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The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Cricket-Captain Cummins backs youngster Konstas as Australia cruise to West Indies win
Cricket - 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final - South Africa v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - June 14, 2025 Australia's Sam Konstas in action fielding Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers (Reuters) -Captain Pat Cummins backed inexperienced opener Sam Konstas to deliver on the international stage despite the youngster's struggles against the West Indies as Australia won the first test in Bridgetown by 159 runs on Friday. The highly-rated 19-year-old was out for three runs as the Australians made a slow start to the first innings and scored five in his second spell at the crease, but Cummins threw his support behind the Sydney-born right-hander. "One of the hard things about playing test cricket is you get thrown different conditions all the time," said Cummins. "You might not have the flying hours under your belt as a youngster coming in, so you've got to come in and work out your craft on the bigger stage. "The hardest thing when the pitch is doing a lot is getting out of your little bubble, trying to score and take good options, which is really hard in these conditions. You saw today how hard it can be to fire a few shots. "Sammy tried a few different options yesterday, not too many worked out. But (I have) full confidence." Both Konstas and Cameron Green, at number three, struggled but the Australians were set up for victory by the batting performances of Travis Head, Beau Webster and Alex Carey. The West Indies were left to chase a target of 301 to win but, with Josh Hazlewood producing a bowling masterclass to claim five wickets for 43 runs, the hosts were dismissed for 141 as the match ended with two days remaining. "The wicket was playing a lot of tricks," said Cummins. "I thought we might make decent in-roads, but I didn't think we'd get 10. Always nice to get a couple of days off. "I thought those three (Head, Webster and Carey) were brilliant. They kept the scoreboard ticking over. They took really good options and they were always looking to score. That was the difference. "We turned up today thinking that we wouldn't get a big lead, it was 50-50 really and those guys took the game away from West Indies. I thought all three of those were really impressive."
Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Captain Cummins backs youngster Konstas as Australia cruise to West Indies win
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final - South Africa v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - June 14, 2025 Australia's Pat Cummins celebrates after taking the wicket of South Africa's Temba Bavuma, caught out by Alex Carey Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo REUTERS Captain Pat Cummins backed inexperienced opener Sam Konstas to deliver on the international stage despite the youngster's struggles against the West Indies as Australia won the first test in Bridgetown by 159 runs on Friday. The highly-rated 19-year-old was out for three runs as the Australians made a slow start to the first innings and scored five in his second spell at the crease, but Cummins threw his support behind the Sydney-born right-hander. "One of the hard things about playing test cricket is you get thrown different conditions all the time," said Cummins. "You might not have the flying hours under your belt as a youngster coming in, so you've got to come in and work out your craft on the bigger stage. "The hardest thing when the pitch is doing a lot is getting out of your little bubble, trying to score and take good options, which is really hard in these conditions. You saw today how hard it can be to fire a few shots. "Sammy tried a few different options yesterday, not too many worked out. But (I have) full confidence." Both Konstas and Cameron Green, at number three, struggled but the Australians were set up for victory by the batting performances of Travis Head, Beau Webster and Alex Carey. The West Indies were left to chase a target of 301 to win but, with Josh Hazlewood producing a bowling masterclass to claim five wickets for 43 runs, the hosts were dismissed for 141 as the match ended with two days remaining. "The wicket was playing a lot of tricks," said Cummins. "I thought we might make decent in-roads, but I didn't think we'd get 10. Always nice to get a couple of days off. "I thought those three (Head, Webster and Carey) were brilliant. They kept the scoreboard ticking over. They took really good options and they were always looking to score. That was the difference. "We turned up today thinking that we wouldn't get a big lead, it was 50-50 really and those guys took the game away from West Indies. I thought all three of those were really impressive." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Cricket-Chase ready to lead much-changed Windies as Australia look to the future
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final - South Africa v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - June 14, 2025 Australia's Pat Cummins and teammates walks out of the Lord's Pavilion to mark the beginning of Day 4 Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo (Reuters) -Change will be a key theme for both the West Indies and Australia in their upcoming three-test series in the Caribbean with the visitors set to field a remodelled batting line-up and the hosts being led out for the first time by Roston Chase. Pat Cummins suggested Australia were due a top-order reset after their loss to South Africa in the World Test Championship (WTC) final earlier this month and the skipper said their line-up to face West Indies shows they are looking to the future. Australia have brought in teenager Sam Konstas to open the batting with Usman Khawaja and added Josh Inglis to the line-up, while they will be without the dropped Marnus Labuschagne and injured veteran Steve Smith for a series which marks the start of both teams' new WTC cycle. Both Konstas and Inglis have played only two tests, the former opening the batting against India in Melbourne and Sydney last season, and the latter batting in the middle order in Sri Lanka earlier this year. Australia could lose as many as half a dozen test regulars to retirement after this year's Ashes series with the likes of Khawaja, Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon all in their mid to late 30s. When asked about the changes ahead of the first match beginning in Bridgetown later on Wednesday, Cummins told reporters: "You look forward to what the next couple of years are going to look like. "I think part of that's a keenness to get Sam and Josh into the squad, into the playing 11. You start looking at what the batting order might look like for the next couple of years. I think that's part of the reset. "And your goals change a little bit obviously. We're starting on zero points, so it's a bit of a mental reset. You block out the last couple of years and then start again." Cameron Green has retained his place at number three despite scoring only four runs and facing just five balls in the WTC final, with Cummins saying he viewed the 26-year-old all-rounder as a long-term option in the slot. "He had a test match where it obviously didn't go to plan," he added. "Think he only faced three or four balls, so the message is not to look into that too much. We're really happy with where his game's placed and I dare say we'll get a decent run of number three." SCARS Spin-bowling all-rounder Chase, who last played a test match in March 2023, will have his work cut out for him as he takes charge of a much-changed West Indies side who finished second bottom in the previous WTC cycle. "You can expect positive cricket from us," Chase, who succeeded Kraigg Brathwaite as captain in May, told reporters. "We're looking to play with a bit more flair and bring back that Caribbean style to the game, and we're looking forward to making the Caribbean nation proud. "It's still test cricket, so you still have to have some type of patience, so it'll (be on) the guys to mix their aggression with that patience." The sides last met in a two-test series in January 2024 which ended all square after West Indies claimed a shock eight-run victory in the second test in Brisbane - their first test win over Australia since 2003. "I hope there are some scars," Chase said. "If they're still thinking about that match going out there on Wednesday, that would be very good for us – that will be part of the job done for us." (Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Chase ready to lead much-changed Windies as Australia look to the future
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final - South Africa v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - June 14, 2025 Australia's Pat Cummins and teammates walks out of the Lord's Pavilion to mark the beginning of Day 4 Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo REUTERS Chase ready to lead much-changed Windies as Australia look to the future Change will be a key theme for both the West Indies and Australia in their upcoming three-test series in the Caribbean with the visitors set to field a remodelled batting line-up and the hosts being led out for the first time by Roston Chase. Pat Cummins suggested Australia were due a top-order reset after their loss to South Africa in the World Test Championship (WTC) final earlier this month and the skipper said their line-up to face West Indies shows they are looking to the future. Australia have brought in teenager Sam Konstas to open the batting with Usman Khawaja and added Josh Inglis to the line-up, while they will be without the dropped Marnus Labuschagne and injured veteran Steve Smith for a series which marks the start of both teams' new WTC cycle. Both Konstas and Inglis have played only two tests, the former opening the batting against India in Melbourne and Sydney last season, and the latter batting in the middle order in Sri Lanka earlier this year. Australia could lose as many as half a dozen test regulars to retirement after this year's Ashes series with the likes of Khawaja, Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon all in their mid to late 30s. When asked about the changes ahead of the first match beginning in Bridgetown later on Wednesday, Cummins told reporters: "You look forward to what the next couple of years are going to look like. "I think part of that's a keenness to get Sam and Josh into the squad, into the playing 11. You start looking at what the batting order might look like for the next couple of years. I think that's part of the reset. "And your goals change a little bit obviously. We're starting on zero points, so it's a bit of a mental reset. You block out the last couple of years and then start again." Cameron Green has retained his place at number three despite scoring only four runs and facing just five balls in the WTC final, with Cummins saying he viewed the 26-year-old all-rounder as a long-term option in the slot. "He had a test match where it obviously didn't go to plan," he added. "Think he only faced three or four balls, so the message is not to look into that too much. We're really happy with where his game's placed and I dare say we'll get a decent run of number three." SCARS Spin-bowling all-rounder Chase, who last played a test match in March 2023, will have his work cut out for him as he takes charge of a much-changed West Indies side who finished second bottom in the previous WTC cycle. "You can expect positive cricket from us," Chase, who succeeded Kraigg Brathwaite as captain in May, told reporters. "We're looking to play with a bit more flair and bring back that Caribbean style to the game, and we're looking forward to making the Caribbean nation proud. "It's still test cricket, so you still have to have some type of patience, so it'll (be on) the guys to mix their aggression with that patience." The sides last met in a two-test series in January 2024 which ended all square after West Indies claimed a shock eight-run victory in the second test in Brisbane - their first test win over Australia since 2003. "I hope there are some scars," Chase said. "If they're still thinking about that match going out there on Wednesday, that would be very good for us – that will be part of the job done for us." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
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First Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
Hazlewood responds to Johnson's criticism of choosing IPL over national duty: 'I think it was comfortably...'
Australian pace legend Mitchell Johnson questioned Josh Hazlewood's decision to return to India and play a key role in helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru win their maiden IPL title following Australia's stunning defeat to South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord's. read more Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood had collected registered figures of 1/27 and 1/58 in the ICC World Test Championship Final against South Africa at Lord's, London. AP Josh Hazlewood has responded to Mitchell Johnson's criticism of choosing the Indian Premier League over Australia ahead of the ICC World Test Championship final against South Africa earlier this month. Australian pace legend Johnson had questioned Hazlewood's decision to playing in the final stretch of the 18th IPL season that had been put on a week-long hold due to a military conflict between India and Pakistan. 'We've seen concerns about Hazlewood's fitness in recent years, and his decision to prioritise returning to the delayed Indian Premier League over his national team preparations raised eyebrows,' Johnson had written in his column for The West Australian. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Playing in the IPL was ideal practice for WTC final, argues Hazlewood Hazlewood, however, has stated that the 'intense competition' that he faced while playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru gave him the ideal preparation for the ICC World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's earlier this month. 'I haven't seen any of that, to be honest,' Hazlewood was quoted by Sydney Morning Herald as saying in response to Johnson's comment. 'We know what's going on inside our rooms. It seemed far and away the best place to get ready for any type of cricket that was coming up. The weather was definitely a factor as well. Just getting over there and playing intense competition like that, it's hard to replicate in training. 'Sydney, it was raining and I had literally nowhere to bowl. I got to Brisbane for three or four days and it was very wet. We were lucky to get on. I just thought the best place to bowl was India. We were still in the competition, we were going to play semis, and I was going to be there for 10 days. I think it was comfortably the best option,' he added. Hazlewood's participation in the remaining IPL matches was doubtful due to a shoulder injury that he had sustained earlier in the season, which forced him to miss a couple of games. However, while Australian pace colleague Mitchell Starc opted against rejoining the Delhi Capitals team in India for the IPL restart with the WTC final-bound South Africans also flying out before the start of the playoffs, Hazlewood chose to return after recovering from his shoulder niggle back home and stayed till the end. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And the 'Bendemeer Bullet' ended up playing a key role in helping RCB end an 18-year jinx and win their maiden IPL title with back-to-back victories over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 as well as in the final. Hazlewood's decision to continue playing in the IPL, however, had come under the scanner after South Africa defeated Australia by five wickets in the grand finale at Lord's to be crowned world Test champions – winning their maiden world title in the process and ending a 27-year wait for an ICC trophy.
