‘Found a method’: Michael Vaughan has urged the Aussies to continue bouncer blitz

Michael Vaughan has urged Pat Cummins and his Aussie bowling line up to continue its bouncer blitz against India, but to not to get too comfortable, with England to bring that same edge in 2025.

Australia has been urged to maintain its bouncer blitz against India and warned it will cop the same medicine from England next summer.

Former England skipper and Fox Cricket commentator Michael Vaughan believes Australia’s successful short ball harassment of India in Adelaide has given the home side the blueprint it must take into Saturday’s third Test at the Gabba and beyond.

“Pat Cummins has found a method to bowl to one or two of them,’’ Vaughan told this masthead.

“I would be a little concerned that a few Indian players struggled with the short ball.

“The Rishabh Pant dismissal in the first innings (caught at gully off a sharp lifter) was one I looked at and thought it could have quite a big part to play in the series. Tactically Australia will use this style of bowling going forward.

Michael Vaughan urges Pat Cummins and the Aussie bowlers to maintain its bouncer blitz. Picture: William WEST / AFP

“Australia has some quick bowlers so why would you not use the short ball on a regular basis, particularly with big boundaries so playing the hook shot and pull shot is such a risky option?

“We are going to see plenty of this because in a year’s time England are going to use this tactic. Get used to it. They did the short ball theory in New Zealand and it worked for them.’’

Fast bowlers Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse used the short ball with success in England’s 2-0 series victory in New Zealand and Vaughan tips it to come heavily in to play when they tour Australia for a five-Test series next summer.

Australia’s revamped aggression came into sharp focus on the third morning of the Test when Cummins launched a series of rib-rattling deliveries to an unnerved Indian tail.

CricViz statistics reveal Cummins to be a master of the short pitched ball. Since Cummins Test debut he has taken 70 wickets with bouncers, the most for all bowlers bar New Zealand’s Neil Wagner (89) for whom this delivery was a stock ball.

“It staggered me in the second innings in Perth Australia did not go to the short pitched bowling tactic,’’ Vaughan said.

“I had been brought up watching Australian cricket. Any young player coming here you had to be some sort of player to succeed because, even though you might be able to face the full ball. the short ball comes on a regular basis. I did not see it in Perth. I saw it in Adelaide.

“The difference in Pat this week to that first Test in Perth has been significant. Australia looked short of a gallop in Perth but in Adelaide looked like the Australian team we know.

“This week has felt more like what I know Australian cricket to be both on the field in terms of performance and the crowd and the atmosphere.’’

Originally published as ‘Found a method’: Michael Vaughan has urged the Aussies to continue bouncer blitz