Australian captain Pat Cummins is confident that Steve Smith is on the verge of a big score in the ongoing 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, despite his low returns in the first two Tests. As the teams gear up for the third Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, Cummins downplayed Smith’s early struggles, emphasizing that the number four batter is looking “really sharp” in the nets and is doing all the right things in preparation. Smith, who failed to make an impact in the first two Tests, has scored just 0 (1), 17 (60), and 2 (11) in his three innings.

In both Perth and Adelaide, Smith was dismissed by the pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Pat Cummins, however, remains optimistic, pointing to Smith’s outstanding record and suggesting that a big score is just around the corner. “If you look at his record, stats would suggest (runs) are not far around the corner,” Cummins said in a pre-match press conference. “He’s looking fantastic in the nets, just really sharp, with plenty of time. He’s doing all the right things like he always does. He got caught down the leg side last game, and I don’t know if you can look into that too much. I’m sure a big score’s just around the corner.”

With the series level at 1-1, Cummins is hopeful that Smith’s good form at the Gabba can help turn the tide in Australia’s favor. Smith has an excellent record at the Brisbane venue, having scored 821 runs in just 10 Tests, including three centuries and three fifties, at an impressive average of 54.73. This could be the perfect opportunity for Smith to return to form, especially as Australia looks to gain an upper hand in the series.

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Pat Cummins also spoke about the pride Australians take in winning at home. The team faces pressure to continue the tradition of winning at home, and Cummins acknowledged the expectations set by previous generations.

“There’s definitely pride in winning in Australia,” he said. “These are our home conditions. The hardest thing in cricket nowadays is winning a Test series away from home. So to make the World Test Championship, you’ve got to win everything at home and try to pick up some wins overseas where you can. We definitely go into every home series here expecting to win. That’s what we grew up watching.”

However, Australia has faced challenges in the recent past, having lost the last two home series against India. The Gabba, once regarded as a fortress, hasn’t been as reliable for Australia in recent years. India’s famous victory in the 2020-21 series, capped by Rishabh Pant’s match-winning knock, and the West Indies’ historic eight-run win earlier this year, have dented the venue’s reputation.

“It’s just a venue really,” Pat Cummins said. “We play at dozens of venues each year. It’s always good coming back to a place that’s familiar… but the scoreboard starts at 0-0, so the venue isn’t the be-all and end-all.”

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Finally, Cummins addressed the Australian bowling strategy, particularly when it comes to targeting India’s tailenders. He noted that the team would continue using short balls as a “plan B,” especially on the bouncy Gabba track. “It worked in Adelaide, so I’m sure we’ll give it a shot at some stage,” he said, adding that the short-ball strategy proved effective against the Indian tail.