Pat Cummins & Tom Latham speak ahead of Australia v New Zealand

Pat Cummins & Tom Latham speak ahead of Australia v New Zealand in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

[Reporter:]

So much of history in Australia, New Zealand, contests - this is a World Cup game that everybody has been looking forward to for a long time. Your thoughts just on the history of the games and your perspective ahead of tomorrow's encounter.

[Pat Cummins:]

Yeah, it's, I mean any sport even Blader’s Cup is always big events. I guess in my career, 2015 obviously had an awesome match at Eden Park and then the final and then, we had a T20 World Cup final a couple of years ago. So, it always seems like there's great contests. And on a personal note, as well, we know a lot of the New Zealand guys, we have played a lot against them and with them. So, it's always good fun.

[Reporter:]

Is Travis Head available for the game and Marcus Stoinis for that matter?

[Pat Cummins:]

Don't know to be honest. Yeah, they'll have a training session after this. Well, they both trained on game day a couple of days ago, so, yeah, we'll see in the next few hours.

[Reporter:]

And just, I'm not sure if you followed in the news in Australia over the last day or two, but Greg Chappell's fallen on some hard times and has had a bit of a testimony, I know he played a bit of a role in your career, have you followed that at all and what are your thoughts about that?

[Pat Cummins:]

I haven't really, I heard one of the boys talking about it the other day, but yeah, he's a legend of the game, not only just as a player, he's been huge. Particularly our playing group, he's had a big influence on a lot of us coming through. He did Under-19’s tour where he was there and kind of mentoring and spent a lot of time up at the NCC (National Cricket Centre) where he was involved -so yeah got huge admiration for him. Obviously huge figure in Australian cricket so yeah, wish him all the best.

[Reporter:]

It's obviously a lovely ground except maybe when you've got to bend down and field on it. Do you have any concerns at all about the outfield and how will the team approach preparing for that?

[Pat Cummins:]

Yeah, I mean just walked across there now, so that was the first look at it. So yeah, that's probably a ground we've got to be extra careful. It's a bit different to a lot of the other venues that we play at. But it's fine. It's the same for both teams. So yeah, maybe just be a little bit more careful out in the field. And you might have to wear a cup on the body, but that's fine.

[Reporter:]

But just 11 days ago, you guys were at the bottom of the table. But I guess that's just the nature of these tournaments. You're not in the semifinals, but sort of in there, let's face it.

[Pat Cummins:]

I'll take it, yeah.

[Reporter continues:]

Everybody speaks about vibe and all of that. But just the nature of your last two victories regardless of who you're playing against, does that like add to that feeling of like now we finally arrived in this tournament in that sense?

[Pat Cummins:]

Yeah, for sure. Our group's big on talking about the style that we want to play, and I think in the first two games not only did we not win, but I think we didn't really nail the style that we wanted to play. I think in the last few games you've seen us be a bit more aggressive - batting and bowling. Bowling- everyone's been really open-minded, tried different things; trying bounces, different fields, one over spells and it's just been a real buy in from the whole team and yeah, it's been fantastic last few games. That's a standard we want to keep going with for the rest of tournament.

[Reporter:]

And with your own bowling Pat, you said earlier in the tournament that in a one-day cricket, you haven't played a lot of it regularly in the last few years, but getting a feel for it with every game you play. Just the four or five overs you bowl against Netherlands, just the carry you were getting, I know it's dependent on the surface as well. Does that put you in a better place of mind in that sense? And just in terms of economy rates, there's something I asked about you guys during the Ashes, different circumstances, but have you reached a point where you don't really pay much heed to it and it's what you're doing with the ball?

[Pat Cummins:]

Yeah, I've been really happy with how I've been bowling. I feel like I've probably been bowling the best I have for a little while in the ODI cricket. So, and in terms of economy rates we're really role specific so a Josh Hazel is going to look different to me or to Starkey, to Adam Zampa. It's just about, having your role and trying to own that. So, for example, we could try and be really safe through the middle, but we're not going to take wickets where they're probably going to score runs at the back end. So, we're always all about wickets at the start and the middle, and happy to give up a few runs in search of that.

[Reporter:]

You've played a lot of cricket with Mitchell Starc and he's on an incredible streak at the moment. He's taken the wicket in every World Cup match he's played, which is a record. What do you think makes him so successful or so effective in World Cup matches?

[Pat Cummins:]

I think in 50 over cricket there's the new ball, the middle phase and the last phase and it's pretty hard to nail all three, but I think he's one of the rare bowlers that swings it up front, but you can basically give him the ball at any time and you feel like he's going to create something and again I think he just keeps getting better and better. He's wobbling the ball across right-handers, he's bowling round the wicket probably more than he did in, say 2015, he's got plenty of tools at his disposal and it's pretty amazing he's been able to keep up the pace for that long as well.

[Reporter:]

And outfield aside, where does this ground rank in terms of the most picturesque?

[Pat Cummins:]

Yeah, it's right up there. You think of Cape Town, this one's probably just beautiful. As you saw, as soon as we got off the bus, everyone goes right out the front, gets their phone out, starts taking photos. You just got to do it when you're here. So, it's beautiful, beautiful, clean air. Looking up at snow-capped mountains, it's great.

[Reporter:]

Pat, just wanted to ask about the rollercoaster of Glenn Maxwell, the golden duck against Pakistan and then the other night. Have you been in a partnership like that before where I think you made 8 out of 100 and something?

[Pat Cummins:]

I don't need to focus on that mate. 100 run partnership.

[Reporter:]

You supported him well. What's that like to watch and then how important is he, to have him following for the rest of the tournament

[Pat Cummins:]

Yeah, that was just insane the other night. Yeah, Max he's got that in him and with that kind of play they're not going to do that every game but he does it often enough to be worried every time. He walks out there if you're the opposition. So, I was lucky to be down at the other end, see it first-hand, just yeah, the creativity that he seems to have, to find boundaries in just different spots, just incredible. He said to me with three or four overs left, he goes, I just want to face many balls here and own these last four overs. And he did it. So yeah, just insane. And I thought he's bowling this tournament. It's been fantastic so far. And as we saw the other night, he's a superstar.

[Reporter:]

Pat, we're having a day game after a long time of day and night cricket. Your thoughts on that and how does that change your permutation combinations and planning going into it?

[Pat Cummins:]

Yeah, it feels a bit more like a test match getting up in the morning and turning up here. So yeah, a little bit different to what we are used to. Yeah, we'll have a bit of a thinking this afternoon to see if that changes anything to do with, say, the toss. Obviously, at light maybe dew, maybe swing on the lights is a bit of a fact you think about. So, yeah, we'll have a think.

[Reporter:]

You're still a fairly young ODI captain but you talk about role specific roles for the bowlers does that require you to tell yourself to hold your nerve when a guy's gone for 25 or 30 off two overs, and it's the plan, but it's looking pretty ugly?

[Pat Cummins:]

Yeah, you've got to, yeah, it's all a balance. I mean, luckily in our team, we've got plenty of options, so it always feels like you can balance between plans a lot. It does feel like a real luxury. But yeah, you've got to know when to cut your losses as well. There are times where you can't create anything out of thin air. The ball's not doing too much. You're bowling cross seam. It's a good wicket. So, there are times where you just feel like you need to hang on and change plans.

[Reporter:]

Just on Josh, about three or four years ago, bowlers like him who were just so consistent were not getting picked because they were “too predictable.” Now that he and some other bowlers like him who can just bowl line and length have made such a good comeback, what kind of luxury does he provide to you as a bowling unit when that guy is not going to go for more than 50 any game?

[Pat Cummins:]

I mean he's been consistent his whole career, he's been a gun. So, I don't think him being predictable has ever been a problem. He's, I think even in some of those times when he wasn't in the team, was ranked number one or two in the world. So, he's fantastic. He's another one who I think now can bowl at any time. But you're going to get quality up front and, as you said, consistent. Just rarely gets hit off his length and just yeah again another real luxury having someone like him in the team.

[Reporter:]

So just to continue on the rivalry with New Zealand, if you look at other cricket rivalries, India, Pakistan, or even yourself and England, there's a bit of nastiness. There's a lot of acrimony between teams, but not with New Zealand. How does that work out? Would you rather it be more competitive? As in if it was a little nasty, would it get you going more than it does?

[Pat Cummins:]

I don't think so. I think most of the Kiwis are pretty placid and we're pretty similar. As I said, we've played a lot of cricket with these guys and some of them are really good mates of some of our players. So, yeah, if anything, it makes you want to beat your mates even more. But yeah, it'll be intense out there. Yeah.

[Reporter:]

This Dharamsala track hasn't been the easiest in terms of batting, and especially coming from that Delhi Game. What's your approach in terms of handling the track? Because there's a Santner, (Mitchell Santner) there's Zampa (Adam Zampa), slow bowlers are doing really well. Apart from that England game where they scored over 300, every other score has been near about 250-260. So, what's your approach in terms of the track here, especially coming from the Delhi game?

[Pat Cummins:]

Yeah, it's a new venue. You've got to assess when you're out there what you think is going to be a good score. So yeah, it might not be a 400-run game or innings. But yeah, we talk a lot about playing what's in front of you, assess the conditions and as a batter you build your innings around that as a bowler, we assess what's going to work whether it's cutters, swing. Yeah, new venue we'll just make sure we're looking at it closely.

[Reporter:]

Just about when Travis Head does come back in, Steve Smith spoke to us the other day, and he said about batting at number four, he would prefer number three. That's his position. What has that chat been like? And how many times have you had to have that chat with him to convince him to go down one position?

[Pat Cummins:]

I think he said himself, do whatever is best for the team. And Trav’s (Travis) been amazing over the last 12 months. Mitch Marsh at the top has been amazing. Davey Warner’s (David Warner) obviously a superstar up there. We think that's the best way to set up the team and we're really excited with how the batting line-up looks like. No, it's been fine. We all do some roles that maybe is not your preference but it's what's best for the team so it's fine.

[Reporter:]

Pat, you mentioned close friends in other teams, I imagine you would have been heartbroken to see England suffer a defeat last night. What was your reaction to that given you've got them in a couple of games time?

[Pat Cummins:]

Yeah, obviously we've got them in a couple of games time - so we'll have a close look there, but yeah, it's sad to see. Don't have much for it.

[Reporter:]

Has the margin of victory and defeat in this World Cup surprised you at all? Like when teams are winning, they're winning really big, and when they're losing, they're losing quite badly. Have you managed to kind of pinpoint on why this is so?

[Pat Cummins:]

I think a lot of the time you speak about chasing out whatever the opposition puts up. I think this tournament, the trend for most of the teams has been, you put a big score on the board and then as you're searching for run rate, you fall well short. So, yeah, I don't know, it has been surprising. There haven't been too many super close, right down to the wire games, but yeah.

[Reporter:]

It's been five days since you've last played an international game of cricket. Any thoughts on what's an ideal gap that you should have between ODIs and especially in a World Cup like this?

[Tom Latham:]

I guess there's no perfect scenario. I think if you look at our games throughout this tournament, we've had some shorter breaks. We've had some slightly bigger gaps. But I guess when you come to the middle of the tournament or towards the back end of the tournament, I think it's making sure guys are fresh and ready to go. And sometimes those longer breaks can come at a perfect time. So, I guess that's something that's out of our control. Ideally, a few more than a couple of days, but yeah, we're ready to go. We've obviously had a few days here, staying here, which has been great. And yeah, boys are looking forward to get going tomorrow.

[Reporter:]

Awesome and just the day game starting at 10.30 in the morning - does it kind of nullify the advantage of a toss because it takes dew out of the equation and does it change your planning strategising in any way?

[Tom Latham:]

I guess a little bit and I think if we look at the other night it probably didn't dew up as much as we potentially thought and we've probably seen that in a couple of our games where we're expecting dew to come in and it didn't actually hurt as much as what we would have thought.

So, for us it's about trying to plan as best as we can and prepare as best we can and prepare for all scenarios- if in the morning if it does a little bit, or in the evening if it does start to spend a little bit more so for us it's just being prepared for every situation.

[Reporter:]

Last one from me, we saw that the team visited His Holiness the Dalai Lama at his residence. Can you talk to us a bit about that visit and whether there were any field placings discussed with him?

[Tom Latham:]

No, certainly no field placements. But yeah, it was obviously a cool experience for the group to head up there and obviously meet the Dalai Lama and I guess in this situation where we had a few days off and the opportunity being so close, it obviously came up and it was obviously a really special time heading up there and having a look around the monastery and what not, so yeah, I think everyone that went obviously will look back and I'm sure in years to come will think this was obviously an amazing experience.

[Reporter:]

Tom so much of history associated with Australia - New Zealand games especially at World Cups so many classic games your thoughts ahead of this game you know special occasion to meet Australia every time at a World Cup?

[Tom Latham:]

Yeah, I think any time we play Australia, it's obviously the trans-Tasman rivalry which is really special and I think that's not just cricket that's obviously fit for all sports and even in the World Cup and over here in India obviously a long way from home it's another special occasion.

I'm sure both teams will be really excited to get into things and we haven't played them last year and we haven't played them for a while since then. So again, making sure we plan and prepare as best we can. And if we do that, then hopefully we'll give ourselves a good chance of backing into the game.

[Reporter:]

So, a couple of the fans who visited the previous game from Wellington, so we spoke to them and they were kind of like even though Australia haven't started off, they can see them coming behind their back. And now both the teams find themselves just a position away from each other. How do you see this team coming back into the tournament in Australia? Of course, they're coming on the back of a big win in Delhi.

[Tom Latham:]

Yeah, they're obviously playing some fantastic cricket at the moment. As you said, they didn't probably start as well as they would have liked, but I think the form they've shown in probably the last three games is - that's obviously the Australia that we know. You know, they obviously fight, till the end pretty much every time and I guess every time we play each other it's always a challenge and I guess they're a quality side, they're one of the best sides in the world for a reason and you certainly can't take them lightly.

I think we've shown throughout this tournament that we've seen plenty of teams that on their given day can beat anyone. So, and Australia are no different. So, we're expecting them to be at their best and hopefully we can play well as well and hopefully be a great game.

[Reporter:]

So, continuing to this that Australia already gained momentum of victory last time. You have already experienced this ground and it is very new for Australia. Do you have any change in strategy?

[Tom Latham:]

No, I don't think so. Obviously, it's a day game so whether that changes things or not from a conditions point of view, that's probably the only difference. But I think playing here obviously gives you a little bit of an advantage, obviously understanding conditions a little bit more and what the surface potentially may be like.

It's obviously hard to know what that will be until you get into the game. So, for us, as I've said, being prepared and trying to adapt as best you can is sort of what we've been about this tournament. And I feel like we've done that reasonably well, pretty quickly as being able to adapt to each surface. So again, tomorrow is another opportunity for us to try to stand up and do that as quick as we can. And if we can do that well, quickly enough, then hopefully that will put us on the front foot.

[Reporter:]

Just wanted to ask you about Mitchell Santner. Like, for those who don't watch New Zealand that much, they kind of might have been surprised by how well he's gone at this World Cup. I mean, have you guys been surprised by how effective he is? And kind of given Australia struggled a bit against left arm spin at different points, how important is he tomorrow?

[Tom Latham:]

Yeah, we certainly haven't been surprised at all and we've seen the work that he's put in day in day out and I think the performances that he's had in the one-day game but also in the T20 game he's had many experiences over here and the IPL for a few years now so understand I guess what he brings and obviously conditions back home obviously don't suit spin as much.

I guess seeing him come here and apply his skill and do what he's pretty much done for us for a long period of time, and I guess it's nice for him to get a few rewards for, I guess, the hard work that he's put in. So, he's obviously been a valued member of the side for a long time and I guess he's able to bowl in every situation, whether that be at the top in the first 10, through the middle and obviously at the back end.

So, he's very adaptable for us, which is great. And I guess someone that can spin the ball on pretty much any surface is really I guess vital and when it is turning, he can obviously get plenty of turn which is great. Again, another great opportunity for him tomorrow and hopefully he can stand up again.

[Reporter:]

Other than Kane (Williamson) is everyone available for selection tomorrow and are you expecting to make any changes?

[Tom Latham:]

Yeah, obviously Kane's still a work in progress with his thumb. But we'll obviously have a quick look at the surface to that training at some point, and then obviously make a decision on what the 11 looks like.

[Reporter:]

Just in a long tournament like this, when you're playing every team once, do you kind of keep one eye on what, say, in Australia or the bigger teams are doing? Or do you just get to it like when maybe you would have just started your analysis and all of that just three days in? Because I'm guessing it's also not possible to watch everything that happens.

[Tom Latham:]

Yeah, well, for me, I watch certainly every game. It's on the TV. But yeah, I think you obviously see the games that are going on and you see some of the performances that have been put on the park and I think for us we've just been trying to take each game at a time. It's probably been our biggest thing and every game's worth two points so every game is just as important as the next and once we do come up against a team, we obviously go through our same preparation that we usually do in terms of scouting and I guess understanding how teams are going and what they're going to bring to the table.

So again, Australia's been no different. We've seen them obviously perform well in the last couple of games. So just understanding how they're going to operate and hopefully we can counteract that as best we can.

[Reporter:]

And just about your own batting position. You've batted at 4-5 for quite a few years in one day cricket, but has it changed in the last 18 months, with the field changes and You see different kinds of batters being used, like disruptors. Even Australia brought in Josh Inglis or Alex Carey. So, has that changed your role much at all, or even how you go about it?

[Tom Latham:]

I don't think so. Not from a middle order point of view, I think batting in the middle order, for me, it's about trying to be adaptable as much as you can. You could be in it 30 for 3 or you could be in it 200 for 3, so you've got to adapt the way that you play as best you can. I guess that's something about the middle order, you just don't know what situation you're going to be in.

So, I guess trying to plan for all situations and just trying to read the way you need to play in that situation, whether you're batting with someone that's, I guess, a set batter or whether there's two new guys. So, I was just trying to gauge that as best you can and understand your blueprint as a team, how you guys want to operate.

So, yeah, we've obviously seen throughout this tournament, guys in the middle order have been obviously getting on with it, but I think that's sort of the situation that they've been in has allowed them to do that.

So, yeah, I guess just, as I said, just trying to be adaptable as best you can you know probably the most important thing for me

[Reporter:]

New Zealand always playing with noble way, and they have I think more patience while they have pressure. They are playing very well this Australia is also a strong team, and they are playing with aggression. What is your strategy about next match?

[Tom Latham:]

Yeah, obviously, every team poses different threats throughout a one-day game. Obviously, some teams come slightly harder. Some teams play it slightly differently. So, for us, it's just about reading what's in front of us and trying to play that accordingly you know on the other hand we have the way that we want to operate as best we can towards our plan over a game, whether that be with a bat or ball.

So, trying to be clear on how we want to operate has been the biggest thing for us this tournament and if we're able to do that then then hopefully that will give ourselves a good chance I guess at the back end of the game and if we look back to our last game you know we did we did a lot of things right and obviously we didn't quite come out on the right side but you know we took a lot a lot of positives from that game.

So, if we're able to perform in the same way, then I'm sure we'll give ourselves a good chance being in those situations.

[Reporter:]

Tom, since you said that you watch every game, I'm going to ask you one last question.

[Tom Latham:]

Not every ball – but -

[Reporter:]

Are you surprised at the way this tournament's gone? I mean, you and India are the only two teams who've maintained kind of the same level at which you're playing. The other teams have had good days, have had bad days. Does that surprise you at all, the difference in the win and loss margins kind of situation in this tournament?

[Tom Latham:]

Yeah, I guess it just shows that anyone can beat anyone on their day and you know what, you got to turn up on that specific day and put out a good performance. We've obviously seen a few upsets throughout this tournament and I guess that just shows you can't take anything for granted. I just said earlier that every game is worth two points so every game is just as important as the next.

Yeah, I think just making sure you're able to prepare and plan as best you can and you know for every game is vitally important. Whether that be at the start of the tournament, in the middle, at the back end, for us it doesn't change. We're taking every game, just like every game. Yeah, I guess it's going to be an interesting couple of weeks to see how things pan out.

© ICC