Cummins Leads Australia’s Commanding Comeback in Adelaide
Australia won the third day’s play of the pink-ball Test at Adelaide Oval from India, courtesy of Pat Cummins. The allrounder had taken five wickets to take his side to a series-leveling win in style. In the first session, India fell to 175 all out after starting the day at 151/5. Chasing just 19 runs for victory, Australia finished off the target in just four overs, with Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney formalizing the matter.
Starc and Cummins Crush India’s Hopes
Mitchell Starc dashed India’s hopes of building resistance in the very first over, delivering a peach of a delivery to dismiss Rishabh Pant for his overnight score of 28. Cummins then took over as he showed his mastery by throwing in a series of short balls that did in Ravichandran Ashwin, Harshit Rana, and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
The Adelaide crowd roared when Travis Head, Australia’s local favorite, pulled off a tumbling catch to dismiss Mohammed Siraj, bringing the innings to a close. Siraj, who had riled up the home fans with his animated send-off of Head on day two, was roundly jeered as he walked back to the pavilion.
India’s batting lineup continues to falter as Nitish Kumar Reddy made a spirited 42 off 47 balls. Reddy did flashes of resistance, even managing to hook a bouncer from Pat Cummins for six, but his aggression was brief. A clever delivery from Cummins, angled across from around the wicket, saw Reddy mishit a ramp shot straight to the third man. That was the third time in four innings that Reddy had topped the Indian score sheet, and that too in his debut Test series.
India’s two innings combined lasted just 81 overs, making it the shortest pink-ball Test ever played in Australia and also the shortest Test between these two teams.
Australia Responds to Critics
Australia’s response in Adelaide was near perfect, after the 295-run loss in Perth. The critics had questioned the form and resilience of the team, but Cummins and his squad had responded with a big answer. Cummins, who looked off-color in the first Test, was back to his best, finding his rhythm under lights and adjusting his lengths well during the day.
Meanwhile, Travis Head continued to sparkle. His batting on day two was a masterclass that set the tone for Australia, and his fielding heroics were the icing on the cake for this match. The Adelaide crowd of over 33,000 roared wildly when Head was named Player of the Match.
Looking Ahead
This win has breathed new life into the series as both sides are leveled. Australia restored parity comprehensively, but this also sets up a thrilling run-in to the remainder of the series. Their bowlers, spearheaded by Cummins, adjusted and executed their plans extremely well while their batters maximized favorable conditions.
The loss raises pertinent questions about India’s readiness for the Australian conditions and to play in high-pressure situations. They must immediately sort out their batting problems, especially against pace and bounce.
The Adelaide Test was not a win just for Australia. It is a statement of intent. As the series comes to a thrilling conclusion, both teams will look to reboot and present their best work for the next contest.
