Pat Cummins explains why the notorious abuse of Australian cricketers at Lord’s after the Ashes scandal was ‘great’ for cricket
- Pat Cummins was shocked by the intensity of the public abuse at Lord’s
- Followed Jonny Bairstow’s punching in the second Ashes Test
- Cummins admitted some fans ‘got pretty excited’
- Skipper also felt the sports theater tension was added
Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has revealed why he believes the crowd abuse that followed Jonny Bairstow’s infamous punching at Lord’s during the Ashes series was a ‘great thing’ for the sport.
Speaking on Channel Seven sunrise On Thursday, the 30-year-old reiterated that the on-field umpire’s decision was correct, but admitted he was shocked by the behavior of irate MCC members at cricket’s home ground.
“It sure was an old tantrum,” Cummins told co-hosts Matt Shirvington and Natalie Barr.
“I’ve never experienced anything like it…but I will say throughout my career I’ve seen this kind of firing at least 20 times…and it’s always out.
“Davey (Warner) and Ussie (Khawaja) went back to a few members after some comments, it got pretty heated.”
Pat Cummins has revealed why the public abuse that followed Jonny Bairstow’s infamous punching at Lord’s was ‘great’ for the sport (pictured, after winning the first Test at Edgbaston)
Australia’s cricketers responded to ‘cheat’ claims from angry members of Lord’s during the second Test of the Ashes series (pictured centre, Usman Khawaja)
When asked if he personally responded to the abuse, Cummins joked that he “wasn’t smart enough” to do so.
“I got the gossip from the other guys, then we all took a deep breath and tried to stay calm,” he said.
“We had a break and then continued.”
Cummins disagreed with the suggestion that Alex Carey’s stumping of Bairstow had ‘changed the game’, pointing instead to the huge interest in the series over five pulsating Test matches.
“I think the great thing was how many people were talking about cricket… it was the middle of winter (in Australia) and cricket was the main sport for a few months,” said the paceman.
‘Personally I loved how many people focused on Test cricket every day and enjoyed the match.
“And also the old (sporting) rivalry between us and them… every Ashes series seems to drop something.”
Alex Carey’s dismissal of Bairstow from Lord’s was controversial, but within the laws of the game
Cummins then added that it was essentially done in England despite the drawn sequences.
“Our aim was to keep the Ashes, which we did, but even now I look back at some moments where if they had gone our way… it could have resulted in a series win rather than a draw” , he said.
“We kept the urn there in 2019 as well, so I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved… winning away from home is tough.”
Cummins also confirmed he broke his wrist during the fifth test at The Oval but is in no danger of missing the summer on home soil.