Cummins continues comeback
Six years since he made a splash on debut as a teenager before being sidelined due to persistent injury woes, the focus on Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins’s comeback in the Ranchi Test was whether his body would hold.
But well into his second match in this series, he has not just eased into the shoes of the injured Mitchell Starc, Cummins has left Indian batsmen with plenty to ponder with his pace and hostility.
On the second day in the Dharamsala Test, he steamed in to return figures of 21-5-59-1. He clocked in excess of 90 mph, generated bounce and late movement to trouble the batsmen. Although he picked only one wicket, his spell has given the Aussies a slight advantage.
Cummins’ discipline ensured India didn’t score quickly. The first session saw the very best of Cummins. He got KL Rahul to edge a full delivery that swung away, but Matt Renshaw failed to take the chance at slip. Cummins bowled his best to Rahul, giving away just 20 runs in nine overs bowled to him. He won a battle of attrition with Rahul (60) though in the afternoon.
The 23-year-old had an interesting battle with Ajinkya Rahane too. When he came in, Rahane was peppered with short deliveries.
The first bouncer almost lured Rahane, and the next was pulled to midwicket for four. The third gave Cummins moral victory as Rahane slogged at a bouncer to top edge for six. Rahane edged another shortish ball but luckily it went over the slips.
He saw Wriddhiman Saha also put down by Renshaw, off the second new ball. His combined figures with Josh Hazlewood (39-11-99-2) at an economy rate of 2.54 was the key to Australia restricting India.
In Ranchi, Cummins took four wickets, three off bouncers.
Before the Dharamsala Test, Australia skipper Steve Smith said: “His body is holding up well. Before leaving, he had a precautionary scan in Delhi. It was great to see him get through a Test match the way he did. To bounce the Indian batsmen on that wicket (Ranchi) was pretty impressive. Hopefully, we can get to see a big impact from him.”