Cummins says no let up in intensity as Oz eye win

Australia captain Pat Cummins asserted that there would be no let up in intensity despite the hosts grabbing a 2-1 lead heading into the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, beginning here on Friday.

- Agencies

SYDNEY:

A commanding 184-run victory in the Boxing Day Test has placed Australia in pole position to reclaim the Trophy for the first time since 2014-15.

"I mean, it's always the preferred position. But you know, you go into every Test match trying to win. So, it's no different this week," Cummins said."But I'm really happy with how the boys have played in the last three Tests. We've shown that we've been the front-runners, and the aim again this week is to keep it up," he added. The skipper, however, conceded there are some issues with the Aussies' batting.

"I think, no doubt, there are times when we would have liked to score more runs. In that last game in Melbourne, we would have liked to push that lead out to 400-500, given we were in such a good position. But that's Test cricket."

Cummins said the pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground could be a little different from the traditional surfaces where spinners often enjoyed their outings, while offering copious help to batters as well.