'Class apart': Cricket world hails 'incredible' Pat Cummins act
Australian captain Pat Cummins wasted no time making his presence felt after returning for the Boxing Day Ashes Test against England at the MCG.
The Aussie skipper was fuming after missing the second Test in Adelaide because he was a close contact of a positive Covid-19 case at a restaurant in the South Australian capital.
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In a sign of how eager he was to return to action, the Aussie skipper decided to bowl first in the third Test after winning the toss at the MCG on Sunday.
Cummins' decision was heavily influenced by the overcast conditions and 11mm of grass on the MCG pitch, in what promised to be a favourable scenario for Australia's bowlers.
The Aussie skipper's move to bowl first was immediately vindicated as Cummins struck in his very first over - removing out-of-sorts England opener Haseeb Hameed for a duck.
Hameed was drawn into playing at a delivery on a perfect length from Cummins, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey taking the catch after the ball found the edge of the opener's bat.
Cummins was at it again a few overs later, forcing recalled England opener Zak Crawley (12 runs) into playing at a ball that rose off the deck above his off stump.
A thick edge from Crawley sailed into the safe hands of Cam Green at gully to give the Aussies a dream start and pile the pain on the struggling tourists.
England's Dawid Malan and Joe Root looked to be steadying the ship for the visitors after putting on a handy partnership.
However, Cummins snared his and Australia's third scalp with another textbook delivery that enticed Malan forward and caught the batter's edge.
David Warner took the catch in the slips to remove Malan for 14, leaving the tourists reeling at 3-61 at lunch.
Cricket fans took to social media in droves to express their admiration for Cummins, after the Aussie skipper cemented his status as the world's best bowler.
WICKET!
Cummins gets another and Crawley is gone for 12 ❌
📺 Watch Test 3 Day 1 of the #Ashes on @Foxtel Ch 501 or stream on @kayosports: https://t.co/qvt93164ws
📝 Blog: https://t.co/QNWOp3cChg
🔢 Match Centre: https://t.co/YQvMyAnH6R pic.twitter.com/WlDc5HuT5C— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 26, 2021
Right now, at 2-9, Pat Cummins’ Test average of 21.04 is bettered by only three bowlers in the past 50 years:
Malcolm Marshall 20.94
Joel Garner 20.97
Curtly Ambrose 20.99
(min 100 wickets)#Ashes— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09) December 26, 2021
You are watching one of the worlds great fast bowlers in Pat Cummins. What a superstar #Ashes
— E 🇦🇺🏴 (@EssendonBomber) December 26, 2021
Pat Cummins has now taken wickets in 35 of the 36 tests he’s played.
The only one he didn’t: rain-ruined 2019 Sydney test v India.
Since then he’s taken an average of 5 per game, an average that goes to 6 per game v England.
😁— Adam Peacock (@adampeacock3) December 26, 2021
@abcsport Pat Cummins, the only postman who delivers on Boxing Day. #ashes
— Mark Jones (@Falcadore) December 26, 2021
Pat Cummins 🔥🔥🔥 #Ashes
— Prem😍 (@rpk_2022) December 26, 2021
Pat Cummins is the best fast bowler in the world right now.
— Ahan (@AhanCricket) December 26, 2021
What makes Cummins elite is his figs at the MCG, SCG! The most batting friendly decks and still he averages in early to mid 20s. What a bowler!! Unbeatable 🔥🔥
— Doing something productive (@ShaheenHypebot) December 26, 2021
Cummins is class apart. A proper Test fast bowler. Pace, control, skills, quality. He should be modern day idol for every upcoming fast bowler who wants play test cricket.
— Saransh 🇮🇳 (@CricSaransh) December 26, 2021
Ha! Cummins is an incredible bowler and bound to be raring to go after his week off. Crawley played a couple of ok shots and Hameed got a very good one but difficult to see many dealing with a morning like this...
— Jonny (@Leathernwillow) December 26, 2021
The Aussies went into the Boxing Day Test on a cool and overcast day at the MCG, leading the five-Test series 2-0 and with all the momentum.
They only need a draw to retain the urn as holders.
Light drizzle delayed the toss by 30 minutes, with play also due to start half an hour late, although the weather is forecast to brighten up.
Australia made two changes from the side that beat England by 275 runs in Adelaide, with Cummins back at the expense of Michael Neser.
Victoria quick Scott Boland making Test debut
Scott Boland makes his debut aged 32 on his home ground in place of Jhye Richardson, who is still sore after taking five wickets in England's second innings last week.
In earning his Baggy Green cap, Boland becomes the first Indigenous man to play Test cricket for Australia since fellow fast bowler Jason Gillespie.
"We'd earmarked him for a little while," Cummins said of Boland's call-up.
Embattled England made four changes for a Test they must win to keep their Ashes dreams alive.
Crawley was recalled for struggling opener Rory Burns while veteran Jonny Bairstow takes over at number six from Ollie Pope.
Speedster Mark Wood returns after being rested in Adelaide while off-spinner Jack Leach is also back in an attack spearheaded by veteran quick Jimmy Anderson and Ollie Robinson.
Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad were overlooked.
"We'd have probably done the same," said captain Joe Root of the toss.
"We have an opportunity to put runs on the board early. I expect a reaction this week. We are more than capable of doing it."
England: Haseeb Hameed, Zak Crawley, Dawid Malan, Joe Root (capt), Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Mark Wood, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, Jimmy Anderson
Australia: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
with agencies
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