Australia captain Pat Cummins backs ageing Test squad to grow together in chase for glory

Australia Test captain Pat Cummins has backed the ageing Test squad to stick and grow together in the chase for more glory. Following DavidWarner'sretirement and Australia due to host India and England in two back-to-back home summers starting later this year, Cummins wants the team to build and stay on the same page to taste success at the top level.

Cummins led Australia to their maiden World Test Championship (WTC) title last year, beating India in the finals before taking them down again a few months later in the final of the 50-over World Cup.

Despite most players being above 30 years of age on the Test side, Cummins is sure of no retirement calls shortly. Ace spinner Nathan Lyon, who missed the last three Ashes Tests in England with a calf injury, said he wishes to extend his career till 2027 in hopes of winning a Test series in India and England.

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Speaking to ESPNcricinfo ahead of the release ofPrime's'Test season 3'documentary, Cummins said, "We are lucky in that everyone has gone a couple of years longer thanwe'dhave firsthoped. Hopefully,it'sthe same with Nath.

"The job is to try and ensure he does get those four or five years. We try and do everything we can to get him right for those Test matches. At his age, it all comes down to his bodyreally. That will be his biggest barrierso[it will be about] as much as we can help him, and he can help himself, similar to what Jimmy Anderson did,”Cummins said.

2025 WTF Final on Cummins' mind

Although the upcoming series would include episodes on how lastyear’sAshes unfolded, which ended in a 2-2 draw, Cummins expressed his thoughts on competing at the 2025 WTC Final.

With them sitting in a comfortable position to qualify for the second-straight WTC Final, the home series against India and two away tours of Sri Lanka and West Indies will decide their fate.

"I'dlove if the second halfwasas successful as the first half,"Cummins said of the current WTC cycle.

"Most things have gone to plan for now.Thinkyou are going to get a natural churn rate with some of our more senior guys.Hopefully, they hang around for a while,andtheycan manage their bodies until weare done.That makes the jobfor Andrew and myself a lot easier, butwe'llsee.

"I'vebeen pretty open to say, Idon'tthinkI'lldo this forever.Feelreally well-placed at the moment. Feel like we are ina really goodspot, soit'scertainly not imminent,”he concluded.