Pat Cummins played his part in bailing Australia out of trouble on Day 2, forging a 50-run stand – the highest of the innings so far – with Tavis Head, who was unbeaten on 61 at stumps as Australia managed to reach 191 for 7. But Cummins did not have a great day when it came down to letting the ball go.
Cummins’ innings came to end as soon as India took the second ball when the right-hander shouldered his arms to a Bumrah delivery that came back in sharply, hitting his front pad. Even a review could not come to his rescue and he had to take the long walk back for 10 but not after taking Australia to 177 for 7 from 127 for six.
But that was not the first instance when a leave had made him the centre of attraction for all the wrong reasons on Friday. Exactly, five overs earlier, Cummins played an outrageous shot that left everyone perplexed. In fact, he did not even offer a shot and the ball went between his legs, somehow evading the stumps to land on Rishabh Pant’s gloves, who failed to gather it cleanly.
Almost all the India close-in fielders had hands on their hands but none was more shocked than Ashwin, who had deceived Cummins all ends up with his carom ball but still did not get his wicket.
Shane Warne, who was in commentary box during the event, could not believe his eyes. “How did that miss the stumps? It did not go through them did it?” Asked the legendary leg-spinner.