Former Test captain Mark Taylor has given Pat Cummins a tick of approval after his first tricky day as Australia’s Test skipper.
Despite finishing the first innings 278 runs ahead of England, Cummins’ side has a fight on its hands after a monster 159-run stand from England skipper Joe Root and Dawid Malan.
Despite the adversity faced by Australia, Taylor was impressed by Cummins’ management of his attack late on Day 3.
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“This was always going to be the hardest time – when you’re trying to find wickets on flat pitches, and this is when it’s harder for a fast-bowling captain, and he’s been very open about that,” Taylor told Wide World of Sports.
“But I like the fact that he bowled himself late on day three, looking for a wicket. Because what we don’t want to see is Pat not bowling himself enough, he’s the number one Test bowler.”
England got to stumps at 2-220, with Root and Malan both closing in on centuries.
“Two down at stumps is a really good effort – and I thought Hameed was a little bit unlucky also. That was one of those dismissals that just happens sometimes at the Gabba,” Taylor said of England’s response.
Although mysteries around Josh Hazlewood’s absence in the final session remain, Taylor praised Cummins self-belief and his willingness to share the ball around.
“It was always going to be a bit harder today, but I think he’s done everything he could have done,” Taylor said.
“I like the fact that he tried Labuschagne for a few overs, he did that at the right time. He got Nathan Lyon into the attack early on, which I liked, but unfortunately he’s not been able to get a wicket from either of his spinners, which is the worrying thing from an Australian point of view.”
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Like most fans, Taylor was wondering why Hazlewood was not featuring towards the end of the day.
“The only surprise is that Hazlewood’s only bowled eight overs. I don’t really know why Josh didn’t bowl in the last session, I don’t know if there’s an injury – he’s been out in the field so I don’t see any reason why,” he said.
“The fact that he’s only bowled eight when Pat and Starcy have bowled in the teens is a little surprising, but that can sometimes be the way it goes.”
Mitchell Starc and Cummins took one wicket apiece in a frustrating day for the Australians, as Nathan Lyon still chases that elusive 400th wicket.
“What we’re seeing at the moment is that Nathan can’t seem to get the breakthrough, which is what you really want from your spinner, particularly on day three or four,” Taylor said.
“There’s not a lot of turn, but there’s a little bit. And what you’re hoping for is a couple of wickets – you’re not expecting him to bowl you to victory like on a turning SCG pitch on day five, but at the moment things aren’t going for Nathan Lyon.
“He looks to me like he’s bowling going alright – he’s beating the bat enough. Dawid Malan a couple of times, went past the outside edge, but he just can’t seem to get that lucky break.”
Taylor said that overall Lyon’s form wasn’t a concern and that once he got that much-discussed 400th scalp, the wickets could flow after that.
“All of a sudden he could have 403 Test wickets rather than 399,” he said.
“He’s just got to stay patient, keep bowling well, and hope that the gods look kindly upon him and his luck changes a little bit.”
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