The duel between Pat Cummins and Babar Azam in the ongoing Test series between Australia and Pakistan has proven to be a gripping contest. Despite Babar's impressive average of over 68 against Cummins, the Australian speedster has staunchly dismissed him not once, but twice out of three opportunities. However, it was his dismissal of Babar in the Melbourne match that drew gasps from the crowd and garnered praise from fellow players.
Cummins referred to his delivery that shattered Babar's stumps as a "dream ball." The rarity of being able to deceive a batsman with such precision and finesse is what every bowler aspires to achieve, and Cummins executed it flawlessly. Notably, this pivotal wicket occurred immediately after Cummins dismantled Abdullah Shafique, effectively breaking their promising 90-run partnership. The significance of this achievement was not lost on Cummins, who basked in the triumph of the moment.
Discussing his exceptional delivery, Cummins disclosed that it was not a deliberate attempt to seam the ball in. Instead, it was a fifty-fifty chance of the ball seaming either way. His strategy was to create an angled delivery that could potentially confuse the batsman, hoping that Babar would be just as uncertain about its movement as he himself was.
Shafique, who experienced firsthand the brilliance of Cummins' bowling, conceded that Cummins rarely provides loose deliveries. He emphasized the need for batters to take initiative and generate scoring opportunities themselves. Despite the setback of losing wickets in succession, Shafique remained optimistic about his team's ability to bounce back and highlighted the contrasting playing conditions between Pakistan and Melbourne.
Cummins also acknowledged the challenging conditions for batting at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). He noted the slower outfield and emphasized that a score of 300 at the MCG is the equivalent of 400 on a different playing surface. Commending Marnus Labuschagne's patient and disciplined approach in constructing his innings on the first day, Cummins regarded his contribution of 60 runs as immensely valuable to the overall game outcome.
As Pakistan heads into Day 3 trailing by 124 runs with six wickets in hand, they face an arduous battle against Australia's formidable bowling attack led by Cummins. The ongoing clash between Cummins and Babar Azam has captivated cricket enthusiasts, leaving them eagerly anticipating more exhilarating moments in this enthralling Test series.