Australia captain Pat Cummins has torn apart commentators Sunil Gavaskar, Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan for their recent comments claiming a rift in the Australian team. Cummins took a dig by saying that such commentators try to create headlines when things are not right within a set-up.
During the first Test of the series in Perth, Josh Hazlewood blamed his team’s batters for the team’s disappointing performance. When asked about chasing down the mammoth target set by India, Hazlewood asked the reporters to ask the question to the team’s batters.
Later, Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the second Test due to an injury. However, this didn’t go down well with Sunil Gavaskar, who later claimed that Hazlewood might have been out of the team due to his comments. Gavaskar claimed that Hazlewood was absolutely fit during the first Test and argued his omission.
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Pat Cummins shuts down rumors of any rift in the Australian team
While speaking to the media on the eve of the Adelaide Test, Pat Cummins blasted the commentators by saying that there is no rift within the Australian set-up. Cummins claimed that Australia have prepared well for Adelaide and are eager to do well.
“The team’s great. Some of the commentators got that 100 percent wrong. We’ve prepared like we always do and get around each other. It’s a great feeling around the team. We don’t make too much of it,” Pat Cummins said.
Speaking further on the topic, Pat Cummins stressed upon the fact that there are some commentators who just try to create headlines. Pat Cummins admitted to doing his own preparation for the match without concentrating on the other distractions.
“When things don’t go right, there’s enough commentators that will support you but also some that will, of course, create some headlines. We try not to take too much notice of it. We just go about our things,” he added.
Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan’s comments on Josh Hazlewood
Earlier, former Australia wicketkeeper and commentator Adam Gilchrist had claimed that the Australian change room is divided. Former England captain Michael Vaughan too was taken aback with Hazlewood’s comments.
“That to me tells me there is potentially a divided change room,” Gilchrist had said on Fox Cricket.
“Publicly, I’ve never heard an Australian come out and kind of divide the camp into batters and bowlers,” Vaughan said.
Scott Boland replaces Josh Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the second Test and replaced by Scott Boland in the Playing XI. Boland is a highly skillful bowler who is an able replacement for Hazlewood. He already has an excellent record in Test cricket.
The second Test in Adelaide will begin on December 6. It will be the only-day-night Test of the series and will be played with the pink ball. Boland has a great chance to stake a claim in this bowling attack.