After beating India in the World Test Championship final, Australia captain Pat Cummins wants a “legacy-defining” Ashes series in England.
Cummins’s squad defeated India by 209 runs at The Oval to become red-ball cricket’s best.
Five days before the opening Test against archrivals England at Edgbaston, Cummins was hoping to become the first Australia captain to win an away Ashes series since Steve Waugh in 2001.
“Whether we like it or not, Ashes series tend to define eras and teams,” remarked Cummins.
“Winning the Ashes in England is challenging. It’ll be hard after 20 years. “Winning is legacy-defining.”
Australia won the WTC after winning 12 of 20 Tests over two years, with five draws and three losses.
Cummins said it was worth experiencing even without the Ashes.
“I think we’ll sit around in the changing rooms for a while and then we’ll find a nice sunny English beer garden somewhere this afternoon to sit back and celebrate,” said the 30-year-old fast bowler.
“I know we’ve got a big series but we can worry about it in a couple days.
“You only get a few of these moments in your career where you can sit back, acknowledge a pretty special achievement and this is one of those times.”
‘Fantastic’ Boland
Australia’s speed assault might be a problem as they travel from London to Birmingham for the first Ashes Test.
Scott Boland, who has 33 wickets in eight Tests at a remarkable 14.57 average, looks to have pushed his way in.
The seamer dismissed Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja in one over to start India’s last-day collapse.
That leaves After missing the final, Josh Hazlewood competed with Mitchell Starc.
“Scotty was fantastic, he’s now my favourite player,” Cummins added.
Doesn’t he locate another level? He bowled the best all game.
“He held it together, didn’t go for many runs, and to get two huge wickets in an over is fair reward for how effectively he bowled.
“Scotty is crucial to the Ashes.”
India, defeated in the first WTC final by New Zealand two years earlier, is without a major global trophy since 2013.
Rohit Sharma, captain of India, proposed a complete series to determine the future champions.
He knew it would be hard to fit into an already-packed international itinerary.
“I would love that, but is there time?” he asked. “In a large tournament like this, both teams deserve equitable opportunity.
“A three-match series would be nice but it’s about finding a window.”