Cummins calls South Africa 'a really strong side' ahead of three-match series

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In the second Test match against Bangladesh, Australia secured a win by an innings and 51 runs at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in the Queensland city of Mackay.

After the series against Bangladesh, the Australians will now lock horns with South Africa in the three-match Test series in October.

Ahead of the series, Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins said that South Africa is a strong side and recalled the time when his team suffered a loss against the Proteas in the last World Test Championship (WTC) final.

“They’re a really strong side. We had a big series against them here in Australia a couple of years back and we probably exceeded expectations, played really well, and then they got us back at Lord’s last year and outplayed us there,” he said, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Only six players from the current Australian squad have previously played a Test match in South Africa. Along with Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith and Matt Renshaw are the players who were part of Australia’s most recent tour to South Africa in 2018.

Ahead of the upcoming Test series against Proteas, the Australian skipper expressed excitement to play in different conditions and pitches.

“(These are) places we haven’t played Test cricket for a while, so conditions are always a little bit unknown. Even the difference between Durban to Cape Town, they could be quite different styles of pitches. It’s going to be great. That’s why I love playing Test cricket. All different conditions, different opponents, different parts of the world,” said the 33-year-old pacer.

Since Australia’s triumph in the ODI World Cup 2023, Cummins has only featured in a pair of One-Day matches. Further, the pacer said that he will likely make his appearances in three ODI matches.

“I think I’ll be part of at least some of it. I’m not sure I should say this, but the focus is the Test series. So with a lot of the (upcoming) white-ball (matches), how we play that would be with an eye to the red ball. I’d imagine (I would play) one, two or maximum three games out of those six (ODIs),” said Cummins.

AUS vs SA Tests: Venues for three-match series

Australia will play Test matches in Durban, Gqeberha and Cape Town during the three-match series.

(With ANI Inputs)

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