Cummins fires back at Hafeez for calling Pakistan a better team despite losing at MCG
Pat Cummins 10-fer helped Australia take a 2-0 lead over Pakistan in the ongoing Test series.
New Delhi: Pat Cummins-led Australia lead the three-match Test series 2-0 after their 79-run win against Shan Masood’s Pakistan in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on December 29. Mohammad Hafeez, however, slammed the referees’ controversial decisions and called Pakistan a better team despite suffering a second straight defeat.
The Australian captain fired back at the Pakistan team manager for calling the visitors a better team despite the big loss with a cheeky reply and smile during the post-match press conference, saying: “Ahhhh. Cool. They played well. I’m happy that we got the win. It’s the team that wins in the end.”
The Decision Review System (DRS) has become a focal point, a double-edged sword that has sparked many spirited debates. It did the same in this test as a few decisions came into the spotlight.
However, Cummins saw the balance of the game in the imperfect science of decision making. “It all balances itself out,” he asserted, recognizing the nuances of a game in which fortunes swing like a pendulum.
“We do not entirely agree with (that assessment). It’s not a perfect science, the DRS system or referee or anything like that. Some are going your way. Some don’t,” Cummins said.
“There were a few referee calls for both teams. It’s a game. I think it all balances itself out. I feel like this game was 50-50. There was nothing that worried us too much.”
Hafeez lamented the umpires’ decisions but acknowledged the importance of missed catches, crucial moments when fortune slipped through Pakistan’s grasp.
David Warner and Mitch Marsh took advantage of such opportunities, turning spilled chances into a total of 112 runs and reinforcing Cummins’ belief that in the grand tapestry of a match, balance prevails.
Speaking about the crucial wicket of Pakistan captain Shan Masood, who scored 61 off 71 balls and had shared a good partnership with Babar Azam (41), Cummins said he tried the short delivery to catch his counterpart.
“He was playing quite well around the stumps, so I thought, ‘Let’s try some bouncers. Set the fields. See if he wants to take it on,” Cummins said.
On Mohammed Rizwan’s controversial dismissal for 35, with the third umpire ruling in Australia’s favor as the ball kissed the wristband on its way to keeper Alex Carey.
“It just shot right through. I heard something (which I thought was a glove, or thereabouts) so I thought it was worth a review. It was clearly the glove strap.”
Cummins emerged as the lead actor in this cricket drama. His ten-wicket haul secured victory and etched his name in history with a milestone 250th Test wicket. The MCG roared as he surpassed Richie Benaud on Australia’s all-time wicket-taker list, a testament to his skill with the ball.
In the post-match reflections, Cummins spoke about personal satisfaction, finding rhythm and leading a team that had a fantastic year. From the stunning win in the ODI World Cup to a series victory on home soil, Australia basked in the glory of success.
“Personally, I think (I’m) very happy for a few reasons. Probably the biggest reason is it’s the best I feel like I’ve bowled for a while,” Cummins said.
“My rhythm felt very good. I felt like I had a good pace. I knew where my pulse was. I could check the seam. I bowled some good bounces. So I felt very happy with how I was bowling.
“And as a team it was just a huge year across all formats. We had a lot of success and to top it all off we won a series at home, which we are proud of, which is quite satisfying.”
As the curtains came down on the Boxing Day Test, the Benaud Qadir Trophy found its home. The clash of willows and leather had woven a story of resilience, skill and the unwavering spirit of the players who graced the hallowed grounds.