During the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval, Pat Cummins suffered a wrist injury on the opening day. Despite the discomfort, he bravely took the field with heavy strapping and managed to bowl effectively, claiming two wickets. However, the injury hindered his batting performance. Despite this setback, he contributed significantly with 36 runs in the first innings, helping Australia secure a slender lead.
Cummins announced that his wrist would be assessed soon to determine the necessary course of action. Up next for Australia is a challenging white-ball tour of South Africa, scheduled to begin on August 30. The Ashes series proved to be physically taxing for the pacers, with Cummins having to participate in all matches during the English summer, including the intense World Test Championship final against India.
Similarly, Mitchell Starc’s impressive performance saw him miss only the Ashes opener due to injury. He ended up being Australia’s leading wicket-taker in the series with an outstanding tally of 23, including eight wickets in the series finale.
“Managing that throughout this game was just a proper effort” – Pat Cummins lauds Mitchell Starc’s bowling despite a shoulder injury
Starc displayed remarkable determination, bowling with full intensity despite carrying a shoulder injury during the fourth Test and The Oval match. Cummins praised Starc’s commitment and resilience, which undoubtedly contributed to Australia’s efforts. Addressing concerns about fatigue playing a role in the series result, Cummins downplayed its significance, stating that while players naturally experience some weariness, it was not a significant factor.
Looking ahead, Australia faces a decision on appointing a new full-time T20I captain following Aaron Finch’s retirement. Meanwhile, Cummins will lead the team during the 50-over World Cup, followed by their home season. In conclusion, Pat Cummins’ wrist injury raised concerns during the fifth Ashes Test, but his determination and contribution with both bat and ball remained commendable.
Australia’s white-ball tour of South Africa presents a new challenge, while the team continues to search for a new T20I captain. Despite the physically demanding series, Cummins emphasized that fatigue was not the main factor in the Ashes outcome, and the team aims to bounce back stronger in the upcoming tournaments.
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