Australia went 2-0 up in the Ashes series without the presence of their veteran fast-bowler and captain Pat Cummins, who now returns to competitive cricket for the first time in five months as well. While talking about the two Tests so far, Cummins said Australia “weren’t perfect all the time”.
“In Perth, far from perfect, but, a magic session from Travis Head, bit of Starc magic,” Cummins said. “And we’ve always managed to find that one or two players to kind of drag us out and find a win. On the flip side in Brisbane, to get to 500 without someone getting 100 everyone chipped in. So I think we just managed to find ways to win. Particularly here in Australia, in our own conditions, I think that’s been the most pleasing thing.”
The new opening pair of Travis Head and Jake Weatherald has worked well for Australia as they beat England with opening partnerships of 75, 77 and 37 in three innings.
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“So far, it looks like they’ve been able to keep the scoreboard ticking over whatever’s been thrown at them,” Cummins said. “It really set up the platform for our innings. And so far, the few times they’ve batted, I think you’ve seen people like Marnus [Labuschagne] and Steve [Smith] walk in after that as well, and really get on the back of that and start their innings well.”
“Travis [Head] a great team man and vice captain, he never really wants to get in, tread on any toes. So he’s always very adamant he will do whatever the team needs. And for the last few years, we think it’s number five, and he’s happily done that,” he added again. “I think when he was running off at Perth Stadium and he was demanding, you guys, I think it’s my time. I think it’s me, we were kind of like, go for it. That was probably the first time it was like he really wants it and thinks it’s his opportunity.”
However, as the new opening partnership worked well, Usman Khawaja has been dropped for the second successive Test after his back injury that he suffered during the Perth Test. Cummins joked about that but also credited him for being a real team-man and also mentioned Beau Webster who has not been added.
“I tell the guys who are in and the selectors tell the guys who are out,” he added. “He’s [Khawaja] a real team man. He’ll do whatever the team needs. And Beau Webster has missed out these three Tests. Neser coming off a five-fer, Doggy [Doggett] playing the first two Tests and doing really well. So this, there’s a disappointed group of players, but they’ve all been fantastic around the group. They buy in knowing that we need a squad to win an actual series, and they’ve all been brilliant for you.”
“Yeah, [I am] good to go. I’ve been bowling 100% for a while. If I played in Brisbane, I would have probably been on limited overs. But this week, it’s just go and play like any other Test match,” Pat Cummins concluded.
