Ian Healy Criticises And Points Out The Mistakes Of Pat Cummins In The Manchester Test: Former Australian keeper-batter Ian Healy voiced strong criticism of Pat Cummins’ performance during the second day of the fourth Ashes Test in Manchester. The Queenslander openly chided Cummins for his questionable tactics, both as a bowler and as captain. England ended the day in a strong position, holding a 67-run lead, which prompted questions about Cummins’ leadership and bowling prowess.
“Cummins had a terrible day on the field,” Healy remarked during his appearance on SENQ 693. His statement was quite unambiguous, highlighting Cummins’ less-than-stellar day where he not only went wicketless in 16 overs but also gave away 93 runs.
Healy didn’t stop at criticizing Cummins’ bowling. He also raised concerns over his catching, saying, “He dropped two catches and didn’t see one.” The 30-year-old Australian skipper’s performance on the field visibly fell short of expectations on that day.
Healy didn’t pull any punches when it came to Cummins’ tactical approach either. According to him, Cummins consistently bowled to the batters’ strengths, particularly targeting Zak Crawley. He remarked, “He kept bowling half-paced half volleys…They bowled straight to (Crawley) early, but you have to get the ball away from them and not hit from their favourite areas.”
Former Australian keeper-batter Ian Healy voiced strong criticism of Pat Cummins’ performance during the second day of the fourth Ashes Test in Manchester
Healy’s comments underscored the tactical errors made by the Australian team. He pointed out that the Australian field setup didn’t counteract the English batters effectively. “They whacked us left, right and over the top. We didn’t have a fielder on the slog sweep for Travis head but every fast bowler has got someone out on the boundary. It was just incredible,” he added.
The day belonged to Zak Crawley, who put up a splendid performance with the bat for England. The right-handed batter showcased a masterclass, scoring 189 off just 183 deliveries. His innings was embellished with 21 fours and three sixes. He raced to his century in just 93 balls, and he maintained this high scoring rate to surpass the 150-run mark.
Crawley’s partnerships were significant too, with 110 runs added with Moeen Ali, followed by a 206-run stand with Joe Root. These impressive partnerships underlined England’s dominance on the day.
Healy’s critique of Cummins brings into focus the immense pressure and scrutiny international cricketers face, particularly in high-profile series like the Ashes. The former Australian keeper-batter’s candid comments served as a wake-up call for Cummins, who will be looking to bounce back and guide his team towards victory in the ongoing Test.
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