Australia captain Pat Cummins has fired a warning to South Africa ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) final in 2025, saying that there's no fear of failure in their side ahead of the big clash. South Africa and Australia are set to lock horns in the WTC final from June 11 at Lord's.
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00:00I don't know what this is going to be.
00:04Yes, we do.
00:12Usman, Manas,
00:14Cam Green,
00:16Smith, Head,
00:18Bo Webster, Kerry,
00:20myself, Nathan Lyon,
00:22Josh Hayswood and Starkey.
00:25Starkey, not in that order.
00:30It's obviously clearly one of the big decisions has been that opening position.
00:38What swayed you towards putting Manas there for this game?
00:42I think, you know, Cam Green, the last few weeks he's had.
00:46Coming back in, great form.
00:48You know, we thought he deserves a spot in the, you know, somewhere in the batting line-up.
00:52We thought three probably suits him best.
00:54And then, you know,
00:56you know, with Manas moving, we thought it's, you know,
00:59it's, you know, one spot up really.
01:01It's not too different to batting three.
01:03He's done well here in England in the past.
01:05You know, all the boys have trained well.
01:07Him and Sam and Josh Inglis kind of this, you know,
01:10all trained really well.
01:11But, yeah, I thought,
01:13selectors went with Manas, you know, experience and done well here at Lourdes,
01:16but in England in general.
01:18Just on that, Pat, is it just, are you just looking at this test match for that?
01:23And because Caribbean, the conditions will be different and things could happen.
01:26So it's just a one test match decision for it to open?
01:29Yeah, you know, absolutely.
01:30It's a final.
01:32So we just, you know, the selectors picked the best 11 for this week.
01:35Yeah, I think George said in the past, it's not a huge connection between this week and the Caribbean.
01:40It's quite separate.
01:41The main reason being this is the final.
01:43Different conditions.
01:44We just want to pick what's best for this week and kind of think about the windies after this game.
01:48And just with Cam Green and Bo Webster in the slipcourt and like nothing can go past them.
01:54Is this the greatest slipcourt in Newport too?
01:57It's the widest.
01:58There was actually a few people.
01:59Yeah, a few of the boys were watching them just go about their work yesterday just in awe.
02:04Yeah, Manas, he got in there a bit and he said he,
02:07yeah, he felt like a little child standing around them.
02:09You know, he was trying his hardest to catch them whereas they were shelling peas.
02:12So, yeah, see how we go.
02:14But they look pretty impressive.
02:17Pat, just with the Bo Webster, obviously number six.
02:20How, Chris, would you see those overs and your assessment of the surface out there?
02:25It seems hard to know here at Lourdes.
02:27You either kind of don't need a fifth bowl or you really need one.
02:31I think, you know, some of the innings are either short or long.
02:34There's almost nothing in between.
02:35But, you know, I think you saw in Sydney those seaming conditions and, you know,
02:38he was really effective.
02:41You know, it takes, you know, some key breakthroughs but can also hold up an end.
02:44But, you know, I think these conditions were suiting well.
02:47So, he's done brilliantly with the bat as well.
02:50You know, in the, what is it, three test matches he played so far.
02:53But I think his bowling will be crucial.
02:55And just with Scott Boland missing out, that decision just keeps getting tougher and tougher with each test?
03:01Yeah, it does.
03:03You know, there are some guys where you generally say, you know, you've done nothing wrong.
03:08Don't change a thing.
03:09And that's Scottie.
03:10He's just really unfortunate to miss out.
03:12You know, Joshy Hazel comes back in.
03:14We know how good he is.
03:15But, you know, I think the message to Scottie is there's a lot of test cricket coming up in the next couple of years.
03:21And just because you're mid-30s doesn't mean, you know, you're missing this test and that's one test off your career.
03:27I think, you know, by having a squad of fast bowlers, hopefully we can extend all our careers for an extra couple of years.
03:33So, it's a really unfortunate Scottie misses this.
03:35But, yeah, kind of message to him is don't feel like you're running out of time.
03:40We've still got lots of time, hopefully, in his career.
03:43Pat, Smudge thought yesterday that the pitch might dry up a little bit and Gaz might be suited late in the match.
03:51Have you had a good look at the pitch and any thoughts on that?
03:54I haven't looked today, but, yeah, I think it just looks like a really good wicket.
03:59You know, Lourdes can spin, you know, maybe late day three, but into day four and five.
04:04Again, it's one of those wickets that it can look like a good wicket
04:09and then the clouds come over and it looks a little bit livelier, whatever that word is.
04:14So, yeah, it's hard to know, but traditionally I think, you know, spin does play a role here at Lourdes.
04:22Pat, just with the World Test Championship and I guess specifically with Marnus' selection,
04:28is there a unique component to it where you are viewing it as a grand final
04:33and I guess the players who have sort of got you here over the last two years are rewarded in a sense?
04:39Has that been a big factor in his selection?
04:42I think it's part of the factor.
04:45You know, he's a somewhat, you know, known quantity.
04:48He's, you know, I think our selectors have probably shown you that they're happy to,
04:54they'd rather give someone, you know, an extra little run than pull the pin too early.
04:58And, yeah, you know, Marnus, again, he's played some crucial knocks in getting us here.
05:03Look back at the MCG, you know, his batting was right up there as a difference in that match.
05:08So, yeah, I think it's part, you know, rewarding those guys that got us here.
05:13And Pat, there's probably some surprise at home that after what he did in the two tests over the summer
05:19that Sam Constance hasn't played since.
05:22Yeah, do you feel that there's any risk that you've kind of missed a chance just with his development
05:27to have him in the team, in the tests you've played so far this year?
05:31You know, it's something the selectors are always weighing up.
05:34You know, realistically, he's really young, he's got a long career ahead of him.
05:39So hopefully, you know, even by not playing, being in Sri Lanka and here, they're learning opportunities.
05:44But at the same time, you've got guys like Bo Webster who are starting out their test career as well.
05:48Obviously, Cam Green comes back in here.
05:50Josh Inglis got a chance to start his test career.
05:52So, I think it's a good problem that we have, you know, three or four guys
05:57who are all right on the fringe and the cusp of getting a good run in test cricket.
06:07What are you expecting from South Africa in terms of the way they might play
06:10and looking at their side, where do you see the threats coming to your team from?
06:15I think there's a few unknowns.
06:18You know, just the personnel, we've probably played about half of the guys before,
06:22about half we haven't played, you know, in red ball cricket.
06:25Throwing, you know, Duke's ball, neutral ground.
06:28There's a few more unknowns going into the test match, which is exciting.
06:32I think we're going to have to problem solve on our feet a bit more.
06:34I think, no doubt, you know, they're bowlers we have seen a little bit of.
06:37And, you know, there's a couple of big wicket-takers there.
06:40You know, Rabada and Maharaj have been around for a fair while now and been successful.
06:45So, they're an obvious threat.
06:47But, again, some of those younger or, you know, newer guys into the team
06:50that we haven't seen before, we're going to have to be pretty sharp on.
06:53Pat, this is obviously a ground you guys do traditionally very well on.
06:57How do you feel being back at Lourdes?
06:59Obviously, last time you were here, slightly controversial circumstances.
07:02Yeah, it's been great.
07:04Yeah, great few days.
07:06Maybe there's no crowds, that helps.
07:08But it's been, it's always good to be back here.
07:11Yeah, it's such an iconic ground and we do enjoy playing over here.
07:15And, yeah, you know, someone like Smitty's scored a lot of runs here.
07:18You know, past three or four Ashes series in test matches, I think we've won
07:24or gone close to winning every test.
07:26So, yeah, it's a place we like playing at.
07:28Even, you know, white ball cricket, we've had some success here as well.
07:31And what sort of reception are you expecting given what happened two years ago?
07:35A lot of people saying the neutrals will be behind South Africa as well.
07:39Probably.
07:40Yeah, hard to know.
07:41There's a lot of Aussies here in London, so I'm sure there'll be lots of Aussies out there.
07:45Lots of South African fans as well.
07:47And, yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if the English have a few, yeah,
07:52supporting South Africa as well.
07:53But, yeah, we'll wait and see.
07:55Pat, over the period of time where I guess you've seen glimpses of Marnas,
08:00you know, making contributions but maybe not at the same level as he had previously,
08:04have you sort of talked to him about, I guess, what you want from him,
08:07the way you think he's been suited to play, whether it's three or opening this week?
08:12Yeah, no, I have.
08:15I think, you know, the extra layer to that is I do believe the wickets in Australia or the pitches in Australia have been as hard as,
08:22you know, they've ever been probably in test cricket for the top order.
08:26You know, probably the start of his test career was similar to my start and they were pretty flat batting wickets in general,
08:33whereas the last few years have been really tough going for the top order.
08:36So, I think there's that extra layer.
08:38But, you know, I think it's similar conversations to, you know, Davey Warner over here.
08:42I think it's more about the style and how they go about it.
08:45You know, we love when they're busy and they're putting pressure back on the bowlers.
08:48And, you know, that's our message here to Marnas, you know, opening the batting can be tough,
08:53but it can also be sometimes the best time to bat here before the Dukes ball actually starts swinging.
08:58You know, there's runs to be scored there.
09:00So, just, you know, keeping that positive intent, I think, is when he's batting his best.
09:04And are you crossing fingers and toes that make a lion doesn't pop a calf at Lawrence again?
09:09Yes.
09:10Yeah, I wish he didn't say that.
09:17Pat, just on your comment on the pitchers getting tougher,
09:19do you think that sort of coincided with the World Test Championship, you know, coming in six years ago
09:24and, you know, teams looking to win to sort of boost their points?
09:29I've got no idea.
09:31In Australia, I don't really feel like that comes into it.
09:36I think most venues just seem to try and make the best kind of wicket they can.
09:41You know, I think after a couple of those flat years, you know, SCG, MCG in particular,
09:49have tried to create, you know, sportier wickets.
09:51So, I don't think it's related to the WTC that I'm not, yeah, not part of those conversations.
09:58Pat, in the larger context of the game, where does this WTC final feature,
10:03if you compare it with the ODI World Cup final or T20 World Cup final?
10:07Because there is so much hype, buzz around those white ball format and this red ball format.
10:12How do you look at that?
10:13Well, it's an ICC trophy.
10:15So, it's right up there.
10:16You only get a few opportunities, you know, if you're lucky in your career to try and win one.
10:20So, it's a trophy we've spoken a lot about over the last couple of years.
10:25You know, we wanted to be in this final.
10:27You know, personally, I think that 2023 World Cup title is going to be tough to beat.
10:32But, yeah, this is a good one.
10:34Test cricket is my favourite format.
10:36You've got to basically win in all different conditions to make it into this final.
10:41You're competing against all test player nations.
10:43So, it's really special to be here in the final.
10:45And, yeah, if we can retain that mace, that's a pretty awesome thing for this team.
10:51A couple more points about one.
10:53Pat, Jimmy Anderson was here yesterday watching you guys train
10:56and he said that he rated Rabada over you.
10:58I just wondered what your response to that might be.
11:01Cool.
11:03No worries.
11:04Pat, given this team's history in big finals and in comparison to South Africa's,
11:24how much do you use that in terms of when the game will get in the crunch and big moments?
11:29Hopefully it helps.
11:30You know, I think just about everyone in the team.
11:34I have to think about it.
11:35Everyone in the team's been in a final before.
11:37And, yeah, I think in some ways, you know, with experience, you want to, in some success,
11:45you just want to experience more of it.
11:46And that means when the going gets tough or the pressure's on, you embrace that.
11:50You take it on.
11:51You know, you want to be the match winner.
11:53You hopefully don't get overwhelmed by big moments.
11:56So, that's been most of the conversation this week is the guys just have excitement.
11:59They want to get out there.
12:00They want to play well.
12:01They want to win.
12:02There's no fear of failure or if it doesn't pan out.
12:06It's just the excitement to get going.
12:11Pat, just following on from before, I guess, about this being sort of an isolated test
12:15in terms of how the team's been picked.
12:17Do you see it, like with the Ashes coming up later in the year, do you see it as important
12:22that Sam plays in the West Indies?
12:26I think we'll get through this match and see.
12:28Ideally, we've got guys who are, you know, by that first test, it's, you've got, you know,
12:33your side pretty settled, you know, a fair way out.
12:36So, I'm sure some sheer cricket will come into it before that series.
12:39There's a lot of water to go under that bridge.
12:41But, yeah, in a perfect world, you've got lots of guys who have played some test matches,
12:46quite a few test matches leading to that Ashes.
12:49Pat, two years ago, you won the Mace and $400,000.
12:54Now you're playing for the share of $9 million.
12:58Is that significant?
12:59What does it mean?
13:01I'm not sure the maths are exactly right there, Jim.
13:04I've got the comparison ratio.
13:06Isn't it five and a half and it's three and a half?
13:09I don't know, honestly.
13:11But, yeah, I mean, it's, it's good.
13:16You know, test cricket is something we all value.
13:18There's, there's a lot of dollars flying around in franchise cricket that,
13:21you know, can, can, a series can kind of come and go without you even noticing it.
13:26Whereas I think a test series that has real worth by whatever it is,
13:31if it's TV viewership, if it's, you know, being able to fly your family to London
13:36and be part of an amazing final that the world stops and watches,
13:40or if it's a, you know, financial benefit from winning a tournament,
13:43if that helps test cricket, I think that's only a good thing.
13:47Right.
13:48Right.