Pat Cummins is a great cricket player, but he also has a great mind that helps him handle pressure. Michael Vaughan Before the first Ashes 2023 Test at Edgbaston, there was a lot of talk about England’s “Bazball” style of play. Even though sticking with the same plan helped them at different points, Australia won the final game to go up 1-0 in the series. After the game, some people have started to criticise the Bazball plan, while others have said that England should keep doing what has worked for them in the past.
Michael Vaughan, a former England captain, thought that Ben Stokes and the rest of the team could be a little more careful when they play the second Test at Lord’s next week. In fact, Vaughan also thought that Australia might set up their pitch a little bit more aggressively in the second Test. In particular, Pat Cummins took a defensive strategy against England by keeping fielders on the boundaries even for new hitters.
“At Lord’s, I think both teams will make some small changes. I don’t think the Aussies will spread out as much in the first inning. They will squeeze even harder. I’ll be surprised if England doesn’t play a little bit more carefully. Bazball, I love. I love the excitement and what it has brought.
Michael Vaughan told Cricbuzz, “It’s now about winning and being a little bit smarter.”
The 48-year-old also told England that when they have Australia on the back foot, they should put on more pressure. He also thinks that the home team lost because they didn’t put enough pressure on the other team when the game was close.
“When an Australian team is behind, you have to drive it down and nail them down even more. It just didn’t happen in England.” Pat Cummins set an excellent example by taking four wickets in England’s second innings, which reduced their lead to just 280. But he was not done yet. Cummins hit a great 44* in the second innings while under pressure, which helped Australia win the match by two wickets.
Vaughan praised Cummins’s effort in all areas and pointed out that his four wickets in England’s second innings gave Australia a chance to win.
“He has done it many times before. Australia had a chance to win the Test match because of his four wickets in the second test. He bowled well on a calm track and led from the front in the first Ashes Test match played away from home. It’s a big deal that he led his team to victory.
“Those two sixes by Pat Cummins—I was on the deck and thought that they were going to tie. He stopped Joe Root’s first two balls. Something has changed in the stands all of a sudden. Brilliant. Pat Cummins is a great cricket player, but he also has a great mind that helps him handle pressure.
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