Pat Cummins on watching India and New Zealand in the final of the World Test Championship 2021, said, ‘Til not kill us’

The Australian cricket team, led by captain Pat Cummins, is preparing to play in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) for the first time. However, Cummins recently revealed that the team sensed a missed opportunity when India and New Zealand host the inaugural WTC final in 2021.

Back in 2021, Australia was unable to participate in the WTC final due to penalties for slow over-rates. As a result, New Zealand claimed the title of inaugural winners. Nevertheless, Australia is now set to face India in the upcoming WTC final at The Oval from June 7 to June 11, 2023.

Final preparations in Sydney before flying to England in a few days. All the boys are buzzing for the UK trip. big few months coming

ps yes i know it’s a no ball _____ @new Balance pic.twitter.com/rSF9WqOxJU

— Pat Cummins (@patcummins30) May 23, 2023

After topping the table in the 2021-23 WTC cycle, Australia suffered their only series defeat earlier this year, a 2-1 loss in the sub-continent. Reflecting on his upcoming challenge, Cummins expressed his thoughts on the championship saying, “We have taken India to the final of the World Test Championship for the first time, which I think a lot of people have forgotten. I think the new Being, it probably didn’t hit until the game was actually played, and you did well there (in England) in New Zealand and you wish you were there,” as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald.

Cummins also emphasized that the WTC has gained more importance during this second edition, commenting, “It seems to have got a bit more the second time around. More context for every series now”. , something big to play with.”

Furthermore, Cummins highlighted the global context provided by the WTC, mentioning that it adds an extra element to a two- or three-match series. “Big series, Ashes or India series where you play four or five Test matches are obviously big battles, whereas more normal series where you play two or three in a series, it (World Test Championship) Gives them a little more global context and something extra to play with.”

However, despite the establishment of the WTC and the introduction of a one-off final, cricket’s schedule has been filled with the proliferation of T20 leagues. The United Arab Emirates, South Africa and the United States have all entered the scene with their own domestic T20 competitions. Cummins acknowledged the challenge of keeping players motivated to prioritize international cricket amid these developments.

“It’s been coming for a while but I think it’s here now,” Cummins said. International cricket doesn’t have a monopoly on players’ time like it used to in the past. The IPL changed that a decade ago. But there’s just going to be more and more content coming in, so I think we have to be proactive about it.” He further stressed the need to maintain the allure of playing for Australia, ensuring that each player remains committed to representing the national team.

As the team prepares for the WTC finals, Cummins urged to take a deeper look at these challenges, saying, “It’s going to be a challenge. I think it’s upon us now, and we need to get pretty deep about it.” I think fast forward a few years, a 12-month international calendar might look a little different.” With the ever-evolving landscape of cricket, it is important for cricket playing nations to adapt and preserve the importance of international competition.