In the two innings of the Ashes Test at Edgbaston, which the Australians won by two wickets, their respective scoring rates were 3.32 and 3.04. Ben Stokes and company, on the other hand, employed their famous “Bazball” strategy and tallied at 5.03 and 4.11. Usman Khawaja paved the way for Australia with a courageous 141 off 321 balls in the first inning and a crucial 65 off 197 balls in the second. While there has been much debate regarding which team has the best batting strategy, Australia’s 1-0 lead will give Pat Cummins’ squad a great deal of confidence as they attempt to retain the Ashes.
The Australian captain emphasised the importance of bowlers receiving recovery during Test matches. Their bowlers are not afforded much respite by England’s aggressive approach. The English bowlers bowled on all five days of the first Test, albeit for only four overs on Day 1. However, Australia’s batting style enables their bowlers to rest while keeping the opposing bowlers on the pitch for longer periods.
When asked about the possibility of wearing down England’s attack, Pat Cummins responded, “Potentially, for sure.” “I’ve played many back-to-back Tests, and you definitely feel much fresher when, in the first Test, you’ve had a large interval between both innings or you’ve only bowled 30 overs as opposed to 40 or 50. When we take the pitch, our primary objective is to score runs, regardless of how long it takes.
It is a tremendous honour to captain him [Nathan Lyon]. Pat Cummins
The right-arm seamer lauded Nathan Lyon, who would be playing his 100th consecutive Test at Lord’s. At Edgbaston, the off-spinner was outstanding, taking four wickets in each innings. Cummins admired Lyon for being “a man for all circumstances.”
Cummins remarked, “It’s a tremendous honour to captain him, he’s so easy – just throw him down one end and he bowls all day.” “In all conditions, being selected as one of the four bowlers is incredibly remarkable. Just as he is a man for all circumstances, he keeps getting better and more reliable.”
Australia won the first Test at Edgbaston and the second Test at Lord’s in the 2019 Ashes.
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