At Edgbaston, Australia upset Ben Stokes’ England by two wickets in the opening match of the Ashes series. Cummins scored an unbeaten 44 and led the visitors to victory after things appeared to be going against them.
According to Tim Paine, a former Test captain for the visiting team, Australia would have an edge during the Ashes because they can play at “different tempos,” but England only knows how to play “really hard.” Due to a’sexting’ incident, wicketkeeper-batter Tim Paine resigned as Australia captain days before the last Ashes series at home. Pacer Pat Cummins took Paine’s position as Test captain. At Edgbaston, Australia upset Ben Stokes’ England by two wickets in the opening match of the Ashes series. Cummins scored an unbeaten 44 and led the visitors to victory after things appeared to be going against them.
Before the second Test, which will begin on June 28 at Lord’s, Paine, who unsuccessfully sought to rejoin the Australia team, stated, “They (Australia) can play at different tempos, can play different scenarios, and I think their game will stand up in different conditions.
Paine said on “Sen Radio” on Wednesday, “We know that England is going to go one way, and they’re going to go really hard.”
“I believe that’s where Australia have the advantage, in my opinion, based on what I’ve seen so far and my initial impressions of the series.” After winning the first Ashes Test, Paine said he and Cummins had texted back and forth. The captain was ecstatic.
“Yesterday (Tuesday), I really texted Pat Cummins. We’ve got one back for us, he remarked, adding, “Yeah, sitting on my couch was nice.” The former captain said, “I almost gave up on my team when Alex Carey became the eighth Australian wicket to fall on 227 in the chase of a victory of 282.” But Cummins (44 not out) and Nathan Lyon (16 not out) rescued their team from certain loss.
At 4 a.m. (Australian time), I must admit that I thought about going to bed because I didn’t want to have to witness the English triumph. That was when Alex Carey was out and Nathan Lyon walked to the crease.
But my, what a partnership! It was two seasoned, hardened cricketers, two unquestionable champions. The fact that we were on the winning side for once made it an even greater partnership and Test match to watch. He believed Australia would improve during the series.
“I believe Australia will continue to improve throughout the series. When a Test match lasts five days, you have to be able to play both offence and defence, and I believe there was some obvious strategy from both sides. You will need to accomplish both for a series that consists of five Test matches. However, Paine warned that some of Australia’s top performers will soon need to put their best foot forward.
“If I had to be brutal, I wouldn’t say Australia performed anywhere close to their best either. Look to the side to see that Pat Cummins improved with the ball in the second inning but wasn’t at his best in the first. Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne were both out, Scott Boland—who has been incredible—had maybe his first poor Test match, and David Warner was alright.
“Alex Carey was brilliant, and Nathan Lyon was fantastic, but I think some of our big guns weren’t at their best.”
