World’s best pace attack deserve plaudits for relentless demolition of England’s Ashes ambitions
This series will forever be remembered as Steve Smith’s Ashes, but a world class pace attack, spearheaded by Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were responsible for finishing the job the freakish batsman started.
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Throughout Australia’s year from hell, there remained one world-class constant: a bowling attack regarded as among the best on the planet.
But after a home series defeat to India, in which Australian great Shane Warne was heavily critical of the bowlers, the aura around the ‘world’s best attack’ began to fade.
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“We all keep talking about (the bowling) as one of the best attacks we’ve ever had,” Warne said after Australia’s 137-run loss in last year’s Boxing Day Test.
“To the top six batsmen how have our bowlers done? Because the opposition keep on making big first innings scores.”
In an Ashes series decided, in many ways, by two fearsome pace units it was the Australian crew, spearheaded by the lion-hearted Pat Cummins, which confirmed itself to be No.1.
Steve Smith has been magnificent, super-human almost, but don't forget the bowlers that take the wickets. Pat Cummins has been excellent throughout and Josh Hazlewood is always good.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 8, 2019
Well played, Australia. Best side won. No doubt about it. Smith magnificent; Hazlewood and Cummins almost as good as it gets. 3-0 without miracle of Stokes. Time for England to rebuild.
— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) September 8, 2019
Smith obviously the difference in the batting (with help from Labuschagne), but how about Cummins and Hazlewood? Both outstanding.
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) September 8, 2019
While these will forever be remembered as Steve Smith’s Ashes, there should be a serious postscript that notes the unwavering contributions of a rotating fast-bowling cartel and the tireless efforts of Nathan Lyon.
“Pat is No. 1 in the world and rightly so and Josh (Hazlewood) has been right up there as well,” Paine said after the 185-run Ashes-retaining victory.
“We’re lucky to have them.”
As England set about the seemingly impossible task of chasing down 383, Tim Paine threw the ball to the world’s No. 1 bowler: Pat Cummins.
The 26-year-old, who has overcome as torrid an injury history as any in world cricket to rise to the top of it, duly responded with two wickets in two balls to remove England’s two best top order batsman Rory Burns and Joe Root.
It crystallised in a moment what Cummins has offered Paine all series, and which has brought him a series-high 24 wickets at 17.41.
The only bowler with a better average if his new ball partner Josh Hazlewood, who has 18 wickets at 16.88 in one fewer Test.
Paine marvelled at his two gifted warhorses, a pair capable of sustained brilliance like few on the planet.
“They are extremely consistent that is why they are good,” Paine said.
“What I love about those two fast bowlers is that from day one of the series the same effort is coming all of the time.
“I can’t fault them. They run in fast, bowl as hard as they can and for me that is a real weapon to have.
“Fast bowling is a very difficult thing to do and when you have only three bowlers those guys an unbelievable amount of skill and toughness and a huge amount of fitness.
“I am not sure there are a heap of bowlers going around that would get through the workload that our guys are and maintain pace and skill like those two do.”
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After Hazlewood cashed in with three first-innings wickets late on day three, having profited from a devastating spell by Cummins, he spoke of the way the team has learned to hunt in a pack — and Paine backed that up on Sunday.
“I thought all of our bowlers were excellent and relentless,” he said.
“They kept going and going, they put it all out there and leave everything out there on field.”
Originally published as World’s best pace attack deserve plaudits for relentless demolition of England’s Ashes ambitions
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