Cummins will go down as Australia skipper who got lucky after Ashes drama

01 August 2023 , 04:00

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Pat Cummins and England skipper Ben Stokes played their part in an incredible series

It says they are Test world champions on the tin, and they may be going home with the Ashes again.

But Australia still haven't won a series in England since 2001, they choked like a garrote at The Oval and they were running scared of Bazball. Rank has its privileges, so let's give the captain his due. Pat Cummins will go down as the Aussie skipper who went 2-0 up in England – and he blew it.

Rarely, since Kerry Packer's new order in Australian cricket, has there been such a collection of faint hearts and flaky temperaments under those Baggy Green caps. If it hadn't rained in Manchester, they would have lost 3-2.

And Cummins goes home with the unique souvenir of his team being booed in the Long Room at Lord's, where he missed the chance to make a statement for sportsmanship when Jonny Bairstow was 'stumped.'

No arguments about Edgbaston: Australia held their catches, and Cummins held his nerve with the bat in a tight finish, to draw first blood.

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No arguments about the result at Headquarters: The Aussies played the smarter cricket, although calling back Bairstow – who clearly believed he was safe to leave his crease, even if the laws said he wasn't – would have set Cummins apart as a leader of men.

Pat Cummins celebrates with Mitchell Marsh (AFP via Getty Images)

Instead, he will have to settle for being the captain who got lucky.

Off the field, like his rank and file team-mates, he is a terrific bloke. In six weeks, he never ducked a question and, like his raging-bull spells of fast bowling, he is as honest as they come. But from 264-3, chasing 384 to seal their first Ashes series win in 22 years, his team bottled it.

Don't fall for Ashes legend Ricky Ponting's red herring about a change of ball – after it was damaged by Usman Khawaja being pranged on the helmet – making the difference. Chris Woakes would have made an orange hoop round corners in those conditions on the final day.

Stuart Broad secured a draw for England at The Oval

If you want to know how you let a 2-0 lead slip, try looking closer to home, cobbers. You took a backward step at Headingley, where Mark Wood's blistering pace ended a diet of 80mph friendly fire.

You were getting a right spanking at Old Trafford until the monsoons came to the rescue. You lost at The Oval after beginning the final day needing 249 to win with a full deck of cards, and you came up 49 runs short.

And you know what? You have been part of a fantastic five-act drama which we can't wait to repeat Down Under in 2025-26. Thanks for the great entertainment.

Mike Walters