SPEED THRILLS
AUSTRALIA V PAKISTAN Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood too hot for Pakistan to handle
Aushtralia’s Pace attack turned it on during day one of the first Test of the season at the Gabba yesterday. Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood combined for nine wickets as Pakistan was dismissed for 240 just before stumps.
MITCHELL Starc roared back following his Ashes snubbing with a career-reviving performance at the Gabba.
If not for some fluky placement from 16-year-old Naseem Shah facing the first ball of his Test career, Starc might have marked his return with a stunning maiden hat-trick.
Shah survived … just … but six overs later Starc nailed him anyway and finished with dominant figures of 4-52 which showcased the fact Australia’s dynamic left-armer might bounce back from the most disappointing chapter of his career a better bowler.
Starc’s dynamic display came as comrades Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were hailed the equal of any fast bowling double-act in history.
Pakistan’s openers dug in to turn the first Test into a war of attrition in the opening session, before Cummins and Hazlewood launched a brutal counter-attack that left the tourists shell shocked.
Five wickets fell for 19 runs after lunch and the day finished with Pakistan out for 240.
Pakistan great Wasim Akram said he was shocked Starc was left out of four of Australia’s five Ashes Tests, and lauded the return of one of Test cricket’s most devastating matchwinners.
“He is one of the premier bowlers in world cricket right now,” said Fox Cricket expert, Akram. “He swings the ball, he’s got pace, he’s tall and has one of the best yorkers in world cricket.”
All those features were on display as he out boxed a Pakistan outfit that was fearless at stages, but at others, flimsy.
Australia has produced dynamic duos like Lillee-Thomson and McGrath-Gillespie over the years, but former England captain Michael Vaughan believes HazlewoodCummins is the equal of any of the great partnerships.
Debate continues to rage about whether the world’s No.1 bowler Cummins should be promoted to open the bowling.
But he showed his rare talent as a player who can simply make things happen — making the first breakthrough when he found something no one else could in the wicket to snare opener Shan Masood.
Vaughan said Cummins and Hazlewood make Australia a formidable opponent, no matter what question marks hover over the batting order.
“What Australia have is an outstanding bowling attack,” said Vaughan. “I think the combination of Cummins and Hazlewood in particular is right up there with the best.
“You can go back throughout all the ages of Test match cricket from the 70s to the 80s to the 90s to now. That pairing is one as a batsman that you’re going to have to be at your best to try and overcome it.”
Lee is adamant Cummins should open the bowling, but CricViz statistics supported the approach taken by captain Tim Paine, which is that Starc and Hazlewood need the new ball.
Cummins record changes very little no matter how old the red rock in his hands. The science is working well at the moment.
Australia made a tactical breakthrough when Tim Paine successfully reviewed a caught behind appeal from Starc that had not excited the fast bowler.
During the Ashes, Australia battled to get their reviews right, and their wasting of chances was a damaging factor in them losing the third Test at Headingley.
Captain Paine indicated Australia has a new strategy.
Australia got a lucky break when umpires gave Cummins the benefit of the doubt for the caught behind of Mohammad Rizwan, when replays appeared to show it was a frontfoot no-ball.