'Not perfect but pleasing' - Cummins on Australia in Ashes so far

Australia have gone 2-0 up in the series without the services of their ace fast-bowler and captain Pat Cummins, who now returns to competitive cricket for the first time in five months. Reflecting on the two Tests so far, Cummins reckoned Australia "weren't perfect all the time".

"In Perth, far from perfect, but, a magic session from Travis Head, bit of Starc magic," Cummins opined. "And we've always managed to find that one or two players to kind of drag us out and find a win.

"On the flip side in Brisbane, to get to 500 without someone getting 100 everyone chipped in. So I think we just managed to find ways to win. Particularly here in Australia, in our own conditions, I think that's been the most pleasing thing."

The newly established opening combination of Travis Head and Jake Weatherald has worked wonders for the hosts as they blew England away with opening partnerships of 75, 77 and 37 in three innings, foundations which have provided Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith to feast off when they come out to bat later on in the innings. "So far, it looks like they've been able to keep the scoreboard ticking over whatever's been thrown at them," Cummins said.

"It really set up the platform for our innings. And so far, the few times they've batted, I think you've seen people like Marnus [Labuschagne] and Steve [Smith] walk in after that as well, and really get on the back of that and start their innings well."

Despite Head being vocal about opening in Perth, Cummins said that he's the kind of person who didn't want to take up another person's spot as they would miss out. "Travis [Head] a great team man and vice captain, he never really wants to get in, tread on any toes. So he's always very adamant he will do whatever the team needs. And for the last few years, we think it's number five, and he's happily done that."

Australia have tried eight different opening combinations since David Warner's retirement in early 2024 and all the while Head had told the Australian management that he was happy to do it, if needed. "I think when he was running off at Perth Stadium and he was demanding, you guys, I think it's my time. I think it's me, we were kind of like, go for it. That was probably the first time it was like he really wants it and thinks it's his opportunity."

As a result of the new opening partnership flourishing, Usman Khawaja has been left out for the second successive Test after his back injury that he suffered during the Perth Test. Cummins joked that "I tell the guys who are in and the selectors tell the guys who are out." But Cummins credited him for being a real team-man and also mentioned Beau Webster who has not been picked for the two completed and the next upcoming Test, while Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett have made way for the returning duo of Cummins and Nathan Lyon.

"He's [Khawaja] a real team man. He'll do whatever the team needs. And Beau Webster has missed out these three Tests. Neser coming off a five-fer, Doggy [Doggett] playing the first two Tests and doing really well. So this, there's a disappointed group of players, but they've all been fantastic around the group. They buy in knowing that we need a squad to win an actual series, and they've all been brilliant for you."

The Australian captain also clarified that he's at a 100% and has been bowling full-tilt for a while. "Yeah, [I am] good to go. I've been bowling 100% for a while. If I played in Brisbane, I would have probably been on limited overs. But this week, it's just go and play like any other Test match."