Pat Cummins' brutal Test final disaster sparks questions marks
The Aussie captain has endured a rollercoaster three days in the Test final.
Aussie captain Pat Cummins would have been ruing his fortune after taking the wicket of Shardul Thakur before a review found he had overstepped the mark for the second time in the Test Championship Final. On day 2, Cummins thought he had Ajinkya Rahane out for 17 when the ball thundered into his pads right in front of the stumps.
However, replays showed the Aussie captain had overstepped the mark. On day 3, Rahane was approaching his century and he was being helped with a solid innings from Thakur.
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And Cummins thought he has once again snared the breakthrough when Thakur walked across his stumps and missed a leg glance. Thakur wasn't convince when he was given out and called for a review.
Cummins was left fuming as the third umpire showed he had once again stepped over the crease on a wicket ball. 'You can't keep doing that, that's poor cricket," ABC's Jim Maxwell said.
The over got even worse for Cummins the next delivery. The Aussie quick thought Thakur had edged the ball behind to Alex Carey and despite a lacklustre appeal from his teammates behind the stumps, Cummins sent it up for review.
Replays showed Thakur missed the delivery by quite some margin. Cummins was clearly annoyed with himself and on the final delivery of the over he kicked the ball in frustration.
Pat Cummins called out for no-ball blunder
The Test Championship Final is Cummins' first professional match in nearly four months and without a warm-up tour game in England, the spearhead of the attack is clearly shaking out some rust.
And fans were left bewildered by Cummins' second blunder of the match, which could have cost the Aussies.
Cannot believe it. Another LBW gone because of a Cummins no ball. Ridiculous. Australia have blown so many opportunities! #WTCFinal
— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) June 9, 2023
Not sure what is going on with Cummins. Another no ball? I’ve never see him bowl this many ever. Rustiness is a potential reason but a strange one. Usually run ups,especially at the international level are measured to the mm of each stride. #WTC23Final
— Vyom Nanavati (@vyom_nanavati) June 9, 2023
Rahane given out, Cummins over-steps.
Thakur given out, Cummins over-steps. pic.twitter.com/9FGYdBTy6u— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 9, 2023
Pat Cummins what is this luck?????
— Manahil (@ManahilNawaz15) June 9, 2023
Pat Cummins. You need to STOP bowling a no-ball. It was going to be out. But he needs to remedy this NOW. It can't keep happening #AUSvIND #WTC23
— Davis Harrigan (Digi) 🦁 (@DeadlineDavis) June 9, 2023
Cummins may lack preparation heading into the Test Final Championship but he still took 3-83 off 20 overs. The captain produced one of the deliveries of the Test having dismissed Rohit Sharma with a scrambled seam ball that stunned viewers.
He then took the wickets of Rahane and Umesh Yadav after lunch on day 3 to show why he is still the premier quick in Test cricket. Aussie cricket legend Ricky Ponting weighed-in on Cummins' no-ball drama and said it was simply down to a lack of match practice for the captain.
"Simple, he's lacking rhythm, he hasn't played for three months," Ponting said after day 3. "He's bowled six no-balls in this innings, two [three] of them have cost him wickets…but he's never been someone that I can remember that's been plagued by any kind of no-ball issue.
"I just think it's because he's not back into full game mode, and not back into his full rhythm. As today went on, I did think he looked better and I think he'll be better in the second innings as well."
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