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Cummins's Key Interventions
Cummins's Key Interventions
Cummins taught about match conditions after the match in a press conference.
The game was tight. After Rishabh Pant got out, causing a quick loss of wickets, Yashasvi Jaiswal stood strong, a big obstacle for Australia who needed to win the series. With 24 overs left and Jaiswal close to another century, the huge crowd at the MCG (over 74,000 people) was tense.
With 12 overs before the new ball was available, and while Nathan Lyon kept bowling and Scott Boland's good spell was ending, Australia's captain, Pat Cummins, who hadn't bowled in the second session, decided to take action. Jaiswal had to go.
With just one ball, Cummins saw the ball was moving in the air (reversing). Sensing a key moment, he took control. First, as captain, he brought Mitchell Starc into the bowling attack, even though Lyon was bowling well. Then, as a bowler, Cummins made a plan. At first, he tried to keep Jaiswal quiet, sometimes bowling a short, fast ball (bouncer). He cleverly hid the ball in his left hand, making his deliveries harder to read. It looked like he was going to bowl a full ball that would swing in towards Jaiswal. But instead, Cummins bowled a slower bouncer, using his fingers to trick Jaiswal into a bad shot that led to him getting caught out. Even though there was some debate about the dismissal, Cummins's clever tactics were almost forgotten.
This is a typical "Cummins intervention"—something he does often. He's very good at spotting important moments in a game and taking advantage of them. He'd already done it earlier in the match. On Day 5, he bowled an extra over in a spell, using the pressure he'd put on Rohit Sharma to get him out with the first ball. He also got KL Rahul out with a perfect delivery, changing the game's direction.
This isn't just about this one game. A year before at the MCG, he stopped Pakistan from winning by getting key players out at important times. He did it again against Pakistan in early 2022, changing the course of a long Test series with timely wickets. He's been doing this for years, like his great spells against Joe Root at Old Trafford in 2019, and throughout that Ashes series.
Since he became captain, this ability has become even stronger. It's not just his bowling; he also helps with his batting. He played important innings at Edgbaston in the 2023 Ashes, slowing down England's strong play. He scored important runs in Christchurch and at the MCG, showing he's a valuable all-rounder. He's amazing at performing well under pressure, when Australia is struggling.
Because he can do this so consistently, opposing teams can never relax, even if they're winning. Because when needed, Pat Cummins will step up. He will sense the moment. And he will take control. It's what he's known for.
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