PAK vs AUS: Pat Cummins Hints At Inclusion Of Second Spinner In Remaining Part Of Test Series
Published - 10 Mar 2022, 04:23 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:05 AM
Australia Test captain Pat Cummins hinted at including the second spinner in their team for the second Test match against Pakistan in Karachi.
The Australian team’s visit to Pakistan after nearly 24 years created hype around the globe but that didn’t stay up to its expectations as the first Test ended in a draw after batters from both sides had the edge over the bowlers.
A second spinner is probably the way to go: Pat Cummins
Australia played veteran spinner Nathan Lyon along with the bowling troika of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Cummins. Lyon could just pick the solitary wicket of Abdullah Shafique in both innings and also conceded 236 runs in the first Test.
Australia handed overs to part-time bowlers like Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head and Usman Khawaja rolled their arms when the frontline bowlers weren’t successful in getting the wickets.
Australia have the likes of Queensland leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson and Western Australia’s left-arm spinner, Ashton Agar, in their squad to back Lyon on the turning tracks of the subcontinent. Cummins said they might field a second spin bowler in the remaining two Tests of the series.
“From our intel in Karachi and Lahore, a second spinner is probably the way to go but we’ll have a look,” Cummins said in a press conference.
We’re still feeling relatively fresh going into the game: Pat Cummins
A total of 1187 runs were scored for just 14 wickets across three innings in the first Test. Australia posted 459 in the first innings in response to Pakistan’s 476/4 although none of the players from the tourist camp reached the three-figure mark, all of their top four batters scored half-centuries in the course of their fightback. Cummins said the team looked fresh going into the second Test match.
“Just about everyone got into the series. All the batters got some runs. We’re still feeling relatively fresh going into the game,” he said.
The second Test between Pakistan and Australia will be played at the National Stadium in Karachi, the match begins on March 12.
