Pat Cummins says Australia won’t celebrate keeping the Ashes after rain at Old Trafford caused them to hold the urn… while admitting frustration with his own bowling and captaincy performance
- Cummins says Aussies won’t celebrate
- Schipper admits that it is a ‘weird’ feeling
- Aims for outright victory in The Oval
Pat Cummins says there will be no major celebrations from the Aussies for retaining the Ashes after the fourth Test ended in a draw with no play at Old Trafford on Sunday.
England dominated the first three days in Manchester and looked well positioned to take the series to 2-2 heading into the weekend.
The Aussies will take their 2-1 lead in the final test at The Oval, which starts on Thursday, with the trophy already decided but still with a chance to win their first series in England in over two decades.
“It’s a little strange,” Cummins said.
‘As a group [we’re] proud to have kept the Ashes, but it’s off the back of not our best week. It feels like it’s good to keep the Ashes, but we know we have quite a bit of work to do over the next week.
Pat Cummins says there will be no big party from the Aussies after Fourth Test at Old Trafford was wiped out
Cummins says his full focus is now on the next test at The Oval, which starts on Thursday
“I don’t think there will be any big parties. Maybe a pat on the back for keeping the [Ashes]. A lot of work has been done to put us in a position where we keep the Ashes in a draw. But there’s a test match starting in three days, so that will be our full focus.
“It’s a pretty similar group to 2019 when we held it and we all came away feeling good, but we felt like we just missed out on what we wanted to achieve.
In some ways, what happened today wouldn’t really change how we look at next week. We want to win it to make sure we win it outright.”
Australia won two thrilling Tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s to take a dominant position, but England gave themselves hope by coming out on top in another closely fought match at Headingley.
The momentum seemed to be with the hosts and they did little wrong at Old Trafford.
Australia was nowhere near its best – even Cummins’ bowling was significantly below average.
England dominated the first three days in Manchester and looked well placed to take the series to 2-2
The skipper admitted to some frustrations with his bowling and captaincy performance
“As a bowler it’s frustrating that I didn’t bowl very well at all, didn’t live up to the standards I try to hold myself to,” said Cummins.
“I cross more borders than usual. Probably just one or two bad balls and one over. Don’t know [why] Real. [My] rhythm felt pretty good, I felt like I was pretty clear headed with plans.
“In terms of captaincy, I think there have been a few of those moments where the [England] batters have played well, the game is moving very fast.
“We knew coming into this series that they were probably going to have a few days where things are going their way and the game is moving really fast, so it was one of those days. It’s tough, frustrating, but that’s cricket. We’ve been on the other side many times.’