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‘We’re back to our best’: Cummins, Labuschagne bullish after Australia square series
By Tom Decent
From the “worst Test team ever”, as Marnus Labuschagne sarcastically summed up media criticism, to big winners in Adelaide, Australian captain Pat Cummins believes his side are back to their ruthless best after a 10-wicket victory in Adelaide that levelled the Border-Gavaskar series and set the stage for a tantalising showdown at the Gabba.
After 10 days of intense scrutiny following the team’s 295-run loss in Perth, Australia were consistently impressive across just seven sessions of one-sided cricket in Adelaide to swing momentum back their way in what is becoming a gripping series.
“Great week. Great to level the series,” said Cummins, who picked up 5-57 in the second innings and seven wickets for the match. “I think this week we were back to our best. That’s the team that I remember in how we want to play our cricket, so really satisfying.”
Australia’s world No.1 ranking did not prevent them from being on the receiving end of criticism from fans and former players alike after a heavy defeat in the opening Test.
No player had their spot in the side questioned more than No.3 Marnus Labuschagne, who failure in Perth came after a string of low scores. But after a composed innings of 64 that set the foundations for Australia’s match-winning total of 337, Labuschagne’s comments after play on Sunday highlighted the siege mentality inside Australia’s dressing room.
“Last week we lost the Test and we were apparently the worst Test team ever,” Labuschagne said on Fox. “This week we finish on day three with the series at 1-1. We know how we’re going in there. It’s nice there is so much talk about the game.
Pat Cummins celebrates his fifth wicket on Sunday at the Adelaide Oval. Credit: Getty Images
“I just got back to doing what I do best, and it’s hitting lots and lots of cricket balls, looking at heaps of footage and working out where I felt like I was falling short.
“Externally, you know if you’re not playing well. You can’t hide from it … and you need to find a way out. I needed to stay true to myself.”
The win will be especially pleasing for the Australians given there was an added edge to the game, as evidenced by Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj’s fiery exchange on Saturday after the left-hander was bowled for 140.
Siraj was greeted by Head, wearing a helmet at short leg, when he came out to bat. The pair had a short conversation – possibly to discuss the events of the previous day.
Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj.Credit: Getty Images
Head, who was named man of the match, took the catch to dismiss Siraj for seven off the bowling of Scott Boland (3-51 from 8.5 overs) to wrap up the Indian second innings.
Cummins was, not for the first time, in awe of Head’s blistering innings.
“We’re so lucky he’s on our side because as a captain, I wouldn’t know how to bowl to him or set fields to him,” Cummins said. “He really took the game out of their hands. You know, he’s done it time and time again for us in many different formats. He’s super impressive.”
Resuming their second innings at 5-128 on Sunday, India’s hopes of a miracle comeback were dashed with the last ball of the first over on Sunday when Rishabh Pant (28) edged Starc (2-60) to Steve Smith at second slip.
Cummins, who picked up the key wickets of KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma the previous day, took the next three wickets – Ravichandran Ashwin (7), Harshit Rana (0) and Ntish Kumar Reddy (42) – to collect his 13th five-wicket haul in front of another healthy crowd of 33,184 at Adelaide Oval.
Nathan McSweeney (10 off 12) and Khawaja (nine off eight) made light work of the chase, with the latter pulling Siraj to the square leg boundary to square the five-Test series and ensure Australia maintained their perfect record with the pink ball.
Cummins described the day one performances of Starc and Boland, as Australia bowled India out for 180, as “Herculean”.
“Huge effort from those guys and they showed their class,” Cummins said. “I feel very lucky as a captain to have those guys. I’ve got a lot of tools at my disposal.”
Australia’s players will have a well-earned day off on Monday – some are likely to hit Adelaide’s golf courses – before travelling to Brisbane on Tuesday for the third Test starting on Friday.
Josh Hazlewood, who missed the second Test with a minor side strain, will bowl on Monday to assess his fitness.
“It’s going to plan so far. Fairly confident he’ll be right for Brisbane. We’ll know more in the next couple of days,” Cummins said. “If someone needs to make way, they’ll be pretty unlucky.”
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