Pat Cummins was appointed as the new Australian Test captain a few weeks ago. The new captain couldn’t have asked for a better start to his captaincy stint. Australia managed to bundle out England for a mere 147. Pat Cummins himself was the star as he picked up 5 wickets. He ended with figures 5/38 at Gabba in the first innings.
Cummins bowled 13.1 overs and picked up 5 wickets, including that of Ben Stokes and a well-set Haseeb Hameed. In fact, Cummins’s first scalp as Australia’s Test captain was Stokes. With this 5-wicket haul, Pat Cummins joins the elite list of players who have picked up 5 wickets in their first game as captains.
Bowlers to take a 5-for on 1st day as Test captain:
5-19 CA Smith Eng v SA Port Elizabeth 1889
5-35 GOB Allen Eng v Ind Lord's 1936
7-52 Imran Khan Pak v Eng Birmingham 1982
5-38 PJ Cummins Aus v Eng Brisbane 2021— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) December 8, 2021
Not a bad way to say "I like being captain". Five wickets for Cummins in his first game as captain.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 8, 2021
Gabba Applauded Their New Captain
Cummins led his team off the ground with the Kookaburra ball in his hand. He was applauded by the Gabba crowd.
England made a disastrous start after Joe Root won the toss and elected to bat on a grassy pitch, with Rory Burns becoming the first player dismissed with the opening ball of an Ashes series in 85 years, bowled around his legs by a searing Mitchell Starc delivery.
Root went for a duck, caught behind by debutant wicketkeeper Alex Carey off the bowling of Hazlewood, as England slumped to 59 for four at lunch.
After getting their arch-rivals out for 147 Australia will be looking to capitalize on the low total. However, rain forced the umpires to call off the day’s play.
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