Pat Cummins admits he can not help however consider Ben Stokes on strolling into Headingley.
And after being subjected to an estimated 1000 replays of the tip of the 2019 Test on the floor, it is laborious responsible him.
Headingley looms because the venue of reckoning for Australia on this 12 months’s Ashes.
A win within the third Test beginning Thursday can safe the guests their first Ashes sequence win in England in 22 years.
But for many years, this has been cursed turf for Australia.
In 1981, they had been victims of Ian Botham’s best Ashes hour, with the allrounder serving to England win after being compelled to follow-on, making 149no after earlier taking 6-49.
Two many years later it was Mark Butcher who was the match-winner, serving to England chase down 315 in 2001 after an Adam Gilchrist declaration in Australia’s solely lack of the sequence.
And most famously there was the Stokes’ heroics in 2019, when he smashed an unbeaten 135 sealing the one-wicket win by hitting Cummins by the offside for 4.
“I remember at the time thinking if I hang it outside off there might be a chance to nick it,” Cummins recalled of his remaining supply in that Test on Thursday.
“And of course, well I’ve seen it about 1000 times in the last four years (what happened).
“That day 4 was loopy. Mixed feelings.
“The first emotion is disappointed because the Test match has gone away.
“But you do know it’s a type of moments will probably be replayed for a very long time, and in some regards I felt fortunate I used to be in the midst of it.”
Australia have already almost been treated to a repeat of Stokes’ Headingley heroics once this tour, with his 155 at Lord’s getting England within 43 runs of victory.
But an even bigger miracle may be required of Stokes to deny Australia retaining the Ashes.
At 2-0 down, England must do what only Sir Donald Bradman’s Australians have done previously in 1936-37 to win the last three games and take the series.
Bradman made scores of 270, 212 and 169 in those innings.
Stokes could be England’s closest thing to Bradman.
Not so much for the allrounder’s run-scoring ability, but more the captain’s ability to stand up and carry his team when it is required.
It was evident in the World Cup final at Lord’s in 2019, at Headingley later that year and again at Lord’s last week.
And the way this series has gone, there is every chance he could need to produce some more heroics in the next few weeks.
“I’ve expertise to fall again on,” Stokes mentioned.
“One factor I discover I’m superb at when I’m batting is having the ability to keep in my very own little bubble.
“The output is not easy, but being able to understand and know when those moments present themselves just comes through game awareness.”
Australia have already claimed retribution as soon as on this sequence, beating England by two wickets at Edgbaston in a match that continuously drew comparability to the hosts’ two-run win there in 2005.
At Headingley, there are already similarities to 2019.
Just like 4 years in the past they will retain the Ashes on this Test, and even Joel Wilson is again officiating as third umpire after his failure to present an lbw out late within the 2019 match.
“I am sure that memory will be brought up quite a bit,” Cummins mentioned of the 2019 loss.
“But we have well and truly moved past that.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
