Aakash Chopra has said that Pat Cummins’ underwhelming performance with the ball is one of Australia’s biggest issues heading into their World Cup 2023 clash against Sri Lanka in Lucknow on Monday, October 16. Both Australia and Australia and Sri Lanka have lost their respective first two games in the tournament. Cummins, who went wicketless in Australia’s tournament opener against India, could manage only one wicket against South Africa but gave away 71 runs in nine overs.

Previewing the game in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “They are saying Australia’s Travis Head will become available by Thursday. It seems they are eagerly awaiting his return because Mitchell Marsh is not scoring runs, so opening has not been good. You have only Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa as spin-bowling options, you don’t have too many options. Pat Cummins is not pulling his weight into the side which is strange and sad but it seems like he is unable to contribute very well. He is looking like the third pacer and is not looking effective also, although he did pick up a wicket in the end in the last match.”

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Aakash Chopra also picked Australia’s fielding as another concern, saying that they dropped six catches against South Africa and eventually lost as well. He expects Australia to fare slightly better against Sri Lanka as well.

“Now Sri Lanka is in front of them, so you expect Australia to play slightly better. Reputation must count for something. You have such a huge legacy, won the tournament five times. So we assume you will make a comeback sometime at least. They can get their first win today. Attack with your fast bowling – Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins. Sri Lanka can be caught if you are able to attack their batting properly,” Aakash Chopra concluded.