Ashes 2021-22: Really Proud Of Everyone - Pat Cummins On Australia's Nine-Wicket Victory Against England

Australia Test captain Pat Cummins said he was proud of his teammates after their nine-wicket win against England in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.

Australia were dominant on the first two days. First, they bundled up England for 147 with Cummins, leading the team in his first game, registered figures of 5/38.

On Day 2, riding on a breathtaking 100th century by Travis Head (152) with some great batting by David Warner (94) and Marnus Labushagne (74), Australia achieved a huge lead of 278.

England were looking to claw their way back into the game on the third day after skipper Joe Root and Dawid Malan’s resistance in an unbeaten 112-run stand.

But some incredulous bowling by Nathan Lyon turned the shape of the game as the off-spinner returned with figures of 4/91 and also completed 400 Test wickets.

It is a sign of a really positive group: Pat Cummins

England were bowled out for 297 with a minuscule lead of 19 runs, the hosts took just 5.1 overs to chase the score. Cummins was delighted with his teammates’ performance and said it is a sign of a positive group.

“Really enjoyed it, a lot of things did go right, probably from the toss, overcast conditions, the wicket had a bit in it and to turn up on day 2 – under blue skies, someone’s smiling over me. Really proud of everyone,” Cummins said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

“A really complete performance, the bowlers did everything on day 1 and Marnus-Davey with a big partnership and the way Travis played, it is a sign of a really positive group. I was happy everyone stuck to it – we bowled without much luck yesterday, fair with all the luck on day 1,” he added.

Travis Head is still young but is an old pro: Pat Cummins

South Australian batter Head played a counter-attacking innings of 152 in the first innings. The southpaw mainly targeted Ben Stokes and Jack Leach with an array of strokes to bring up his third Test hundred (first in Ashes) in 85 balls.

Cummins mentioned that Head has the ability of changing the game and called him an old pro of the game.

“That’s why we want him in the side, he can take the game away in a couple of hours, we have seen him do it for South Australia. He averages 45 now, he is still young but is an old pro with the amount of first-class cricket he has played and hopefully he is away now [on Travis Head],” Cummins said.

The second Ashes Test will be played at the Adelaide Oval starting on December 16 as Australia will go in the game with a 1-0 lead.

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