England captain Ben Stokes delivers a nod to Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins and the mastery of Australia in the Adelaide Oval Test match
This impression of Cummins was completely reversed during the Perth and Brisbane Tests. The conversation was the same as the batsmen emerged from the nets one after another, shaking their heads after facing the “injured” skipper. “It’s like facing him in a game.”
Cummins, who was duly released for England, gave Ben Duckett a first up boundary from mid-wicket, but then launched something more bouncy in the channel and the left-hander poked around as if hypnotized to offer a chip-catching practice. In one of the show’s most vain moments, Duckett faked leave as she left. Very late.
While Zak Crawley showed commendable courage and judgment, Ollie Pope continued to slowly suffocate in Australia. Cummins went around the stumps with repeated swings of the bat, and when Pope finally moved aside, there was cosmic justice to Labuschagne’s superb one-handed catch. Pope looked shocked, standing around as if the ball hadn’t been carried, but he must have been the only one on the ground who would have been surprised.
Joe Root braced himself for another rearguard and played with good tempo for a while. Lyon’s first spell was successfully contested with sweeps and Cam Green’s short balls were handcuffed to third. Tea brought a reset and Cummins picked out Head’s off-spin.
Root could have easily claimed a wicket when he unwisely went close, but the moment undoubtedly interrupted the former skipper’s flow. Cummins’ next over was postage-stamp tight and when the final ball was flicked wide, Root clenched his bat in frustration, succumbing to his second advantage behind the match.
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Carey said of Cummins: “It’s great to see him again after quite a long time, to come in and get what he can from the goal. Even though the ball is a little older he still finds something,” Carey said.
“It’s not surprising. We know he’s been doing that for years. He’s been leading nicely as well, but it’s great to see him really get what he can out of this wicket.”
Crawley and Harry Brook formed the basis of another partnership, but the latter’s attacking tendencies always sought to give the Australians a chance. He survived an attempt to ramp Scott Boland, but not an attempt to reverse Brook’s 85km/h Lyon delivery which fell well short of his expected length.
This left Stokes, still England’s greatest miracle worker, out in the cold. He parried a shot from Mitchell Starc, who dealt him a comprehensive blow on the third day, but could do nothing when Lyon’s drift, drop and spin left him stranded. This game is effectively over, but one more bit of shine remains.
Crawley had often enjoyed success at half-time against Lyon and Head, but after Cummins brought up the man, the opener began to consider taking cover. Lyon brought one down slightly quicker and wider, Crawley suggested a more angled stick and Carey removed the bails well before there was any chance of escape. Lyon, meanwhile, has earned the nickname “Dirty”, citing his anxiety at being left out in Brisbane this week. Everything is so much fun now.
In short, they had thoughts of finishing the fourth day with the help of an extra half hour. However, Cummins decided not to approach Jamie Smith and Will Jacks again, leaving Lyon and Head to investigate.
They marched to the praise of the crowd, which totaled 44,152, setting the best overall attendance record in Adelaide. A total of approximately 202,995 spectators were on hand for a great event, although not exactly a great competition. Much more to come tomorrow.
England have reached day five and the Ashes series will be on for one more night, but that will be a valuable consolation for Stokes. Cummins and Australia have plenty left for the final blow. Very good, my friend, very good.
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