Pat Cummins taunts India Virat Kohli. Image Credits: AFP
Australia captain Pat Cummins has conceded that apart from India and England, the Kangaroos are expected to win against every other team in Test cricket. This came after Australia was stunned by Bangladesh in the first Test of the two-match series that was played in Darwin.
Now the second Test of the series will be played at the Great Barrier Reef Ground in Mackay from August 22 onwards, and Pat Cummins talked about the loss to Bangladesh in the press conference where the Australian squad was announced.
Pat Cummins speaks on shock loss to Bangladesh
Bangladesh had done well to bowl Australia out for 198 runs in the first innings and then piled out 426 runs themselves. Australia did respond with 284 runs in their second innings but only managed a lead of 56 runs. Bangladesh overhauled the paltry target with 9 wickets in hand to register a historic first-ever Test win in Australia.
Although Pat Cummins acknowledged that Australia's performance in the first Test was far below their best, he still offered Bangladesh credit.
“I think when it's not India or England, a lot of people jump to say that you have to win everything, and obviously we hope we do. Particularly home Test matches, we pride ourselves on winning as many as we can."
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"We were nowhere near our best [in Darwin], but I think Bangladesh played really well. They're a really good cricket team. So, yeah, it wasn't ideal. I would expect that we'd win more games than whoever we play here,” Cummins said at the press conference.
Australia make only one change in their playing XI for the Mackay Test
Mackay will become the 12th venue in Australia to host a Test match, and Australia has named their playing XI for the second Test. Jake Weatherald has been dropped from the squad, and instead Matt Renshaw has been drafted in. He is set to open the innings and partner Travis Head at the top.
Renshaw will turn out for his 15th Test, and his first since 2023, having been on standby for this series after training with the squad in Brisbane. Overall in Test cricket, Renshaw averages 29.31 with a top score of 184 against Pakistan in early 2017.
"He's been really impressive. He had some great off-season tours to Pakistan and Bangladesh recently with the white ball, looks in good nick, and had a really good Shield season last season. We just want his best. I think some of the kind of chat about Renners in the past is he can look different from day to day.
I think now, when you get to your back half of your career as a batter, you want to really know what you look like at your best, and I think he does that. That's the hope with Renners: to keep bringing your best version every day. That's being nice and sharp, putting a bit of pressure back on the bowlers,” Cummins said.
Nathan Lyon survives the axe as Australia goes in with an unchanged bowling attack
Australia goes in with an unchanged bowling attack, with Nathan Lyon managing to hold onto his spot despite taking only one wicket in the Darwin Test. Mackay has hosted only two first-class matches previously, with one being an Australia A–India A match in October 2024.
Spin played its part in the other FC game the ground hosted in 2023, where Mitchell Swepson claimed five wickets.
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
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