Australia captain Pat Cummins kicked off the New Year with a remarkable five-wicket haul, continuing his impressive form from the previous year. On the first day of the New Year's Test against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Wednesday, January 3, Cummins showcased his exceptional bowling skills. This achievement marked his third consecutive five-wicket haul in Test cricket, following a stunning 10-wicket match performance in the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan in Melbourne last month.
Cummins, entering as the first-change bowler under overcast conditions in Sydney, claimed the crucial wicket of Pakistan's former captain Babar Azam with an outstanding inswinger during the first session. This pivotal moment led to Pakistan's early struggle at 39 for 3 within the first 11 overs. Pakistan's openers, Abdullah Shafique and debutant Saim Ayub, were quickly dismissed for 0 by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, respectively, reflecting the top-order batsmen's inability to support the captain's decision to bat first after winning the toss.
Continuing his bowling prowess, Cummins dismissed Saud Shakeel and later returned to take the significant wicket of Mohammad Rizwan, who missed out on becoming the first Pakistan wicketkeeper to score a century in Australia in Test cricket by just 12 runs. Cummins' impressive spell didn't stop there, as he went on to take the wickets of Sajid Khan and Hasan Ali, completing his five-wicket haul.
Pakistan found themselves in a precarious position, having lost 9 wickets for a mere 227 runs on Day 1 of the third and final Test of the series. This performance by Cummins added to his already commendable list of achievements in 2023, a year that proved to be golden for him. He led Australia to several significant victories, including their first World Test Championship title, beating India in the final in London, retaining the Ashes Urn in a drawn series in England, and clinching the World Cup 2023 title by defeating India in the final in Ahmedabad.
Cummins' leadership skills were further highlighted as he steered the Australian team to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3-match Test series against Pakistan. His consistent performances have placed him among the greats of Australian cricket, with a rising tally of five-wicket hauls in Tests, joining the ranks of celebrated bowlers like Glenn McGrath, Denis Lillee, and Mitchell Starc. Pat Cummins' exceptional year and his role in Australia's cricketing successes have solidified his status as one of the leading figures in the sport.
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