Cummins pace hits Bangladesh hopes
PAT Cummins was electric in the Dhaka dirt yesterday in a scintillating spell of fast bowling that didn’t quite knock out Bangladesh, but sounded Ashes alarm bells for England.
An opening two-over onslaught of 3-5 to start the first Test left the hosts momentarily reeling and the old enemy on the other side of the world fearing what the Cummins express might do on Australian decks.
However, that frightening prospect will have to wait as a humidity-drained Australia were busy fighting their way out of what had the makings of an epic scrap against ninthranked Bangladesh.
In an absorbing opening day’s cricket, the plucky home side put its shoulder to the wheel after Cummins’ initial blitzkrieg and rebuilt gallantly from the decimation of 3-10 to be at least afloat at 5-190 at tea.
While Cummins was landing more blows than anything happening in Las Vegas, his fellow bowlers struggled to contain the brilliant 155-run partnership between Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, which threatened to turn the first Test played between the two nations in a decade on its head.
Glenn Maxwell broke up that party with a superb injection midway through the second session to claim Tamim for 71, and then Nathan Lyon got himself the well-earned scalp of the impressive Shakib for 84 to draw Australia’s off-spinning GOAT level with Richie Benaud on 248 Test wickets.
But on a pitch already misbehaving and taking significant turn, this Test has a long way to play out and Australia’s batting in spinning conditions is set to be put under the microscope.
The long-awaited return to Test cricket of Ashton Agar turned into a bizarre affair when the left-armer was given just three overs in the opening two sessions.
By the 48th over mark, Maxwell had bowled more overs than Agar, and Josh Hazlewood (0-39 from 15 overs) was the new go-to man for drying up the runs.
However, there is no second guessing who Australia’s spearhead is after Cummins bowled like Mitchell Johnson reincarnated.
On a pitch with very little bounce, pace or carry, Cummins made the ball sing right from the opening whistle, showcasing his enormous talent and why there’s simply no substitute for speed.
Cummins (3-52 from 14) had opener Soumya Sarkar caught at gully, and then got himself on a hat-trick when he bulldozed Sabbir Rahman and Imrul Kayes in successive deliveries, both for ducks.
The 23-year-old has scared batsmen in India and Bangladesh now on back-toback tours, a sight that’s sure to keep England’s top order lying awake at night.
The Test continues today.