AUS vs IND- Pat Cummins extinguishes Josh Hazlewood rumours post Adelaide Test win (Source – Getty Images)
Australia skipper Pat Cummins finally puts the Josh Hazlewood rumours to rest after claiming a 10-wicket win over India in the second Test in Adelaide. Notably, the 31-year-old pacer led his side to an emphatic victory over the Indians and made a comeback after the disastrous result at Perth.
After a disappointing 295-run loss in Perth, the hosts had completely outdone the visitors in each department and chased down a paltry target of 19 runs on the third day of the pink-ball Test. As a result, the baggy greens have maintained their impeccable winning record in the day/night Tests. However, amid the win, one incident continued to haunt the Australian squad.
For the unversed, there was a lot of talk going on that there were some internal problems between Cummins and Josh Hazlewood who was said to be absent due to a side strain injury. Hazlewood had seemingly indicated displeasure about the lack of runs from the batters in the Perth drubbing during a press interaction. This fueled the rumours that there was a rift ongoing in the Australian dressing room. Moreover, this led to the assumption that Hazlewood was left out of the Pink Ball Test for his remarks.
However, Skipper Pat Cummins did not let these rumours affect Australia’s terrific performance in the Adelaide Test. Furthermore, the pacer played a vital role during the match and ended up claiming his 13th five-wicket haul to ensure his side won the game comfortably. After the conclusion of the game, Cummins also ensured to discuss the brewing Hazelwood-related rumours during a post-match interview.
“Great week, knew we were far away from the team we wanted to be in Perth. This is back to how we want to play, There was never that much noise within the group, we know what a good unit we are.” Cummins was quoted as saying by News 18.
India slump in WTC standings after Adelaide’s loss
Meanwhile, speaking of the outcome of the Adelaide Test and its impact on the chances of making it to the World Test Championship (WTC) final, Australia reclaimed the top spot with a sensational victory. While Team India slipped to the third position as the result of the pink-ball Test dented their chances of making it to the summit clash of the WTC.
Now, the visitors will have to secure wins in the rest of the three Tests coming ahead for an easier way of qualifying. Any loss ahead will make the path quite trickier. The action will now shift to Brisbane, where Australia will square off against India with a lot of confidence and hope they can repeat the same performance. The third Test of the BGT 2024-25 will commence on Saturday, December 14.
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