Pat Cummins shifts focus to Test cricket, leaves Australia ODI camp for BGT preparations

Australia’s captain Pat Cummins has left the ODI camp following a heavy nine-wicket defeat to Pakistan in the second match at Adelaide Oval. The loss tied the three-match series at 1-1, with Pakistan comfortably chasing down Australia’s low total of 163.

In the first innings, Australia’s batting lineup failed to perform, with senior batter Steve Smith being the top scorer at just 35 runs. The rest of the team struggled, with many players getting out for single-digit scores. Pakistan’s pace bowlers, Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi, dominated, with Rauf taking a five-wicket haul and Afridi claiming three wickets.

Pakistan’s chase was led by Saim Ayub, who scored an impressive 82 off 71 balls, while Abdullah Shafique remained unbeaten on 64. With this dominant batting display, Pakistan secured a comfortable win to level the series.

After the match, Cummins reflected on the defeat, acknowledging that it wasn’t their best performance. “It wasn’t one of our best days. They (Pakistan) bowled well, but we should have done better and scored more than 160. There was a bit of seam around there. We tried to attack (with some close-in fielders) but it wasn’t to be,” he said.

As the third ODI approaches, Cummins and other Test squad players will leave the ODI camp to prepare for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India, starting on November 22 in Perth. Josh Inglis will take over as captain in Cummins’ absence.

Cummins spoke about the team's preparations for the Test series, saying, “We have a week at home. Good training sessions needed, mind now switches to the red ball.”

To replace the missing players for the third ODI, Xavier Doherty, Lance Morris, and Spencer Johnson will join the squad, while Josh Philippe has also been added.