Captain Pat Cummins has jumped to the defence of Australia’s top order after another disappointing performance at the Gabba, attributing their lean run to the country’s lively decks and acknowledging a recent drop in Test batting averages worldwide.
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The third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy ended as a draw after the Queensland capital was pelted by rain this week, meaning the series remains locked at 1-1 ahead of next week’s Boxing Day clash at the MCG.
Speaking to reporters at the post-match press conference, Cummins confessed it was one of the most “frustrating” Test matches he’s been a part of.
“I can’t remember even coming close to the amount of times we were on and off throughout the five days,” he said.
“Especially here in Brisbane, it normally just pelts down for a couple of hours then you’re back on and it’s clear.
“It felt like we were ahead of the game for pretty much all of it; but not to be.”
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Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah continued terrorising Australia’s batters at the Gabba, dismissing each member of the opposition’s top six across the match, including opener Usman Khawaja in both innings.
Khawaja, along with opening partner Nathan McSweeney and Australian No. 3 Marnus Labuschagne, have made valuable contributions with the bat throughout the series, most notably during the first innings of the pink-ball Test in Adelaide.
However, the trio is under mounting pressure to convert their starts into substantial scores as batting prodigy Sam Konstas continues impressing at domestic level.
Khawaja and McSweeney are averaging 12.60 and 14.40 this summer, while Labuschagne has fared only slightly better at 16.40. The trio’s combined average of 14.40 is the lowest figure for Australia’s top three in a home Test summer since 1887/88.
“Everyone’s always hoping to score more runs,” Cummins said.
“The trend in cricket pretty much all around the world is the top three is a really hard place to bat at the moment, particularly here in Australia. The wickets are tough.
“Obviously I would like them to score more runs, but I think they have made some important contributions that others have benefited from.”
In 2024, the average score for top-three batters in Test cricket globally has been 30.63, considerably lower than last year’s figure of 37.15. Only twice across the last 50 years have top-order batters averaged worse in the game’s longer format – 2000 and 2018.
It’s a similar story for Test openers, with averages dropping from 37.61 in 2023 to 28.39 this year.
During the second innings at the Gabba, Australia collapsed to 5-33 while chasing quick runs before Cummins’ sporting declaration, with the top six contributing 36 runs across the innings, the team’s lowest figure in a home Test since 1978.
However, Cummins brushed aside concerns about Wednesday’s poor batting effort, commending his teammates for committing to the plan.
“That one you can dismiss,” Cummins said.
“Really proud of everyone going out there and trying to win the Test match. We’re big on buying into a game plan and a style, and they all went out there with good intent.
“I wouldn’t look into it too much. It was more about trying to get ourselves to a number rather than trying to preserve wickets.”
McSweeney, picked ahead of specialist openers Marcus Harris and Konstas for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign, has struggled to tame Bumrah across the series, averaging 3.75 against the Indian quick.
The South Australian, who had never opened at first-class level before last month and spent most of his Sheffield Shield career at No. 3 or No. 4, has registered scores of 10, 0, 39, 10*, 9 and 4 against India this summer.
Cummins, who refused to guarantee McSweeney’s selection for the Melbourne Test, praised the 25-year-old for his selflessness in the second innings at the Gabba, where he departed for 4 following a reckless swipe against Indian seamer Akash Deep.
“The selectors will get together tonight or tomorrow and pick the squad for the next couple of Tests,” Cummins continued.
“It’s been really hard for the opening batters for both sides.
“I’ve been really impressed with the way he’s gone about it, even today, someone starting out his career still being selfless enough to go out there and try and play shots rather than just trying to preserve and get a score.
“He hasn’t probably scored the runs that he would like, but he’s played some important knocks that set up (victory) in Adelaide and a really good result here.”
Cummins also assured reporters that Travis Head, the leading run-scorer of the series, would feature in next week’s Boxing Day Test despite showing signs of discomfort at the Gabba on Wednesday.
The South Australian, who smacked hundreds in Adelaide and Brisbane, was seen limping between the wickets and gingerly stretching out his left leg at the non-striker’s end during the second innings, prompting speculation of an injury.
“He’ll be fine, it’s a bit of a tight quad,” Cummins declared.
“He’ll be fine for Melbourne.”
Meanwhile, Cummins congratulated Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on an incredible career after the 38-year-old announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday.
The veteran tweaker finishes his Test career with 537 wickets at 24.00, while only one finger spinner has managed more scalps in the game’s longest format – Sri Lankan legend Muthiah Muralidaran.
“He’s obviously been a fantastic player, all around the world really,” Cummins said.
“There aren’t too many finger spinners that have that kind of longevity.
“He’ll go down as one of the all-time greats, always a fantastic competitor. Had a lot of battles against him over the years here in Australia as well as over in India.
“Just massive respect from our change room to the career that he’s had.”
The fourth Test between Australia and India gets underway at the MCG on Thursday, December 26th, with the first ball scheduled for 10.30am AEDT.
