Border-Gavaskar Trophy: “We’ve got plenty of bowling options” says Cummins

• Pat Cummins hasn’t decided if he will field two spinners in playing eleven.
• Cameron Green has a very slim chance of bowling in the opening Test.
• A four-match series between Australia and India for Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Australia captain Pat Cummins said he hasn’t decided if he will field two spinners in the playing eleven five days before the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy debut in Nagpur.

Australia is particularly cautious about how they balance their starting eleven because Cameron Green has a very slim chance of bowling in the opening Test. The visitors have options in left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson, and uncapped off spinner Todd Murphy, in addition to top off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who is a foregone conclusion.

They have three batters who can turn their arm over if necessary: Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Travis Head.

“I wouldn’t say it (two spinners0 is a given, it’s very conditions dependent so particularly this first Test, once we get to Nagpur we’ll see. I think sometimes when talking about a couple of spinners you forget how good a lot of our fast bowlers have been in all conditions. Even some of the SCG wickets, there hasn’t been a lot in them for quick bowlers but the quick bowlers have found a way.”

We’ve got plenty of bowling options here – fingerspin, wrist spin, left-arm, Starcy when he comes back – so we’ll obviously pick the bowlers we think can take 20 wickets, how we are going to split that up we aren’t 100% sure yet,” said Cummins to reporters at the KSCA Alur Facility, where Australia are holding their pre-series preparation camp.

Cummins noted Murphy partnering Lyon may be an option if Australia chooses to play two spinners in Nagpur, in addition to Head providing the same variation in a part-time role.

“It’s a chance. That’s something we’ll have to balance up if we want to go with two spinners. Do we want variation, or just two offspinners? So there’s no reason why we can’t go that way. Travis Head is in the side as well and bowls really good off spin. We’ve got plenty of variety to choose from,” he said.

A highly anticipated four-match series between Australia and India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will take place in Nagpur, New Delhi, Dharamshala, and Ahmedabad. Australia and India are currently ranked first and second, respectively, in the ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings and the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2023 cycle.

Australia last won a Test series in India in 2004, and India currently holds the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after winning the last three series against Australia in 2017, 2018–19, and 2020–21.

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