Pat Cummins clarifies leaving Carey stranded on cusp of heroic Hagley Oval hundred

Pat Cummins hit the winning runs in the second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch. Alex Carey was batting on 98* when Australia needed just two runs to seal the victory. Cummins might have been deeply involved in the game as he faced the strike, aiming to seize the moment by prioritizing 'we over I' mantra, while Carey awaited his well-deserved century. Cummins admitted to having missed out on the fact that his colleague was on the brink of a ton.

The skipper and wicketkeeper looked insurmountable while at the crease, as they fabricated a 68-run partnership. While Cummins contributed 32 off 44 deliveries which included four boundaries, Carey added a significant 27 runs of his innings. The innings reminded of the Australian skipper's similar innings in Edgbaston during the 2023 Ashes, where his side thwarted England by two wickets to go 0-1 up after the inaugral Test of the series.

“Pretty tense, everyone was nervous the last couple of hours. Amazing win. (On scoring the winning runs) Anyway possible to win, I had no idea he (Carey) was on 98," said Cummins in the post-match presentation. 

It was funny how quickly the match moved on Day 1: Cummins

The right-arm pacer was unapologetic about winning the all-important toss, which proved to be crucial as Australia capitalised on conditions conducive to bowling on a greenish Hagley Oval surface. As a result, they bundled out the Kiwis for just 162 runs and took a crucial lead of 94 runs. New Zealand, who have had the baggage of a bad track record against Australia in the Trans-Tasman Trophy for eons now, put up a fight but could muster just 279 runs to be set as the target for Australia, which was always going to be less than ideal for the formidable Aussie batting lineup.

“The toss helped, it was funny how quickly the match moved on Day 1. First innings leads are always key for this reason. We've been on the other side of Tests plenty of time, I just told the boys to keep the scoreboard moving, stay busy and put the pressure on the opposition," he added.

Also Read: We keep finding ways to win, it's a pretty awesome squad: Pat Cummins