Email Commendation from Errol Fernando in Melbourne, 21 June 2023
Bravo, Captain Pat Cummins!
No words of praise are adequate to describe how Captain Pat, in that final hour, turned certain defeat into victory. And he did it with lots and lots of smiles! It was good to hear Cummins, in his post-match interview, acknowledge the crucial support of warrior Nathan Lyon. He also stated that the most important contribution in the match was made by Usman Khawaja. Best of all, he was gracious and modest in victory.
When asked whether this was the ‘Number One’ Test of his whole career he immediately agreed that it was. Obviously he had forgotten the Test match 12 years ago at the Wanderers in Johannesburg when he made his debut as a lad of 18 – the second youngest Australian Test player after Ian Craig. In that match Australia was chasing the highest ever fourth innings total at the Wanderers. Cummins walked in at number 10 and it was his calm batting against Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel that led to victory by 2 wickets. Lyon, at number 11, did not need to bat !
In that match Cummins also took 7 wickets including Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla and A.B. de Villiers. I do remember how he set Kallis up and eventually dismissed him with a brute of a delivery. The great Kallis was simply gobsmacked to be dismissed by this unknown pipsqueak ! Obviously, Cummins was Man of the Match and highly praised by Kallis. I also remember that after that match the whole world was talking about Patrick James Cummins! And who is the whole world talking about today? Listening to Parliament this afternoon I was delighted to hear the heartfelt tributes paid to Cummins by Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton. Both of them greatly surprised me by their warmth and eloquence!
There was frustration for Ben Stokes and England (Mike Egerton/PA)
The greatest compliment I could pay to the match itself was that it kept me glued till 4.30am. I did not move and did not blink. It was a relief to watch a bit of Parliament this afternoon and have a bit of a yawn. Pat Cummins did not give me one moment to have a yawn !
Another time. My Friends, we must reflect on some of the details of the match, Lorenz – stuff such as Bazball, etc. Plenty to talk about.
***** ****
A NOTE from The Editor, Thuppahi:
This evaluation is ERROL FERNANDO at his scholarly best, matching his capacities on the keyboards of piano and organ; while being guided y his cricketing experiences at Trinity and Peradeniya University.
EMAIL COMMENTS sent direct to THUPPAHI
A = SISIRA JAYASURIYA in Melbourne, 21 June 2023: “The traditional five day test match is alive and well!”
B = JOE PAIVA in Adelaide, 21 June 2023: “Thanks to Ben Stokes. Next 4 Tests are bound to be equally exciting.”
C = GERALD PEIRIS in Kandy, 21 June 2023: “Yes, Cummins was really great. He is also a charming personality compared to some of his predecessors. BUT, don’t you think that it was Usman Khawaja who really won the match for the Ausies. And what a trial he went through, to be cursed by 150 million Pommies. It was he who baked the victory. What Cummins did was to add the icing. But, yes, what an icing!
I also watched it right to the end.
Thanks for the amazing info on the South African match.”
England may be victims of their Bazball fast scoring. Australia bowled only a total of 144 overs in England’s two innings, not bowling enough to take even the 2nd new ball in either innings. England bowled 208 overs in the match taking the 2nd new ball in each innings. How will this extra workload by their fast bowlers affect them in the series?
England may be a victim of their Bazball batting. Australia only bowled a total of 144 overs in their two innings and as they bowled less than 80 overs in each innings, did not take a second new ball.. England bowled 208 overs in the match , taking the 2nd new ball in both innings. How will this extra workload affect their fast bowlers for the rest of the series?
England may be a victim of their Bazball batting. Australia only bowled a total of 144 overs in their two innings and as they bowled less than 80 overs in each innings, did not take a second new ball.. England bowled 208 overs in the match , taking the 2nd new ball in both innings. How will this extra workload affect their fast bowlers for the rest of the series?
It was indeed a very interesting Test Match. Khawaja proved his worth as a great batsman and Cummins proved himself to be a great alrounder. Australia did well!