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Talking points from day four of the first Test between Australia and Pakistan

After attaining a horrid injury in his youth, one of Australia’s biggest cricket stars may be using the deformity to his advantage.

Nic Savage
4 min read
November 24, 2019 - 6:44PM
Australia started the home summer in fine fashion, comfortably defeating Pakistan by an innings and five runs.
Australia started the home summer in fine fashion, comfortably defeating Pakistan by an innings and five runs.

Tim Paine’s men secured a comprehensive victory over Pakistan in Brisbane to take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

After David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne compiled career-defining centuries in the first innings, Australia’s pace bowlers wrapped up the match to hand the hosts a comfortable win to start the home summer.

Here are some of the major talking points from day four of the first Test match between Australia and Pakistan.

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CUMMINS’ GRUESOME BOWLING AID

Fox Cricket commentator Adam Gilchrist revealed the gruesome details of how star paceman Pat Cummins lost the tip of his middle finger.

During his youth, Cummins’ sister slammed a door onto his hand, removing the nail on his right hand’s middle finger,

“He’s just missing the end of that finger. When he was a youngster, about three or four years old, his nail got slammed in a door; lost a centimetre off his middle finger,” Gilchrist said.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it.”

Pat Cummins has no nail on his middle finger after the incident in his childhood.
Pat Cummins has no nail on his middle finger after the incident in his childhood.

Fellow commentator Shane Warne pondered whether this ghastly incident may have assisted his bowling.

“Maybe he gets a bit of extra revs on it or something when it comes out of the hand — thank the sister,” Warne exclaimed.

Cummins is the No. 1 bowler in Test cricket, and has claimed 123 wickets at an impressive average of 21.45. The 26-year-old took 5/129 against Pakistan at Brisbane.

Former Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram mentioned how another firey quick, legendary bowler Waqar Younis, lost the tip of his left hand’s little finger after it was ripped off while jumping off a bridge in his youth.

Waqar went on to claim 373 wickets in a 14-year Test career.

Maybe it’s the secret to success.

ALL-TIME RECORD NEARS AT 31-YEAR FORTRESS

Australia has continued its incredible record at the Gabba, making it 31 games since the team lost at the ground.

The Gabba has always suited Australia’s cricketers — batsmen appreciate the consistent bounce and bowlers enjoy the extra spice provided by a bouncy deck.

And the side has exploited it to create the longest current streak without a loss and the second longest in history.

Touring nations have never been able to combat the apparent home-ground advantage.

While England boasts a formidable record at Edgbaston, it simply doesn’t compare to Australia’s impenetrable record in Brisbane.

The Gabba truly is a colosseum for the Australians — the stadium’s even shaped as such.

However, attendance remains an issue for the Brisbane-based ground. Only 45,991 attended the match over the four days of competition.

Although the Gabba is renowned for hosting the first Test of the Australian summer, it risks losing that honour in future seasons if ticket sales don’t improve.

There were plenty of empty seats at the Gabba this weekend.
There were plenty of empty seats at the Gabba this weekend.

LYON’S PAKISTANI HOODOO CONTINUES

Nathan Lyon has an impeccable record against India and Bangladesh in Test cricket, but for reasons unbeknownst to Australia’s strike spinner, he’s unable to replicate that form against Pakistan.

With the exception of one unforgettable spell in Abu Dhabi last year, the GOAT has a substandard record against Pakistan in Test cricket.

His bowling average against Pakistan is his worst among all opposition in Tests (50.82) and at the highest strike rate (one wicket every 92.7 deliveries).

Pakistan and New Zealand are the only Test nations Lyon is yet to claim a five-wicket haul against.

The off spinner typically flourishes on the bouncy Gabba deck — before this match, he averaged 28.68 with the ball in Brisbane, including 35 wickets.

However, Lyon was unable to find the same consistency against Pakistan, finishing the match with the modest figures of 2/114.

Nathan Lyon averages over 50 with the ball against Pakistan.
Nathan Lyon averages over 50 with the ball against Pakistan.

Legendary spin bowler Shane Warne criticised Lyon’s recent Test performances, but doesn’t believe selectors will be overly fazed by the apparent form slump.

“Nathan Lyon hasn’t been at his best I don’t think in this match. He’s probably struggled a few Tests when you think back to the Ashes series,” Warne said.

“But when the quickies are doing so well, he doesn’t need to do too much.”

Lyon has only taken 13 wickets in his last five Test matches at a mediocre average of 47.77.

The inclusion of multiple right-handed batsmen could be a factor in Lyon’s subpar performances against Pakistan — the 93-Test veteran averages under 25 against left-handed batsman in Test cricket, compared to over 38 against the right-handed.

BABAR’S PERPLEXING TEST RECORD

Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson — is it too soon to include Babar Azam in this list of today’s greatest batsmen?

Pakistan’s No. 5 showed his class on day four at the Gabba; his stroke play was elegant and his defence impenetrable.

The 25-year-old smacked 13 boundaries on his way to 104, the Australian pace attack unable to topple Pakistan’s star batsman.

What’s most perplexing about Babar is his ordinary Test batting record.

This innings was only his second Test century in 22 matches, while his batting average sits at 36.21.

In comparison, Babar has dominated the shorter formats, averaging 54.17 in ODI cricket and sits at No. 1 in the ICC T20I batting rankings.

The batsman’s inability to replicate his one-day form into the Test arena remains the biggest criticism of his international career.

Pakistan's Babar Azam scored his first Test century against Australia in Brisbane.
Pakistan's Babar Azam scored his first Test century against Australia in Brisbane.

There have also been calls for Babar to be promoted up the order, some suggesting the batsman is wasted coming in at No. 5.

Babar is now the third Pakistani to score a Test century at the Gabba, a reassuring omen for his untapped potential in the longest format alongside Saeed Anwar and Asad Shafiq.

Originally published as Talking points from day four of the first Test between Australia and Pakistan

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