It’s been a summer of contrasts for Mt Riverview native Pat Cummins.
He finally played a Test on home soil, six years after his wildly successful debut in South Africa and after repeated injury setbacks.
Now a fitter and stronger player, he was not only the highest wicket-taker in the successful Ashes series, he was named man-of-the-match in the final Test in Sydney after taking eight wickets.
But the exhilaration of the Test campaign has been dented somewhat by the team’s defeat in the one-day series.
England have taken an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
Cummins took two wickets in the first match (albeit for 63 runs but then century-maker Jason Roy thumped all the Australian bowlers), was rested for the Brisbane match then played in Sydney on Sunday.
He was regarded as the pick of the bowlers until his last two overs cost 34 runs.
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