Pat Cummins and co called out amid 'concerning' Ashes scenes
The Aussie bowlers have been called out over a lack of fight.
Australia's lack of a tail wag in the first innings of the Ashes has raised concerns after Usman Khawaja's wicket sparked a 4-14 collapse on day 3 at Edgbaston. Khawaja had set Australia up nicely for a first innings lead heading into day 3 with his 141 the standout innings on a dry and flat wicket.
However, Ollie Robinson's dismissal - and ugly send-off - to Khawaja sparked a disastrous collapse for Australia once again. Since the 2019 Ashes, Australia's batting tail from No.8 onwards - normally OPat Cummins -has only contributed to a 40+ score four times.
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That leaves Australia's tail as the ninth worst, of 12 international teams, in this time period. Australia was looking to take a vital first innings lead against England to start day 3 at Edgbaston.
Cummins led the way with an important 38 runs. However, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood finished on just one run. Boland was dismissed for a duck to leave Australia failing to score above 40 runs once again.
Lyon was left stranded facing Robinson's bouncing barrage as Ben Stokes set up a leg side field to baffle the spinner. And Lyon fell into the trap as he was out pulling straight to square leg.
Stuart Broad dismissed Boland as Cummins was the last wicket to fall. To make matters worse, without Cummins, No.9, 10 and 11 have scored 10 runs only twice since Australia's last summer.
Cricket fans were left questioning the determination of the Aussie tail - other than Cummins in this innings -with every run in a close series deemed important.
Reckon the Aussies will learn quick from this tail end capitulation. Feel like they lost their nerve to Bazball funkiness. Will come back more patient and organised.
— Watty (@aiden18012513) June 18, 2023
Excluding the Ahmedabad run-fest in March, Australia have had their 9, 10 or 11 score more than 10 runs just twice since the start of the last Aussie summer #Ashes
— Louis Cameron (@LouisDBCameron) June 18, 2023
Because Aussie batsman are good at pooling and hooking....they will smash such strategy. Short ball mostly works against tail enders...
— Jay Pandya (@Jay_Pandya) June 18, 2023
I might be being over critical but the Aussies tail batters need to realise the importance of their wickets. Nathan Lyon is one of the greatest spinners of all time but he just threw his wicket away without adding anything. English last 3 added 35, however Aussies added just 2. https://t.co/cTrbuDgBJu
— S𝚒𝚍𝚍 (@iSidd1989) June 18, 2023
This is why Starc is vital. Man's basically the only one who can bat in that Aussie tail. Some downfall from 2-3 specialist bowlers with real batting talent the team used to have
— Gokz (@Gokz52955494) June 18, 2023
Thought Aussies would get 450+ on that deck. Genuinely concerning where this side would be without stumbling into Usman as opener a couple years ago. He was superb again.
No Starc hurt with long tail. 9 is too high for Lyon.— Tom O'Neil (@thomasjameoneil) June 18, 2023
Pretty poor by the aussie tail. Advantage england.
— Nikora (@nick_elt) June 18, 2023
Long tail ultimately costs the Tourists big time!, 4-14 sees the Aussies collapse from 372/6 to 386 All out game on!! #Ashes23 #ENGvAUS
— Nephela (@KoziDaviDKuRu) June 18, 2023
That Broad no ball to Khawaja yesterday was huge. Aussies tail is a shambles, if we got into them last night we could be talking a lead of near 100.
— James Welham (@WelhamOfficial) June 18, 2023
Losing 5 for 50 on that pitch even with a longish tail is unforgivable. All of the hard work of yesterday afternoon squandered by the Aussies. Advantage England bowling last on a pitch that will probably be grubbing on Day 5.
— Kevin Framp (@BigKev67) June 18, 2023
Pat Cummins bounces back to leave England reeling
Regardless, the bowlers brought Australia right back into the game and swung the momentum with Cummins and Boland taking two early wickets to leave England 2-28 to start day 4. The Aussie captain noticed the change of conditions after the rain break and introduced more aggressive fields to take the initiative.
And fireworks will be sure to explode on day 4 after England bowler Robinson causing a stir with an ugly spray at Khawaja after his dismissal. But it wasn't just Cummins captaincy in the final few overs of the day that caught the attention of the cricket world.
Plaudits were levelled at Stokes whose bizarre field may have got into the head of Australian opener Khawaja before his wicket. Stokes has reiterated his belief England will bring exciting and unusual tactics into this Ashes series to bring back the entertainment and he wasn't lying with the bizarre field placements.
This saw Khawaja dismissed with six English fielders in front of the wicket in mind-boggling scenes in modern cricket.
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