Is Pat Cummins Doubtful for the Remainder of the Ashes Series?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Pat Cummins may not play in the Boxing Day Test against England.
- Australia secured a 3-0 victory in the Ashes series.
- Cummins took six wickets in his last appearance.
- The team has shown resilience despite injuries.
- Future participation will be assessed based on injury risks.
Adelaide, Dec 21 (NationPress) The captain of Australia, Pat Cummins, is expected to miss the Boxing Day Test against England, which is set to occur on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
After being sidelined for over five months due to injury, Cummins returned to the pitch to take six wickets in the third Test, significantly contributing to Australia’s 82-run victory at the Adelaide Oval. Following wins in Perth and Brisbane, the home team showcased a dominant performance, sealing the series 3-0 and successfully retaining the Ashes. The captain expressed his delight over the 'incredible' series triumph but mentioned he will reassess the risks of injury for the upcoming games.
"I'm feeling really good, but regarding the remainder of the series, we will have to see. We had a very proactive approach knowing that the Ashes were on the line, and it felt worth the risk. Now that we’ve clinched the series, we might feel that the job is done and need to evaluate the risks," he shared with the broadcasters after the match.
"We'll decide in the next few days; I doubt I’ll be participating in Melbourne, and then we’ll discuss Sydney. Initially, while the series was still live, we opted to take the risks, but now that it’s concluded, it’s time for a discussion," Cummins elaborated.
England's Jamie Smith and Will Jacks posed a challenge to the Australians with a counterattack, yet pacer Mitchell Starc claimed three of the last four wickets, including those of Smith and Jacks. Scott Boland capped off the innings by taking the wicket of Josh Tongue, ensuring a well-deserved victory for Australia.
"It feels amazing. Yes, incredible. It's a series we've anticipated for a long time. Today wasn’t easy, but we managed to pull it off. The changing room is buzzing with excitement," Cummins remarked on the win.
Reflecting on maintaining pressure on England, he stated, "That’s when our team excels. You can't rush things in Australia. You might hope for quick results, but it doesn’t always pan out that way. It’s often good old-fashioned hard work. I appreciated the effort from all the players today. It got a bit closer than I’d have liked, but I’m quite pleased overall."
Nathan Lyon, who took three wickets on day four, was sidelined due to a hamstring injury sustained while fielding, but the captain commended the team's resilience.
"One of my proudest moments with this group is how we handle setbacks. Things rarely go perfectly; there are always unexpected challenges.
"Over the years, this group has demonstrated its ability to push through. Even when I missed the first couple of games, Steve stepped in seamlessly. Unexpected events like Nathan Lyon injuring his hamstring with just a couple of hours left showcase our adaptability.
"The team just says, ‘Okay, that’s happened. What’s next?’ I believe this mindset has significantly contributed to our success in recent years," he concluded.