Cummins' bumper barrage rattles England

Friday, 16 August 2019:

PAT CUMMINS
PAT CUMMINS


Pat Cummins demonstrated just why he is ranked the No.1 Test bowler in world cricket with a venomous spell that had England's batsmen hopping around the crease at Lord's.

Cummins finished with figures of 3-61 from 21 overs as England were dismissed for 258 after Australia won the toss and elected to field in the rain-affected match that saw the opening day washed out.

England recovered to record a competitive total after slumping to 6-138 following Cummins' dismissal of Rory Burns for 53 that had led to a collapse of three wickets for 22 runs.

Joe Denly (30) and Burns both suffered blows to the body from Cummins and the outstanding Josh Hazlewood, who marked his return to the side with three wickets as the Australian quicks worked desperately to get something out of a sluggish pitch.

Burns, who revealed he was warned by Nathan Lyon early in the day to be prepared for some chin music, followed up his century at Edgbaston with a more assured innings.

But that was ended by a stunning short-leg catch from Cameron Bancroft after the opener fended off another a brutish delivery from Cummins only to see the West Australian dive full length and grab the ball millimetres from the ground.

Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes guided England to tea without any further losses before Tim Paine handed the ball to his big quick for an unbroken seven-over stint.

Woakes, who scored 74 runs in the match in the series opener, had looked reasonably untroubled from the moment he joined Bairstow in the middle

But that all changed in the space of seven balls as a fired-up Cummins had him ducking and weaving in a hostile spell.

The first ball of the over was called wide by umpire Aleem Dar and Woakes was rattled by the second as he just managed to duck and avoid the ball.

After mishooking for a fortunate six that flew over the slips, Cummins then softened up the allrounder further with a brute of a delivery that thudded into his helmet.

The Australian slip cordon and Cummins immediately went to check on Woakes as the England team doctor came out to conduct a mandatory concussion check and issue him with a new helmet.

But any sympathy immediately ended with another short-pitched ball that Woakes awkwardly flipped down the leg side.

Sniffing blood, Cummins steamed in again from the pavilion end and brought Woakes' vigil to a close for 32 when another rising ball grazed his glove and was caught by Paine behind the stumps.

Woakes' departure brought debutant Jofra Archer to the crease and Cummins' welcomed his fellow quick to Test cricket by forcing to duck for cover.

Ten runs later Archer was gone, handing Cummins his third wicket as he squared up by a ball that caught the shoulder of his bat and Usman Khawaja took a smart running catch.






AAP






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