With one eye on India, Aussies embrace new mantra

With successive Test victories achieved in diametrically divergent subcontinental conditions under his captaincy, Pat Cummins has one eye on the new holy grail of Australian cricket: a series win in India.

Australia may only be halfway through their Test tour of Sri Lanka but already what they have and will continue to face on the island-nation has vindicated the complete rewrite of their successful strategy from Pakistan earlier this year.

The raw numbers from the two tours (admittedly with one complete and the other halfway through) already suggest an enormous difference in the type of cricket being played.

In Pakistan, Australia's embracing of a 15-day grind on bowling graveyards bore fruit when they clinched a series-sealing victory in the final session of the three-Test campaign.

That last Test in Lahore, like the other two before it, went the full five days. It saw 402.3 overs bowled, and even then Australia's win came with a little more than an hour to go in the match.

Compare that with the rapid-fire Galle encounter that saw a result achieved despite nearly two-thirds fewer overs being sent down (153.2), and which only stretched into a third day because of Thursday morning's wild storm.

Speaking in the aftermath of the 10-wicket win completed in scarcely believable time, Cummins suggested his side had adopted a markedly different strategy.

"A couple of big words we were using about our approach was being proactive and being brave," the 29-year-old said after the Aussies rolled their hosts for 113 in only 22.5 overs on Friday.

"You saw some really clear methods from all the batters. They might have been individually a bit different, but you saw everyone being really proactive and putting the pressure right back on their bowlers.

"That's the really pleasing thing – it's something you talk more about in one-day cricket or T20 cricket but that's the style over here that's needed."

It is essentially kill or be killed, a far cry from Pakistan where Usman Khawaja might still be batting right now if there were no time limits on Tests.

"It's about managing the tempo, but the tempo is going to be quite different to Pakistan," continued Cummins.

"When we're on top of the game it's about keeping that lead and running with it. But if it feels like things are moving faster than we want to, it's about wrestling it back.

"That proactiveness (is important), rather than it being a grind. You've got to be on the front foot here, you've got to be scoring runs and ticking over the scoring rate because if you're not moving anywhere here (then) you're pretty vulnerable."

Khawaja, who is Australia's (and, presently, the world's) most prolific batter since his recall earlier this year, said as much on Thursday when he suggested, "if you try and block on that wicket too often, it's good night."

Yet it is one thing for the experienced Khawaja, now 50 Tests into a career that has provided more than its fair share of tough lessons, particularly in Asia, to have capably adapted to alien conditions for Australian cricketers.

As Cummins noted, it is another thing entirely for the likes of Cameron Green (playing in his 13th Test), Alex Carey (ninth) and Mitchell Swepson (third) to have made vital contributions.

It was Green who was singled out for the highest praise from Cummins after his 77 off 109 balls on an enthralling second day earnt him player-of-the-match honours.

"He's always been a fast learner but that's even surprised us how fast he's learnt out there," said Australia’s skipper.

"From ball one, (he's been) really sharp (with) a really clear method. It's a credit to him and the coaches how they've worked over the last couple of weeks.

"Speaking to some of older guys as well (to) find his method, and then just being brave enough to try it … that was the difference in the end."

Australia may well view it as a considerable point of pride that of their six most experienced Test players who took to the field in Galle, only Nathan Lyon (the game's standout bowler with nine wickets) and Khawaja (71 in the Aussies' first innings) had a material influence on its outcome.

With Cummins, Mitchell Starc (two wickets between them), Steve Smith (run out for six), David Warner (25 and 10no), as well as their top-ranked Test batter Marnus Labuschagne (13), all taking a back seat.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of it all was that Cummins, the world’s No.1 ranked Test bowler, did not a bowl a single ball in a Test innings for the first time in his career.

It all bodes well for the next big ticket on Australia’s long-form agenda after this Sri Lanka tour, a Test series in India expected to be played in February-March next year.

"Now that we've won a few games we can (look forward)," Cummins said with a smile.

"We've had Marnus, Travis Head, Cam Green, Alex Carey (who all) haven't played Test matches in conditions that have spun this much (before this Test).

"We have a big series next year in India, so this can really help develop and fast track our batters… if you want to be the number one Test team in the world you’ve got to be winning overseas.

"Swepson hasn’t played on wickets like this as well, so absolutely you learn so much from these tours. Fortunately we'll be learning at the same time as having a win.

"It’s part of the environment that we are trying to create.

"Failure is absolutely okay, as long as you are failing in a way you are happy to be."

Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Test squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Jeffrey Vandersay. Standby players: Dunith Wellalage, Lakshitha Rasanjana.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. Standby players: Jon Holland, Matthew Kuhnemann, Todd Murphy

June 29 - July 3: Australia won by 10 wickets

July 8-12: Second Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

Sri Lanka v Australia Test matches will be screened live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports