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Pat Cummins-led Australia suffered a massive defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka in the second Test of the two-match Test series. They were defeated by an innings and 39 runs as Australia were bowled out for 151 in their second innings. The visitors’ batters struggled big time on the turning track of Galle as debutant Prabath Jayasuriya scalped twelve wickets in the match.
However, captain Pat Cummins is not so troubled with the loss and is happy to take out learnings from it for Australia’s next tour in the subcontinent. The Australian captain said that this loss in Galle will allow the Kangaroos to prepare for the India challenge due next year. Cummins said the experience of playing Tests on two vastly different pitches in Sri Lanka would be vital to their preparations for the India tour.
"Absolutely, last week and this week," Pat Cummins said on taking lessons from Sri Lanka to India. "I think half our batting lineup and half our bowling lineup hasn't played a lot over here in the sub-continent. So the experience on these two vastly different wickets, I think we got a lot of lessons out of it to take to India next year."
"In Australia most likely you only play one spinner, so in the background, you're trying to prepare a couple of other guys so they get the chance over in India,” Pat Cummins added.
It might be a reality check: Cummins
The Australian captain further talked about his team’s loss and said that returning with a 1-1 draw after being 1-0 up in the Test series might be a reality check for them. "We turned up knowing it's a tough place to win series and games over here," said Cummins. "So to come away with a series draw, the same team that won last week. It might be a reality check that it's tough playing away from home. And (the loss) makes for more learning than after a win."
Pat Cummins also explained Australia’s decision to bench experienced pacer Josh Hazlewood. "You see that with the bowlers, someone like Joshy Hazlewood sitting on the bench. Glenn Maxwell was a conversation around his batting for this game," said Cummins. "The challenge with playing in Asia is unless you give people a go, you don't know how someone like a Greeny can come out and show he's up to the task. Others might take a bit longer. So I think it's striking that balance."