Pat Cummins Reflects on Ashes Victory and Fitness Ahead of Boxing Day Test
Cummins Discusses Ashes Series Win and Future Matches
After leading his team to victory in the Ashes series against England, Australian captain Pat Cummins shared his uncertainty about participating in the upcoming Boxing Day Test in Melbourne starting December 26. He also provided an update on Nathan Lyon's fitness, who suffered a hamstring injury on the final day of the third Test in Adelaide. Cummins made a remarkable return, taking six key wickets, including Joe Root in both innings, and showcased his strategic prowess to thwart England's chase of 435 runs, securing a 3-0 series win and retaining the Ashes urn. Additionally, he surpassed the legendary Mitchell Johnson to become Australia's sixth-highest wicket-taker in Test history, having returned to the squad after missing the first two Tests, where Steve Smith captained the team.
Cummins on His Fitness and Series Strategy
"I felt great overall," Cummins remarked following the match. "It felt like a typical Test match. Bowling mid-30s overs, I came into this match quite fresh, and my legs feel good. Sometimes, you carry some soreness from previous games, but I’m feeling really well."
"Regarding the rest of the series, we will evaluate our approach. We had an aggressive strategy knowing the significance of the Ashes, which justified the risks we took. Now that we have secured the series, we might reassess our risk management. I doubt I will play in Melbourne, and we will discuss Sydney later. Initially, while the series was still in play, we decided to take risks and give it our all," he concluded.
England's Defensive Tactics Surprised Cummins
Cummins expressed his astonishment at England's more cautious approach during the Test, rather than attacking from the start. "They seemed to have altered their style significantly from game to game. This can happen in foreign conditions as teams search for effective strategies. On day two, I was surprised by their defensive play in such hot conditions on a flat wicket. They shut down for half the day, which I found quite favorable. I expect they will discuss this and come at us with different tactics in Melbourne and Sydney. I'm pleased we maintained our style and it proved successful," he added.
Lyon's Injury Update
On Nathan Lyon's hamstring injury, Cummins stated, "It does not look promising, especially seeing him on crutches a week before the MCG Test. Lyon is nearly irreplaceable due to his ability to take crucial wickets and control the game. However, we have players who have performed well in domestic cricket and have some international experience. This was beneficial during our tours of Sri Lanka and the West Indies, where we included an additional spinner, making it less daunting for them if they play in this Ashes series."
Reflecting on the Ashes series victory, Cummins said, "Winning 3-0 is incredibly satisfying for numerous reasons. A lot of discussions before the series suggested it would be closely contested, so to win it decisively is a remarkable achievement."
Match Recap of the Third Test
Australia's Innings
Australia chose to bat first after winning the toss but found themselves in trouble at 94/4 due to the relentless bowling of Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse. Usman Khawaja's experience shone through as he scored 82 runs off 126 balls, helping to stabilize the innings alongside Alex Carey, who scored his first Ashes century with 106 runs off 143 balls. A crucial partnership between Mitchell Starc (54 runs) and Scott Boland (14 not out) helped Australia reach a total of 371 runs in 91.2 overs.
Archer claimed five wickets for 53 runs, while Josh Tongue and Will Jacks each took two wickets. In response, Nathan Lyon (2/70) and Cummins (3/70) restricted England to 286 runs, with Ben Stokes (83 runs) and Archer (51 runs) forming a vital partnership to keep England in the game.
England's Chase Falls Short
In their second innings, England initially seemed to have the upper hand at 149/4. However, Travis Head (170 runs) and Carey (72 runs) countered effectively, leading Australia to a total of 349 runs. England faced a daunting target of 435 runs. Despite a promising start, England's batting faltered, with key players falling to Cummins and Starc. Ultimately, England was bowled out for 352 runs, with Cummins, Starc, and Lyon each taking three wickets. This defeat marked England's continued struggle to win an Ashes series in Australia since 2010/11. Carey was named 'Player of the Match' for his outstanding contributions.