Australia vs Pakistan: Pat Cummins' jaffa bamboozles Asad Shafiq

90 wickets in 17 Tests at an average of 19.08 and a strike-rate of 41.7; three five-wicket hauls and a ten-fer. It is fair to say that Pat Cummins is on a roll. That Pat Cummins is in the form of his life will also be an understatement.

The numbers that you see above tells you a story. No one- fast bowler or spinner- has taken more wickets than the Australian fast bowling spearhead since the start of 2018. And, it’s been a consistent saga. If you break his performance down into two calendar years 2018 & 2019, you’ll see what we are referring to here.

Cummins leads the fast bowling charts in the ongoing year, having racked up 46 wickets at an average of 18.23 and a strike-rate of a shade over 40 (40.7). Cummins was the spearhead of the Aussie bowling attack in the recently concluded Ashes, and naturally was going to be the one to watch out for in the home summer.

And, the big fast bowler did not disappoint! 

On the opening day of the home summer, Cummins once again emerged as the leader of the Australian bowling unit. With the Pakistani openers going great guns at the beginning, stitching a crucial 75-run-stand for the first wicket, it was Cummins who kickstarted the eventual slide when he induced an awkward fend from the inform Masood to Steven Smith at slips. The wicket of Masood kickstarted the Pakistani collapse as the Men in Green went on to lose their next four wickets for just 19 runs.

Cummins was, however, lucky that he wasn’t called for a no-ball when he induced an outside edge from the rampaging Mohammad Rizwan when it was clearly visible that the big fast bowler had overstepped the line. 

But, controversies aside, the moment of the day came via another Pat Cummins dismissal. And, this time it was something out of the ordinary. It was when Cummins got through the gates of the in-form Asad Shafiq with an inswinger; one that jagged back in so much, leaving not only the batsman but also the commentators and fans in awe. Pakistan was eventually bowled out for 240 as Cummins finished with 3-60.

Pat Cummins is so good at bowling.pic.twitter.com/U3LY1iUlf6

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 21, 2019