Australia’s victory over England in the first Ashes Test and their triumph in the World Test Championship final have left former Pakistan captain Salman Butt impressed. Butt believes that Australia has yet to reach their full potential and expects them to secure even more comprehensive victories once they hit their stride.
Expressing his views in a video on his YouTube channel, Butt analyzed Australia’s recent performances and identified areas where they could improve. He pointed out that although Pat Cummins was slightly expensive in terms of runs conceded and Josh Hazlewood wasn’t at his best, Australia still managed to emerge victorious. Star batsmen like Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne also failed to make significant contributions, yet the team secured important wins.
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“Pat Cummins leaked runs at 4.5 per over. [Josh] Hazlewood bowled well but not at his complete best. Even in the batting [department], the likes of Smith and Labuschagne didn’t fire,” Salman Butt noted. “They are getting runs from [Usman] Khawaja, [Alex] Carey and a bit from [Cameron] Green and [Travis] Head too scoring a fifty. But it feels the big performance hasn’t come yet from them and yet they have won.”
Butt praised Usman Khawaja, the left-handed opener, for his exceptional performance in the first Test. Khawaja displayed his maturity and versatility by scoring a patient century in the first innings and a determined 65 in the second innings, helping Australia successfully chase down 281 runs. Butt highlighted Khawaja’s ability to hold one end up and play his shots when necessary, citing his success in T20 cricket for Islamabad United and in the Big Bash League.
Salman Butt added, “Khawaja is a matured player and can hold one end up with also the ability to play his shots. We have seen just how good he is in T20 cricket with his knocks for Islamabad United and also in the BBL [Big Bash League] over the years. It shows that he is versatile and is capable of playing the situation.”
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As the second Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground approaches, Australia, under the leadership of Pat Cummins, will look to maintain their winning momentum. Butt’s analysis indicates that there is still room for improvement for the Australian team, and once they hit their stride, they have the potential to achieve even more dominant victories.
Cricket enthusiasts around the world eagerly await the upcoming matches to witness whether Australia can unlock their full potential and continue their winning streak with convincing performances against England.
