The third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between Australia and India ended in a draw due to constant rain and thunderstorms on Day 5. Australia captain Pat Cummins was expectedly disappointed with the result and claimed that the rain played a big part in it.
Cummins reckoned that Australia was ahead in the match right from the start but constant rain and Josh Hazlewood’s unavailability didn’t help Australia’s cause. Hazlewood was ruled out of the match midway after feeling soreness in his calf.
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Pat Cummins rues constant rain interruptions in Brisbane
After the end of the match, Pat Cummins was not pleased with the result and was left frustrated. He mentioned that Australia would have liked to be ahead in the series after such a performance but nothing can be done if there is so much rain around.
“Would be better to be 2-1, lot of rain, nothing we can do about it. We set a huge total and felt like we were right ahead of the game throughout,” Cummins said.
Pat Cummins also admitted that he and Mitchell Starc were able to bowl long spells after Hazlewood’s injury due to the constant rain breaks. He also rued the opportunity to bowl to the Indian batters on Day 5 as he believes that the pitch would have been a lot more challenging to bat on.
“Poor Josh (Hazlewood), one of those things, few rain breaks probably helped, Starc and I were able to push through. Day 5 here can be up and down, there wasn’t much cricket played on it, felt challenging when the ball was new and hard,” he reckoned.
Pat Cummins lauds Steve Smith and Travis Head
Pat Cummins also spoke about the brilliant knocks from Steve Smith, Travis Head, and Alex Carey in the first innings of the match which pushed Australia’s score past the 400-run mark. The Australian skipper is excited to play at a packed MCG in the Boxing Day Test.
“(Steve) Smith and (Travis) Head’s innings’ were fantastic, Alex Carey too. (Nathan) Lyon looked really good, (Mitchell) Starc got wickets, just about ticked off every box. (On the full-house expected at the MCG on boxing day) That will be amazing, one of those things here in Australia that you wake up and can’t wait for,” Cummins concluded.
Brilliant knocks from Steve Smith and Travis Head
Steve Smith and Travis Head smashed magnificent hundreds on the second day of the match and put Australia in command. While Smith was steady in his knock and scored 101 off 190 balls, Head was more aggressive and used his rich form to a great extent. The left-hander scored 152 off 160 balls.
Alex Carey also played a whirlwind knock down the order and smashed 70 off 88 balls. Starc and Cummins picked up three and four wickets respectively. The fourth match will be a Boxing Day Test and will begin on December 26 in Melbourne.
Australia are likely to make at least one change for the Test at MCG. Scott Boland is likely to come back for the injured Josh Hazlewood,
