Late rally has Cummins buoyant ahead of Day 3 in WTC25 Final
Speaking at the end of the second day’s play, skipper Pat Cummins stressed that Australia needed to be sharp in the final innings of the game.
Amidst the twists and turns of the second day of the ICC World Test Championship 2025 Final, which saw Australia lead by 218 runs in the third innings, the team’s skipper, Pat Cummins, thought his side had done well to be in the position that they were placed in.
“It’s ideally probably [would’ve liked for] a few more wickets in the shed,” Cummins told reporters after the second day’s play. “But the trend of the game is that the runs are coming down, it’s still pretty difficult out there.”
After being bowled out for 212 in the first innings, Australia roared back into the game with a sensational bowling performance and gained a crucial 74-run advantage. Despite losing eight batters in the third innings, they had managed to extend their lead beyond 200.
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Cummins stressed that if Australia were to defend their World Test Championship title successfully, the side would have to bowl well in the fourth innings.
“It’s set up pretty well for a Day 3 finish. But I think we’ll have to bowl well in the fourth innings.”
It was Cummins, whose 6/28 - his third-best career performance - helped the Aussies dominate the first half of the second day.
His performance also helped the bowler reach the 300-wicket mark, making him just the eighth Australian to achieve the landmark.
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“As a fast bowler, 300 is something always talked about as a pretty good sign of durability and resilience and longevity. I feel pretty proud having joined the group,” Cummins said of his achievement.
Of the 28 wickets to fall over the two days of play, 25 have been taken by pacers, with Kagiso Rabada (eight wickets) and Cummins (six wickets), the standout performers for their respective sides.
When asked about the nature of the wicket, Cummins credited the fast bowlers from both sides, which had made the best use of helpful conditions.
“I think it’s a mixture of the wicket still doing a little bit. Just when it feels like it’s not doing much, one ball would seam quite drastically.
“But I think both teams have bowled well. There haven’t been too many half volleys. Both teams have hung in those good length areas, tight lines. I think it’s the fast bowling, South Africa looked pretty tricky today. And the wicket has made it even more tricky.”
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When asked if he had a particular total in mind when coming out to bat in the third innings, Cummins was happy with what Australia had managed to get out in the park thus far, and hoped for additional advantage early on day three.
“Not really. When I walked out, anything over 200, so good to get over that. So it’s good to get over that. Hopefully we get another 20 or 30 tomorrow morning. That will give a few more options to bowl, a few more options to set aggressive fields.”
The World Test Championship Final action resumes on Friday, 13 June for Day 3 at Lord’s.
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