PAK vs AUS: "Pat Cummins Is Head & Shoulders Above The Rest" - Josh Hazlewood

Australian captain Pat Cummins was the hero of Australia’s win in the second Test against Pakistan and picked up a ten-wicket haul in the match. Cummins took fifers in both the innings and wrote the script of Australia’s 79-run win. Australia once again gave proof of their dominance in Test cricket and has taken yet another step to defend their World Test Championship title.

The Australian team has taken an unassailable lead in the three-match series and the third Test will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney from January 3. While Pat Cummins showcased absolute dominance in the second Test, Josh Hazlewood took two wickets in the match and created pressure on the Pakistani batting lineup.

Josh Hazlewood lauds Pat Cummins

Josh Hazlewood was left mesmerized by Pat Cummins‘ wicket-taking skills during the second Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Hazlewood believes that Cummins is a full package and he has a knack of picking up wickets in every Test match.

Speaking to ABC Grandstand, Josh Hazlewood said, “Patty is just head and shoulders above (the rest). He is the full package. He does it every day, every spell.”

Pakistan batsman Babar Azam is the most important part of their batting lineup and was playing well during the second innings of the second Test while chasing down 317 runs. It was Josh Hazlewood who got Babar out for 41 runs and it was a huge breakthrough for the hosts.

Australian captain Pat Cummins also admitted that Babar Azam’s wicket was huge and stated that Josh Hazlewood’s temperament in the whole match was great. Cummins said after winning the match, “That (Babar Azam’s wicket) was huge. For the major part of the day, he (Josh Hazlewood) was stuck down the wind, but, he just took it upon himself, that was huge and went up another gear I think. He showed his class. I think he has got Babar’s wicket a fair few times but that one is top of the list I reckon.”

Pakistan had lost the first Test match in Perth by over 350 runs and repeated the same mistakes during the second Test as well which later resulted in their defeat. Pakistan has never won a Test in Australia since 1995 and it was their 16th loss in the country.

The Pakistani team now will want to avoid the whitewash in Sydney and win its first Test match in Australia after 1995.

Big names such as Imam ul-Haq, Babar Azam, and Shaheen Shah Afridi also need to step up as their inconsistency has also been a major reason behind Pakistan’s failure. Babar was just able to score 42 runs in the second Test and is yet to score a big hundred against a big team.

Shaheen Shah Afridi’s pace and swing have declined ever since he made a return from his injury whereas Imam ul-Haq has not been able to give a proper opening start to the Pakistani team for a while.

Australia on the other hand will aim yet another whitewash against Pakistan when they play in Sydney.