really exciting,” the pacer added.

I think we've been playing fantastically: Cummins

Australia could have played the finals in the previous edition of the World test Championship, but New Zealand grabbed the spot after Australia were docked four crucial points. The two sides faced each other in the 2020 Boxing Day Test but Australia were two overs behind, which resulted in ICC taking a big step.

“It was still a new concept so even things like overs rates – it wasn't really spoken about as importantly as perhaps what we think about it now. I think we got down to nine minutes down at one stage (in a recent Test) so we just made sure we had Travis Head or 'Smithy' (Steve Smith, two part-time spin bowlers) as an option and we got back basically within a couple of overs,” he added.

“Having just missed out on the World Test Championship final last cycle, that was always going to be a big goal. I think we've been playing fantastically, we've put ourselves in that position to earn that spot early which is a huge driver for us. It's always exciting going to England and playing an Ashes series, but adding in a World Test Championship final is huge,” he concluded.

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