Cummins Calls Boxing Day Test Victory Over India at MCG One of His Finest
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Melbourne, Dec 30 (NationPress) Following Australia’s 2-1 advantage in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, captain Pat Cummins considers the 184-run triumph over India during the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as one of the most remarkable games he has experienced.
Cummins received the Johnny Mullagh medal, which is presented to the Player of the Match, in recognition of his outstanding all-around performance throughout the match. He contributed vital scores of 49 and 41 with the bat, in addition to impressive bowling figures of 3-89 and 3-28, ensuring a memorable victory for Australia.
"What an incredible Test match; I believe it’s one of the best I’ve been part of. The crowd has been phenomenal all week, and being a part of it has been fantastic. Marnus was a huge help to me in the second innings, and I’m thrilled to have contributed," he stated during the post-match presentation.
He also emphasized how a significant first-innings total and contributions from the lower order allowed Australia to capitalize on key moments in the game. “Outstanding innings from Steve; winning the toss was crucial. Achieving high 400s on the first day was exceptional. We have invested considerable effort into our lower-order batting and strategizing how best to bowl to the opposition batters while also contributing with the bat,” he explained.
Cummins mentioned that the choice to refrain from making an overnight declaration aimed to minimize the possibility of an Indian victory. "We wanted to eliminate the chance of an Indian win (by not declaring). We had enough runs to work with and arranged as many helmets as possible around the bat."
“We were slightly behind on the over rate, so we thought bringing Trav in could assist us with that. The idea of him bowling to Pant was suggested by the coaching staff. It’s a very content locker room, and we’ll relish this victory for a while before heading to Sydney,” he added.
Head, who successfully took the critical wicket of Pant, expressed his satisfaction in contributing with the ball after a relatively quiet Test with the bat. "I had four and a half days without much batting, so I’m pleased to have helped. (The plan against Pant) was to have everyone on the boundary and bowl a loose one. Both teams were fiercely competitive, and there were moments where each side excelled," he remarked.
Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc stated that the belief within the Australian camp to secure a victory in Melbourne was unwavering. "There’s always confidence in this group; it has been a consistent trait over the years. We remain calm and adapt to various situations effectively."
