Australia's captain, Pat Cummins, didn't reveal any special plans for tackling India's in-form pacer, Mohammed Siraj, in the lead-up to the series opener at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. Cummins, who is making his comeback from an injury break, offered a succinct one-word response when questioned about whether Australia had devised a unique strategy to deal with Siraj in the forthcoming three-match ODI series, set to commence on Friday. In a straightforward manner, Cummins replied with a resounding "No" during the pre-match press conference on Thursday.
Cummins' response came as no surprise, considering the question's relevance. After witnessing Siraj's exceptional performance against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023 final just a few days earlier, it's natural for any opposing team to ponder strategies. The right-arm pacer remarkably equaled Chaminda Vaas' record for the quickest five-wicket haul in an ODI, achieving this feat by capturing five wickets in a mere 17 balls, thoroughly dismantling the Sri Lankan batting lineup.
During this spellbinding performance, Siraj bowled seven consecutive overs, amassing impressive figures of 6/21, which played a pivotal role in India bundling out Sri Lanka for a mere 50 runs. This marked the lowest total Sri Lanka had ever conceded while bowling out an opposition in ODI cricket. Siraj's figures in the Asia Cup final were the best for India in the tournament.
Had it not been for three swift wickets taken by Hardik Pandya to wrap up the tail, Siraj could have potentially surpassed Stuart Binny's record for the best-ever bowling figures (6/5 against Bangladesh) by an Indian.
Furthermore, Siraj achieved the No. 1 ranking among bowlers in the latest ICC ODI rankings, underscoring his exceptional form and talent. However, it's important to note that Siraj is no stranger to the Australian team. He made his Test debut in Australia and played a significant role in India's consecutive Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumphs on Australian soil.
While Australia is well aware of the threat posed by Siraj, they also acknowledge that India's pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, can pose challenges with the new ball. Cummins, displaying a typical Australian captain's approach, kept his cards close to his chest regarding specific strategies.
Instead of divulging tactical details, Cummins emphasized Australia's intent to experiment with various combinations to fine-tune their preparations ahead of the World Cup. He stressed the need to strike a balance between acclimatizing to the local conditions and securing victories, ensuring they don't enter the World Cup underprepared. Cummins expressed his curiosity about adapting his bowling attack to the conditions in India, which may differ from those in South Africa and Australia. He also raised questions about the role of a second spinner in the team's strategy.
In light of India's resting of key players, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav for the first two matches of the series, the focus for India during this series is to identify a backup for the injured Axar Patel. The choice narrows down to the experienced R Ashwin and the promising young talent, Washington Sundar.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Pat Cummins answers query on No.1 bowler Siraj with single-word response ahead of India vs Australia ODIs")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}