Australia v West Indies: Australia’s bowling attack earns legend status after Pat Cummins’ 200th wicket
Australia’s bowling attack etched its name in cricket folklore when Pat Cummins took 200th Test wicket in Perth. Re-live all the day three action.
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Pat Cummins has praised Perth icon Dennis Lillee for rebuilding his career as Australia’s bowlers created history by becoming the first quartet in history to each take 200 Test wickets.
In Lillee’s home city Cummins conquered a milestone which may never have happened had the master not intervened to sprinkle the stardust over a career once threatened by repeated breakdowns.
Cummins joined Lillee in Australia’s illustrious 200-Test wicket club on Friday with a rip-snorter of a delivery to West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite, reminiscent of the pearler which clipped the bails of Joe Root to seal the 2019 Ashes at Old Trafford.
The 44 Tests it’s taken Cummins to get to 200 is a quicker rate than it took partners’ in crime Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and a host of other all-time greats – and only marginally behind Australia’s greatest fast bowler Lillee himself, who powered there in 38 matches.
Cummins finished with 3-34 as Starc also claimed three wickets to now be within 10 of entering the 300 club, as Australia led by 344 runs with David Warner (17 not out) and Marnus Labuschagne (3 not out) to resume at 1-29 after Cummins decided against enforcing the follow on day three.
The Australian foursome of Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon now possess a unique place in the history of the game – not even the great Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath led Australian attacks, or the super cartels of the West Indies and Pakistan have ever fielded four bowlers each possessing 200-Test wickets.
“We just heard that five minutes ago and were trying to think of other bowling attacks thinking that stat wasn’t right,” said Cummins.
“It’s great. The three other guys are three of my best mates. We all get along so well.
“Again it’s not just the time out in the middle, it’s the amount of dinners and nights in physio rooms hanging out together.
“It’s a really special group we’ve got going. We just have so much confidence in each other. Even today, just felt so relaxed the whole day that once you finished your spell someone else was going to step up.”
The fact no one has taken 200 wickets for Australia with a better average (21.5) or strike rate (47.1) than Cummins is testament to his place in the pantheon of all time greats.
The GOAT takes another step.
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 2, 2022
Next up: @ashwinravi99 😉#AUSvWIpic.twitter.com/I9FS7MDSjG
But what the numbers don’t show is the soul-destroying eight-year gap between Cummins 2011 Test debut and his second Test against India in 2017, and how in that time Lillee came to the rescue in one of Australian cricket’s most significant acts of mentorship.
After long sessions in the nets straightening up his action and taking pressure off his troubled back following multiple breakdowns, a young Cummins would return for dinner at the Lillee house after which he would stand up to clear the table and pack the dishwasher – endearing him to Dennis’ wife Helen, who told him he was welcome back any time.
And although Cummins’ joked in an interview with cricket.com.au that those long nights with Lillee has left him with an expensive red wine habit, the benefits of bonding with the King of Perth have been career-defining.
Cummins’ captaincy might have become the focus of the last 12 months, but his magic moment on day three against the West Indies was a timely reminder of his skill, pace, game-breaking ability and tenacity.
“Incredible. It’s pretty crazy. There’s still plenty of guys I know who have taken 300, 400, 700 wickets, so comparing numbers doesn’t seem as significant as others, but when I think of wickets I think of longevity and knowing I had a bit of time out of the game, it’s always a nice realisation,” said Cummins on Friday.
“DK has been awesome. He’s not here in Perth this week, he’s away, but I’ve chatted to him a few times.
“I think that rebuilding phase gave me the confidence I could come back a better bowler and I think over the years, chatting to him over the phone, he’s seen it all before.
“Having someone like him in my corner giving some words of encouragement, some words of technique advice every now and then is awesome.”
Australia’s big quicks combined forces on an arduous day of Test cricket to eventually bowl the West Indies out for 283 in 98.2 overs, with Australia taking a 315-run first innings lead before Usman Khawaja fell cheaply.
Cummins admits it’s unrealistic in the modern age for teams to enforce the follow on.
“You always bowl better when you’re slightly fresher. Day five is normally harder than day three or four. There’s really not too many instances where the follow on is realistic,” said Cummins.
“I think some of the commentators like day fives off, so that’s normally why they talk about it! But it’s not normally very really realistic.”
Hazlewood struck to remove impressive West Indian opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul in the first over on day three, but not even the early setback could crush the spirit shown by the fighting visitors.
Brathwaite was gutsy on his way to 64, while Nkrumah Bonner attempted to soldier on after being hammered on the helmet by a rapid Cameron Green bouncer – before eventually retiring hurt and being ruled out of the match with concussion.
“He’s recovering. He’s not the worst from speaking to him. And I’d just like to wish him well,” said Windies batsman Shamarh Brooks about Bonner.
Re-live all the day three action below
WICKET: KHAWAJA OUT FOR 5
That isn’t the start the Aussies were after.
Usman Khawaja is on his bike after being caught behind off Kemar Roach.
The opener appeared caught in two minds as to whether to play at the ball or leave it.
Instead of making a definitive decision, he did neither and only managed to catch a faint edge.
That brings Marnus Labuschagne back to the crease, fresh off a monster first innings score.
LATE COLLAPSE ASSURES AUSSIES OF MASSIVE FIRST INNINGS LEAD
It took a little longer than some expected but the Aussies have finally got the better of this West Indies batting line-up.
It was a wild final 10 overs, with Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon combining to destroy the lower order.
The tourists lost their final three wickets within 10 balls and now trail by 315 runs after the first innings.
Despite the huge lead, Aussie skipper Pat Cummins will not enforce the follow on.
Cummins and Starc were the pick of the Aussie attack, each taking three wickets.
Four West Indies batsmen passed 30 but none were able to go on and post a big score.
PONTING TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AS HEALTH SCARE ROCKS TEST
Ricky Ponting has been taken to hospital after suffering a heart scare on day three of the first Test in Perth.
STARC AGAIN! AUSSIES FLYING AFTER DOUBLE STRIKE
That man again! Mitchell Starc has the new rock swinging and the West Indies have no answers.
This time it is Joshua Da Silva who fails to account for an in-swinging delivery and his stumps are a mess!
The Aussies are cooking now. Would captain Pat dare to enforce the follow on?
WICKET! AUSSIES STRIKE AFTER TEA
Mitchell Starc has given the Aussies the perfect start after the tea break, removing Jermaine Blackwood for a gutsy 36.
It wasn’t without some drama though, with Blackwood reviewing the LBW call as the ball appeared to be swinging down the leg side.
However, ball tracking showed the ball just clipping leg stump. And we mean JUST!!
That’s an important break for the Aussies. The lead is still above 350 and they’d be thinking about blitzing through this lower order.
WICKET: LYON TRAP; BONNER RULED OUT
He survived a controversial review but Jason Holder (27) is heading back to the pavilion, falling to a brilliant piece of cricket.
With the new ball due just after tea, Lyon is tossed the ball and delivers for Australia.
Coming around the wicket, Holder falls into Lyon’s trap, clipping the deliver to David Warner at leg slip. Sharp catch from the ‘Bull’ or is he the ‘Priest’?
Isha Guha called it: “The change of line brings a wicket and Jason Holder falls for the trap.”
Fox Sports commentator Kerry O’Keeffe praised the method of the wicket.
“That’s why he (Lyon) set the leg slip.”
“He knows Holder likes to hit with an open face so he changed his angle to around the wicket.
“Good piece of thinking, great piece of bowling. That’s a big pole, he looked dangerous Jason Holder.”
The Australian’s cricket editor Peter Lalor has given an update on Nkrumah Bonner, the West Indies first drop who retired hurt in the first session.
It appears he’s in, then out...
“We just had an announcement in the press box that (Bonner) was ready to bat...”
“We look down there and we’ve just had another announcement that the concussion sub has been activated and he’s not ready to bat!”
West Indies cricket confirms Shamarh Brooks, who is at the crease, replaces Bonner as the concussion sub.
UPDATE
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) December 2, 2022
Shamarh Brooks replaces Nkrumah Bonner as concussion substitute for the match. Brooks comes in to bat after fall of Jason Holder’s wicket#AUSvWI
OUT OR NOT OUT? CONFUSION HITS OVER DRS
Confusion has hit Perth with a controversial overrule of an Australian wicket.
Jason Holder was initially given out LBW off a stunning delivery from Josh Hazlewood.
However, the West Indian immediately challenged the decision and was adamant he wasn’t out.
First replays indicated there was no edge, with the ball cannoning into Holder’s back pad.
However, snicko did show a very small spike as the ball went past the bat. That was despite there appearing to be some daylight between the two.
Adding to the confusion, hot spot showed no sign of contact with the bat.
The Australian players didn’t appear too impressed with the decision and approached on-field umpire Rod Tucker.
He was picked up by the stump microphone saying, “No use arguing with me, I gave it out”.
For Fox Cricket, Adam Gilchrist said:
“I thought on making the decision for that review Jason Holder pointed at his leg indicating to his batting partner, almost saying ‘Do you think it was too high? It sort of hit me in a high spot.’
“There is a spike but there is certainly a gap between bat and pad.
“He would have felt it hitting him on the back leg.”
And just for an extra layer of intrigue, Tucker initially gave Holder out after the review before quickly reversing his decision.
WICKET: AUSSIES SMELL BLOOD IN THE WATER
Mitchell Starc follows his skipper’s lead, knocking over new batsman Kyle Mayers (1) with a searing delivery.
Mark Waugh praises Starc’s ability to identify and target weaknesses in his opponents: “Always a danger ball - full and straight.”
“ Just didn’t look like Mayers was fully switched on and against Starc he’s going to work on any weakness.
“114km/h and right on target and all of a sudden the Aussies smell a bit of blood in the water.”
West Indies have lost 2 for 7 since Kraigg Brathwaite’s dismissal.
Australia has a golden opportunity to skittle the tourists with plenty of time left in this session.
Former captain Jason Holder comes to the crease. The big all-rounder’s experience is the West Indies final hope of postings a competitive total.
The gap between bat and pad was found - with devastating effect! #OhWhatAFeeling#AUSvWI | @Toyota_Auspic.twitter.com/D52JHvUkYp
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 2, 2022
WICKET! CAPTAIN CUMMINS TAKES 200
Pat Cummins takes his 200th wicket with an absolute peach.
The captain removes West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (64) with a replica of the delivery that removed Joe Root in the 2019 Ashes series.
Cummins just has that knack of angling into the right hander and hitting the top of off stump. Incredible delivery.
And with that wicket, Australia becomes the first Test team to field four players with 200 wickets. Could you make an argument this is Australia’s greatest attack? Fox Sports commentator believes its pretty close.
• Pat Cummins 200 Test wickets
• Mitch Starc 287 Test wickets
• Josh Hazlewood 215 Test Wickets
• Nathan Lyon 438 Test wickets
Test wicket No. 1 & 200 for Pat Cummins. 💪 #AUSvWIpic.twitter.com/19Z4BfEtpa
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 2, 2022
It quite literally doesn’t get any better than that from Cummins #AUSvWI
— Tim Widdowson (@timwiddowson11) December 2, 2022
Wicket 200 for Cummins arrives with a replica of the Joe Root delivery. His signature. #AusvWI
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) December 2, 2022
Pat cummins you’re not allowed to do that. Save it for Joe Root in England. What a peach.
— Old Sport Podcast (@OldSportPod) December 2, 2022
#AUSvWI
LUNCH: WEST INDIES 1/150
That is lunch here at Perth Stadium and the honours for that session go to the tourists.
The West Indies have moved to 1-150, an awesome effort given the tricky session they were forced to face last night.
Captain Kraigg Brathwaite moved past 50, with his eyes set on notching his 11 international Test century.
The only negative that session was Nkrumah Bonner being forced to retire hurt after being hit by a Cam Green bouncer.
Australia’s lead is still 448 runs. What will it be at stumps?
JUSTICE FOR JL’: SECURITY REMOVES PRO-LANGER BANNER
Optus Stadium security sources have confirmed they removed a Justin Langer protest sign on day three of the first Test because of its controversial nature.
A group of Perth teenagers have admitted surprise that stadium security deemed a “JUSTICE FOR JL” sign they were displaying over the fence at the bottom of The Justin Langer Stand offensive enough to remove from them on Friday.
Optus Stadium has claimed the sign was removed because it was overlapping commercial signage, however that assertion was strongly denied by security sources who spoke to News Corp on the condition of anonymity.
News Corp has been told that stadium control issued a message to security to remove the sign due to the nature of what was being displayed.
There’s no doubt the sign was a provocative message in the context of the controversial build-up to the Test, but it would be a stretch to say it contravened Cricket Australia’s terms and conditions which stipulates; “I will not wear or otherwise display commercial, political, religious or offensive signage or logos.”
The teenagers on the fence said the sign was not there’s, but had been given to them by another patron to display.
After the sign was removed by security, the boys started a chant “WE WANT JUSTICE”, followed by another chant of “JUSTIN LANGER.”
However, the boys were not spoken to about anti-social behaviour, and the bay was in fact yelling out support of the Australian players on the field.
The teenagers spoken to by News Corp were not upset by the sign removal, and were happy to get on enjoying their day, but admitted surprise that the message JUSTICE FOR JL was deemed offensive.
The teenagers confirmed that security had told them the sign was being removed due to its message and denied Optus Stadium’s assertion that it was due to it covering commercial signage.
The offending JUSTICE FOR JL banner has been stored at the ground and is available to be picked up by the teenagers should they want it back after play.
Ex-players were bracing for the prospect of anti-social behaviour from Perth fans towards the players this week due to loyalty to local hero Langer.
However, there’s been no evidence of that and players have been well supported.
BONNER RETIRES HURT AFTER NASTY KNOCK
Nkrumah Bonner is retiring hurt.
Details are still coming through at the moment but the number three batsman did get a nasty knock to the head in Cameron Green’s first over.
That was about 20 minutes ago but at the drinks break, he has decided to retire.
He will be assessed as the day goes on. If he is ruled out through concussion, a substitute can come into the game for him.
He was looking great in the middle. That is a big blow for the West Indies.
STATE OF PLAY: WEST INDIES 1/105
The West Indies have done an outstanding job to steady things after that early wicket.
Nkrumah Bonner had some rough moments when he first walked to the crease but he has looked solid for the past 45 minutes.
He has moved to 13 and is ticking the scoreboard over nicely.
Kraigg Brathwaite is the anchor at the other end of the crease, with his 30 runs coming off 110 balls.
It feels like the West Indies’ plan is just to survive as much of today as possible.
INJURY STRIKES AUSSIE ALL-ROUNDER
Australian star all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has joined Glenn Maxwell in being ruled out for the entire BBL with injury.
Marsh has undergone ankle surgery to fix a long standing issue and will miss three months of action, with a view to getting himself right for the build-up to next year’s 50-over World Cup.
Maxwell has been the biggest drawcard in BBL history and Marsh another leading light and their losses are profound.
WICKET: HAZLEWOOD HANDS AUSSIES DREAM START
Talk about the perfect start.
Through the brilliance of Josh Hazlewood, Australia has a wicket in the first over with Tagenarine Chanderpaul caught in the slips for 51.
That was a serious over.
Hazlewood hit the right length from the opening ball and had Chanderpaul playing and missing multiple times.
On the final delivery, he caught the edge and Warner swallowed it at first slip.
Dream start for the Aussies and a disaster for the West Indies.
TURNING POINT THAT STARTED WEST INDIES’ CRICKET DEMISE
Robert Craddock
Former Test fast bowler Merv Hughes always enjoys raising a smile with his work as a colourful guest speaker … except for one line.
When Hughes says “the best team I faced was the West Indies’’ he sometimes notes a smile or a giggle in the room as if people think it’s a joke and are waiting for the punchline.
But if you are Hughes’ age (61) or older there is no punchline because back in the day the punches were so often flying at windmill force in Australia’s direction.
There was not a lot to smile about the brutal treatment the mighty West Indian teams of the 1970s, 80s and early 90s dished out – not simply on Australia but the entire world.
Chances are the smiles are coming from cricket fans under the age of 40 who cannot be blamed for not recalling the carnage.
It is, after all, 30 years this summer since the West Indies won a Test series against Australia and an astonishing six series since they won a solitary Test against the baggy greens, a drought which seems set to continue following the work of Labuschagne, Smith and company in Perth.
It’s a stark contrast to the old days when the West Indies went 15 years (1980-95) without being beaten in a series – not just by Australia. By anyone. Twenty nine series in a row without a loss. Extraordinary.
Hughes spins yarns about that era when he and great mate Tony Dodemaide were copping it from great opening batsmen Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes and looked up to the scoreboard and realised even if they did take a wicket things may even get worse … with Richie Richardson and Viv Richards next to come.
“I am not sure what has happened but I know a lot of the West Indian countries struggle financially with their cricket,’’ Hughes said.
“I remember West Indian players telling me many years ago that kids over there were watching a lot of American sports on television. I heard Curtly Ambrose say he wanted to play basketball but he only played cricket because his mother told him to play cricket … I hate his mother!’’
Remarkably, the Perth contest is the first Test between Australia and the West Indies in seven years and the gap says everything about Australia’s desire not to play them unless they have to.
It’s a far cry from the Windies wonder days of the 1970s when Kerry Packer tried to get them to Australia every year.
The stunning thing about the West Indies fate was not so much how far they fell but how they ever dominated to such a remarkable extent in the first place given that islands such as Antigua, Barbados and Trinidad are separate nations bound together by cricket and little else.
Many reasons are given for the Windies demise but one turning point in their fortunes came when English counties started losing interest in signing players from the Caribbean in the 1990s.
A legion of great West Indian players such as Richards and Joel Garner (Somerset), Malcolm Marshall (Hampshire), Michael Holding (Lancashire and Derbyshire) and Ambrose (Northamptonshire) learnt their craft in England.
But West Indian players have since fallen out of favour with English counties and England itself.
The next Future Tours Program contains no England Test tour of the West Indies which was once one of the great journeys in cricket, a hint that the slide of the once greatest cricket outfit of all time will only continue.
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