Pat Cummins lashed by cricket legends as First Ashes Test hopes drift

The blowtorch has again been applied to the Australian captain after the Aussies finished day four of the First Test in major trouble.

It will be harsh to convict either man given how close the action has been but the First Test is becoming a referendum on the leadership of Pat Cummins and Ben Stokes.

If Australia can pull off a famous Ashes run chase with its two best batsmen already back in the sheds then Stokes will be crucified for declaring England’s first innings with two wickets in hand.

But if the Aussies (3/107) fall short in their chase of 281 runs then the blowtorch will be applied to Cummins’ defensive field placements throughout both England innings.

As the game flip-flopped on day four both men found themselves in the gun.

First it was Cummins as he failed to attack the England batsmen in a manner Australian cricket fans are accustomed to.

The 30-year-old did absolutely everything his country could have asked for with ball in hand. His stunning yorker to remove Ollie Pope might hold up as the delivery of the series and he shouldered the lion’s share of the overs to finish with 4/63.

But there were still countless viewers - and several cricket legends - questioning if sending down lightning bolts is where 100 per cent of his attention should lie after several England partnerships appeared to last longer than they should have.

As Stokes and Jonny Bairstow began taking the game away from Australia in the second session, scoring freely to push the lead past 200, Cummins came in for repeated criticism from Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara, who questioned his lack of adaptability or specific plans for each batsman.

Sangakkara said there was a clear contrast in Stokes’ regular interventions when England was bowling and Cummins’ commitment to bowling line and length — and waiting for a mistake.

Who is in charge here? (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

He clipped the Aussie skipper again while Cummins was bowling and pushed most of his field back to the boundary.

“He just pushes the field back and waits and hopes,” Sangakkara said, in commentary for Channel 9.

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain described it as a one-day field, before correcting himself because “there’s too many fielders out for a one-dayer”.

And former Aussie Test skipper Mark Taylor delivered some friendly fire when he again talked about the added burden a bowling captain faces.

Increasingly clear this series will likely be decided by how often England duly oblige when Cummins does these "Just wait for England to make a mistake" sessions.

— Dave Tickner (@tickerscricket) June 19, 2023

With the help of Nathan Lyon - who took 4/80 - Australia prevented any of England’s XI from posting a half century but leaked 63 runs for the last three wickets.

Still, it was looking good an hour later when Usman Khawaja and David Warner put on 61 for the first wicket.

As Australia crept closer, it was Stokes’ turn as his decision to call Joe Root back in on day one was placed back under the microscope.

“You shouldn’t just throw your hands in the air and say, ‘that’s just us being on the front foot’,” former England batsman Mark Butcher said,

“Declaring your first innings closed when you’ve got a bloke on 120 playing like God and there are runs to be made in a Test match with a pitch that is going to deteriorate — that to me is nuts.”

“I was absolutely flabbergasted by that [declaration],” Butcher added. “Great theatre and all the rest of it, wonderful. But how much would England have liked another 50 runs on top of their target as of right at this minute?

“Playing fast and loose with totals in the first innings when time is very much on your side in Test matches ... I understand it in games where you’re trying to put time back in. But at that point on day one of a Test match? Wow, what a decision that is. And that could yet come back to bite England on the backside.”

South African great AB De Villiers was also questioning the decision. “England let 50-odd runs go in that first innings,” he tweeted. “Big difference chasing 330 vs 281. Will it cost them the 1st Test?

“When you play against Australia and get a chance to bat them out of the game, you do it every day of the week. They don’t like to bat defensively. With this target they are forced to get into strong positions and think positively. That’s dangerous.”

Ben Stokes is also under the pump. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Which man becomes the genius and which becomes the buffoon will likely depend on the remaining Aussie batsmen’s ability to deal with Stuart Broad.

Jimmy Anderson has been a little off the boil in this match and Moeen Ali looked seriously hampered by a blister on his finger late on day five.

So it will fall to Australia’s least favourite Englishmen - Broad and Ollie Robinson - to lead the way.

Ricky Ponting knows the Aussies are up against it.

“At the start of the Australian batting innings I thought it was Australia’s game to lose. But now it’s England’s game to lose,” Ricky Ponting said in commentary for Channel 9 at the end of play.

3.30am - Smith outclassed by Broad

Steve Smith was no match for a fired up Stuart Broad as a late Australian collapse put England in the boxseat.

Smith was lucky to survive an LBW shout when he managed to tickle a ball on to his pad, but was drawn into a drive soon after and nicked off to Jonny Bairstow.

Australia opted to send Scott Boland out as nightwatchman and he was superb, not only soaking up 19 pressure-packed deliveries but also scoring 13 runs to leave the visitors 3/107 at stumps - needing 174 runs to win.

Usman Khawaja (34 from 81 balls) is again looking to anchor the Australian innings.

3.20am - Labuschagne fails again

Marnus Labuschagne is still yet to pass 50 in four innings on this tour after another failure took the wind out of Australia’s fine start.

Labuschagne, who walked to the crease on a king pair, played positively, twice reverse-sweeping Moeen Ali to the boundary.

But his innings ended at 13 when he played at a Stuart Broad outswinger he could have probably left and nicked off to Jonny Bairstow. Australia was 2/78 and the Birmingham crowd suddenly in full voice.

3am - Aussies see off opening pair before Warner departs

It rarely happened on the past two tours of England but Usman Khawaja and David Warner managed to see off James Anderson and Stuart Broad’s opening spells.

Anderson was unlucky not to get Khawaja in the opening over when a nick flew between keeper Jonny Bairstow and first slip Joe Root. Neither moved.

The closest Broad got was a shout when he got one to seam back in at Warner and the ball clipped the pocket on the Aussie opener’s pants as it sailed through to Bairstow.

It was a dream start to Australia’s chase as both left-handers played with conviction and took advantage when England bowled too straight.

For the second time in 12 innings v England in England since the start of the 2019 Ashes, David Warner has made it past Stuart Broad's opening spell

— Ben Gardner (@Ben_Wisden) June 19, 2023

This is Australia's highest opening partnership in Tests in England since 2015.#Ashes

— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) June 19, 2023

We can expect regular comparisons to the 2005 Ashes Test at this ground when Australia was set 282 for victory and famously fell two runs short.

On that occasion Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer put on 47 runs for the first wicket.

Khawaja and Warner trumped that, passing 50 in the 15th over.

It was Ollie Robinson who got the breakthrough, finding the edge of Warner’s bat to gift a catch to Bairstow. Warner (36) again failed to convert a start to leave Australia 1/61.

1.20am - Ashes villain denies Australia

Ollie Robinson was expected to be put in a furnace when he came out to bat in this innings but he handled the Australian heat well.

Josh Hazlewood did test the tailender - who became an instant Ashes villain after he was unapologetic for a four-letter spray of Usman Khawaja - with some short stuff early but he managed it well enough.

And then he began adding incredibly crucial runs that pushed England past the 250-mark, a key milestone as they look to build an unreachable tally.

Robinson eventually holed out to Cameron Green at long-on off Nathan Lyon for a valuable 27, leaving England 9/256.

The handy runs kept coming as James Anderson scored a quick dozen before giving Pat Cummins his fourth wicket and Alex Carey his fourth dismissal of the innings.

Cummins had his captaincy put under the microscope as the Aussies stayed committed to defensive fields, but bowled exceptionally well to take 4/63. Nathan Lyon was just as good, finishing with 4/80.

Alex Carey also continued his fine start to the series with four more dismissals.

Alex Carey is the first Australian wicketkeeper to take 9+ dismissals in an away Ashes Test since 1956.#Ashes

— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) June 19, 2023

Several England batsmen made it into the 40s but there was no half-century in the innings, with Joe Root and Harry Brook both scoring 46. But England’s last two wickets added 44 runs.

12.30am - Game on a knife’s edge as Ali goes

Pat Cummins bowled his heart out - and bowled well - but handing the ball to Josh Hazlewood paid immediate dividends for Australia.

Hazlewood, who had only bowled seven of the first 54 overs of this innings, had plenty of energy to come in and bowl fast and short - and the chances came immediately.

He nearly removed Ollie Robinson when Marnus Labuschagne just failed to get his fingers under a diving catch at short leg.

And then snared Moeen Ali two balls later when the spinner tickled one down the leg side to Alex Carey.

A third chance came off the final ball of Hazlewood’s superb over, but Steve Smith spilled a diving attempt.

11.35pm - Cricket legend lashes Pat Cummins

Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow began taking the game away from Australia in the second session, scoring freely to push the lead past 200.

Pat Cummins came in for repeated criticism from Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara, who questioned his lack of adaptability or specific plans for each batsman.

Sangakkara said there was a clear contrast in Ben Stokes’ regular interventions when England was bowling and Cummins’ commitment to bowling line and length.

Who is in charge here? (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

He clipped the Aussie skipper again while Cummins was bowling and pushed most of his field back to the boundary.

“He just pushes the field back and waits and hopes,” Sangakkara said, in commentary for Channel 9.

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain described it as a one-day field, before correcting himself because “there’s too many fielders out for a one-dayer”.

But Australia found a breakthrough soon after as Bairstow paid for attempting a reverse-sweep of Nathan Lyon. The England keeper was trapped in front for 20, leaving his side 6/196.

And then Cummins made it a double strike, removing Stokes LBW for 43 to leave Australia 217 runs behind with three wickets to take.

10.22pm — Test in the balance at lunch

Scott Boland almost turned the game right in Australia’s direction in the final over before lunch, rapping Jonny Bairstow twice on the pads.

The ball appeared to be finally doing something and Boland looked to have dismissed Bairstow with umpire Ahsan Raza giving it out.

But Bairstow reviewed and the ball went over the stumps.

Steve Smith didn’t believe it, claiming it was the same as his dismissal in the first innings.

The next ball was almost identical but this time Raza didn’t give it out.

Australia didn’t review, but it appeared to also be heading over the stumps.

After yesterday’s rain, there’ll be extended play on day four, with 98 overs scheduled for the day.

10pm — Harry Brook gives Marnus catching practice

Another wicket has fallen, leaving the game precariously placed as England fall to 5/150 as Harry Brook hit the ball straight to Marnus Labuschagne.

It was a short ball from Nathan Lyon that probably deserved to get put away but Marnus has taken a diving catch at mid-wicket to make it interesting.

9.19pm — Root’s gone

Joe Root had been tormenting Australia all day but Nathan Lyon has finally struck.

Tossing one up, Root’s eyes lit up and he charged down the wicket.

But he was beaten in the air with Alex Carey whipping the bails off to send Root back for 46.

It’s an enormous wicket for Australia as England drop to 4/129.

Is this the inroad Australia needs?

While it was great for Australia as Root raced to 46 off 54 balls, English fans weren’t too happy with the dismissal.

Unneccessary from Root. Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Assistant digital editor for London’s City A.M. Jack Mendel wrote: “I don’t understand why Joe Root just got out like he did, when he was batting so well. Surely just keep going.. was hugely unnecessary. Want aggressive, not reckless batting.”

Another social media user tweeted: “Brain dead cricket once again. No need to come dancing down the wicket when you are scoring so freely anyway.”

It was the first time in Root’s 131-match career that he’d been stumped.

Earlier, as he peppered Australia with ramp shots early in a tactic that threatened to take the game away, fans were loving what they saw.

This is psychotic from Joe Root and I’m here for it

— Rory Dollard (@thervd) June 19, 2023

9pm — Aussies brutalised by Root and co.

Australia may have taken a wicket through an inswinging tracer bullet from Pat Cummins but England have put the visitors to the sword in the first hour of play.

England went from 2/28 to 3/121 at the first drinks break.

There have been just 13.3 overs for the day, meaning England have scored 93 off just 81 balls.

8.34pm — Cummins strikes

Australia have been tonked everywhere to start the day but Pat Cummins has finally struck.

An inswinging yorker uprooted Ollie Pope’s off-stump, leaving England 3/77.

But the lead is up to 84 and it’s begining to get daunting with a lot of batting left in the English sheds.

8.10pm — Root’s start is simply absurd

How many times have you seen a ramp shot on the first ball on a day of Test cricket?

Well that is Bazball.

Joe Root played a ramp shot on the first ball of the day and while he didn’t hit it, it signalled his intent.

So when Scott Boland started the second over of the day, Root did exactly what he telegraphed.

After charging and hitting through midwicket, the next ball went for six straight over Alex Carey’s head.

The next ball went for four with the same shot, winding up more down at third man.

It sparked the field move, with two down on the boundary behind the wicket.

It’s not often that Scott Boland has gone for 15 runs in an over in his Test career.