During the post-match press conference after the Lord’s Test match, Pat Cummins responded cleverly when questioned about the possibility of Australia employing more Mankads and under-arm bowling in the upcoming Ashes series.
The dismissal of Jonny Bairstow by Alex Carey during the final morning of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s has sparked a passionate discussion regarding the Spirit of Cricket.
While specific individuals feel that Bairstow was mistreated and believe that Australia should have retracted their appeal due to violating the game’s spirit, others commend Carey for his quick thinking. They argue that Bairstow’s dismissal was by the rulebook, emphasizing that adherence to the law should take precedence.
During the post-match press conference, a journalist confronted Cummins with a comparable inquiry regarding the integrity of the sport. The initial question posed to him was whether he believed in the concept of the Spirit of Cricket, to which he responded positively.
The journalist inquired, “Pat, do you think there is such a thing as the Spirit of Cricket, or do you believe in it?” Cummins succinctly replied, “Yep,” expressing his agreement.
After a momentary pause, Cummins offered a lighthearted response, causing laughter to fill the room. He jokingly remarked, “Ah… I mean, it all depends on how flat the wickets get. It might become an option to consider,” hinting at the possibility of bending the rules in certain conditions.
Although Cummins’ response may have been a playful remark, it likely stems from the observation that the pitches in the ongoing series, namely at Edgbaston and Lord’s, have been predominantly flat and unresponsive, providing little assistance to the bowlers.
The upcoming third Test will take place at Headingley in Leeds. Like the English bowling lineup, Cummins and his teammates will be eager for a pitch that offers more challenges than the relatively uneventful surfaces encountered at Edgbaston and Lord’s.
