Last Updated on 3 years by Charbel Coorey

Cricket News: Pat Cummins aces first major test as Australia captain | Cummins leads Australia to 1-0 Test series win in Pakistan

Pat Cummins, in his first assignment as Test captain in Asia, has led Australia to a superb 1-0 series win in Pakistan. Faced with challenging bowling conditions in all three Tests, Cummins himself, who finished with 12 wickets at a remarkable average of 22.50, led the way as Australia fought successfully till the very end.

What makes the achievement all the more special is that it was far from smooth sailing. Australia endured some of their worst ever Test numbers in the Rawalpindi draw, before they were left heartbroken after 171.4 overs of toil for no reward in Karachi.

Such a predicament is difficult for any leader, let alone a new captain who has only had a feeble England to deal with so far. Not only do you need to focus on your own game, but you need to be able to keep the spirits up of those around you.

Cummins did that brilliantly. And he deservedly holds the series trophy aloft.

Pat Cummins’ brilliant declaration a sign of his cricketing smarts

Cummins’ decision to declare with a lead of 350 raised a few eyebrows. Nerves had spread far and wide across Australia as the Pakistanis went to the close on day four at 73/0. Remember, Pakistan scored 443/7 in the fourth innings on a similar kind of pitch in Karachi.

However, it was a masterstroke. As the late, great Shane Warne would say, you have to risk losing to win. Cummins put those words to practice as he dangled the carrot in front of Pakistan which would bring about more strokeplay, and thus more wicket-taking opportunities. And, importantly, you need as much time as you can get on a pitch where reverse swing was still the most prominent threat.

Also, Cummins made excellent decisions along the way. He started day five with Cameron Green, who picked up the first wicket – that of the ever resolute Abdullah Shafique. He persisted with the struggling Steve Smith in the slips, who ended up taking a blinder off his toes to dismiss Babar Azam. It was the wicket that opened the door for an Australia victory.

And, he rotated the bowlers well and had clear plans in the field. “In the first innings, the way we batted and got ahead of the game was fantastic. Thought 350, if they batted really well they were in the game, but thought if we bowled to our potential it was a long way away. Glad we got there in the end,” said Cummins in the post-match presentation.

Nathan Lyon delivers on the 5th day for Australia

Another positive for Australia was the performance of lead spinner Nathan Lyon. The spotlight was shining bright on Australia’s most prolific off-spinner, who has, in recent years, fallen short of delivering victories for Australia on the fifth day.

This time around, Lyon was rewarded for his consistency. He maintained a solid line outside off stump, as he finished the series with an economy rate of 2.46. Such numbers have been a key feature of Lyon’s career as he allows the pacers to operate at the other end, but this time he was able to pick up the crucial wickets, with the most important scalp being that of skipper Babar Azam.

Usman Khawaja wins player of the series after stunning performance

It was always going to special series emotionally for Usman Khawaja. Australia’s historic series in Khawaja’s home country brought the best out of him as he finished the series with a remarkable 496 runs in three Tests at an average of 165.33. It raises questions as to why he wasn’t brought back into the side earlier, such as Australia’s home series against India just over 12 months ago.

Khawaja has made up for lost time. He has struck scores of 137, 101*, 6, 11, 97, 160, 44*, 91 and 104* since his return to the Test side.

“Just want to thank Pakistan and the fans. We’ve had a great time. Everyone has been really welcoming,” said Khawaja in the post-match presentation.

“To win this game is the icing on the cake. I think 350 with four sessions was a good target. I didn’t really think they could get that score. There was enough in that wicket.”

Khawaja also said the Lahore track was difficult to bat on.

“Was the hardest wicket I’d batted on. Felt like the hardest hundred I’d got.”

First series win in Asia for Australia since 2011

Unsuccessful tours of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have caused heartache for Australia in Asia since their 1-0 triumph in Sri Lanka in 2011. It was the series where Nathan Lyon dismissed Kumar Sangakkara with his first delivery in Test cricket, and now 11 years later, he bowled Australia to victory in Pat Cummins’ first series as captain in Asia.

This win is particularly sweet for Australia. Wickets were hard to come by all series. In fact, Pakistan had scored 695/7 in the second innings of the Rawalpindi and Karachi Tests combined, so Australia needed to put all that behind them.

That they did. Led by captain and bowler Cummins, Australia will leave Pakistan with a terrific series win.