A squeeze for spots in Australia’s World Cup team prompted the 106-run thrashing of India in a practice game, paceman Pat Cummins says.
The Australians were relentless in their warm-up game victory on Sunday in Adelaide, posting 371 before bowling India out for 265, with Cummins taking three wickets.
Despite the low-key nature of the fixture, Cummins says Australia treated the outing as the start of their World Cup.
“We looked at it that it was the first game of our World Cup campaign,” Cummins said.
“And everyone is just really, really excited to be in camp for World Cup.
“I think it showed out there, especially when we were fielding, everyone was buzzing around.
“The fact that there is 15 players (in the squad), when you do get your chance, you do want to go well.”
Batsmen Glenn Maxwell and David Warner plundered quick-fire centuries to lay the platform for victory.
Maxwell cracked a ton from just 53 balls before retiring on 122, while Warner reached his century from 80 deliveries.
Maxwell blasted eight sixes and 11 fours, making 88 runs from his last 29 balls in a display which left teammates awestruck.
“Phenomenal, isn’t he?” Cummins said.
“He has done that a few times this summer. He is a freak to watch bat.
“Even after I have played with him a lot and seen him in the nets, when we see him go like that we just sit back and enjoy it because we don’t know what is next – I think he surprises himself half the time.”
After posting a daunting total, Australia clinically restricted the visitors with Cummins taking 3-30 from six overs.
Fellow pacemen Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood each claimed two wickets.
“We lost a few wickets but to get 370-odd and, on a really good wicket, keep them down … I think it was pretty much as good as we could have asked for,” Cummins said.
The Australians on Monday travel to Melbourne, where they will play United Arab Emirates on Wednesday in another warm-up game.
Australia open their cup with a fixture against England on Saturday, also in Melbourne.
