Australia v India news: Pat Cummins confirms Mitchell Starc set to miss first Test in Nagpur

Pat Cummins has declared this tour Australia’s best chance to create history India but revealed a key sub-continent weapon is set to miss the first Test.

Bring on India: Pat Cummins has declared Australia has the team and the mindset to create history in the sub-continent next month.

The captain believes Australia has debunked questions raised at the start of the summer over whether the team was on the nose with punters as fake news following resounding triumphs over the West Indies and South Africa.

Eyebrows were raised about David Warner’s selection as man of the series, but it illustrated the fact that a key part of Australia’s strength at the moment is that the wins are driven by whole-team performances rather than individuals standing out.

Cummins bemoaned the fact he didn’t get the spinning, sub-continental-style wicket he was expecting in Sydney, but even after a dull, rain-affected draw against South Africa, Australia feels on top of the world and ready to take down King Kohli’s India in their own backyard.

“I think we’ve given ourselves the best chance,” Cummins said.

“It’s been another fantastic summer. The way our batting group has stood up has been fantastic and other than this game in a shortened time frame, we’ve been able to get 20 wickets each Test match, all in different circumstances.

Pat Cummins confirmed Mitch Starc is likely to miss the first Test of the tour in Nagpur. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

“I feel like we’re adapting really well. Having the experience of Pakistan and Sri Lanka last year has put us in a really good stead (for India) … no one is going over there blind.

“We’ll use the next few weeks to reflect on the last 12 months and get over there really refreshed and eager. I think we’re as good a chance as we’re ever going to be.”

Low crowds for a couple of World Cup matches, the ODIs against England and the first Test against the Windies in Perth fuelled a narrative that the Australian team was unpopular.

Cummins said the way his team had been received around the country had debunked that theory as a myth as the team continued to thrive.

Barring some freakish upsets, Australia are poised to qualify for the World Test Championship Final in July – which will most likely be another clash against the Indians.

Cummins said he’s feeling the love.

Mitchell Starc’s injured hand. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty

“I think a lot of that was beat up. Start of the summer there was no real cricket to talk about so that became the narrative,” he said.

“I’ve been really proud with the group. There’s been two or three instances over the last 12-18 months where there’s been a bit of heat fired at the team but the guys’ ability to just get on with it and crack on with the job.

“We’re having a lot of fun. It’s a really good environment at the moment. Everyone’s ability to park that conjecture to the side has been really great.

“Every venue we’ve gone to the crowds have been fantastic. A few articles at the start of the summer (suggested we were on the nose) but our lived experience this summer has been a long way off that.”

Australia’s hopes of winning in India for the first time since 2004 have taken a hit with Cummins confirming left-arm pace weapon Mitchell Starc looks set to miss the first Test starting on February 9 in Nagpur with his finger tendon injury.

But the good news is Josh Hazlewood returned from injury with a resounding five-wicket performance for the match and gave a reminder of his class as one of the great fast bowlers of his era.

Missing most of the past two summers with injury has allowed Scott Boland to rise to the fore, but Hazlewood is poised to step into Starc’s void in India and partner Cummins.

That 2004 Australian side was driven by the accuracy of fast bowlers Michael Kasprowicz, Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath and Cummins admits Australia could again throw convention out the window and back in their strength and play three quicks on certain pitches in India.

There is great trust in part-time spinners Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne to back-up Nathan Lyon if Australia decide against a second specialist spinner in any of the Indian Tests.

“Yeah potentially. It’s (going pace heavy) is a real option,” Cummins said.

“I think our squad will have basically all possibilities there. It’s a big series. We want everything at our disposal. We’re really comfortable (with our options) especially with Trav who is a slightly different off spinner bowler to Nath. He’s a bit flatter which could be really helpful over there.

“I’ve been really happy with how he’s bowled. I probably under bowled him even in this game. He’s a big part of our team for over there.”

Cummins said Starc was pushing hard for a return in Test two or three in India.

“Starcy is all on track I think. It’s still early days. He’s got his finger in the splint for four or five weeks then hopefully he can get up and bowling pretty quickly,” Cummins said.

“I think he’ll struggle for the first test over there from what the medical staff are saying but hoping Test No.2 or 3 is hopefully realistic.

“He’s still in the gym trying to bowl without actually bowling to keep the transition as smooth as possible when he does have to.”

Originally published as Australia v India news: Pat Cummins confirms Mitchell Starc set to miss first Test in Nagpur