Pat Cummins has as soon as once more proved he’s the grasp of the post-match press convention, shutting down an English reporter with a blunt reply.
Australia misplaced the third Ashes Test to England by three wickets at Headlingley to depart the collection tantalisingly poised at 2-1 within the guests’ favour with two Tests remaining.
Ben Stokes’ rearguard motion within the first innings was essential, earlier than Harry Brook (75) and tailenders Chris Woakes (32 not out) and Mark Wood (16 not out) obtained England over the road.
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The outcome means Australia must win one of many remaining two Tests at Old Trafford and The Oval to safe their first Ashes win in England since 2001.
England’s victory has given them hope a refined ‘BazBall’ strategy might see them pull off a 3-2 collection win, and Cummins was requested after the loss at Headlingley if momentum had turned the Poms’ means.
An English journalist requested: “As the series heads to Manchester, do you fear maybe momentum has shifted in England’s favour?”
“Not really, no.”
The journalist pressed: “Why not?”
To which Cummins replied with a deadpan grin: “2-1”.
Cummins needed to repeat himself and added the loss wouldn’t derail his facet’s confidence.
“No not at all. Every Test you start from fresh,” he mentioned.
It’s not the primary time Cummins has had a mic drop second at a press convention throughout this tour of England.
After Indian captain Rohit Sharma gave excuses for his crew’s loss to Australia within the World Test Championship Final, together with the match’s proximity to the Indian Premier League, Cummins had the final snigger.
“It’s fine. No qualms,” Cummins mentioned in response to Sharma’s complaints, to laughter from the press gallery.
Former England greats imagine the Ashes is nicely and actually alive and the collection has the makings of an all-time traditional like in 2005.
“They’re one-third of the way there — and they’ve got a template to win the last two Tests too,” Michael Vaughan wrote within the UK Telegraph.
“It is so difficult to win an Ashes series away from home and Australia were tantalisingly close. To pick themselves up from this psychological blow will be a huge challenge for Pat Cummins and his side.
“Mark Wood was a revelation at Headingley. He had the Aussies rattled — not just the tail, who he blew away, but also the top order.”
Former England captain Nasser Hussain mentioned within the Daily Mail: “The 2-1 scoreline is a pretty accurate reflection of how the series has gone. England have relinquished some massive opportunities and today Australia will be feeling the boot is on the other foot.
“They will leave Leeds asking: how did we lose? Just as England have done in the previous two matches. Equally, 3-0 would not have been a fair representation of events.
“Yes, Australia have lost three important tosses and had the worse of conditions, but it has been much tighter than that and this result sets it up beautifully going to Old Trafford.”
Succinct as ever, Cummins raised eyebrows after Headlingley when he refused to ensure David Warner’s place within the crew for the fourth Test in Manchester, which begins on Wednesday July 19.
After strong outings within the first two Tests, Warner is as soon as once more proving to be Stuart Broad’s bunny, leaving his spot within the crew in query.
Australia faces a variety of big choice calls with Cameron Green and quick bowler Josh Hazlewood already declared match for the Fourth Test in Manchester in 9 days.
Century-maker Mitch Marsh has created an surprising headache by delivering means above expectations with bat and ball – main one journalist to ask Cummins what he thought of “keeping Mitch and dumping David”.
After earlier being supportive of Warner, Cummins mentioned: “You keep all options open.”
When requested if it was potential Marsh could possibly be dropped for Green, Cummins mentioned: “It’s possible but it was a pretty impressive week, wasn’t it?”
Keeping each all-rounders might be the transfer that will excite Aussie cricket followers essentially the most, though Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw are former Test openers and within the squad in England.
Elevating Marsh or Travis Head to open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja could be a method to maintain each all-rounders in Marsh and Green within the facet, however it will be a daring name from the selectors.
Source: www.news.com.au
