If Jasprit Bumrah lit up the Boxing Day Test match with a fiery spell of fast bowling, Pat Cummins has responded to his former Mumbai Indians teammate with a fitting reply.
Being dismissed for 151 in reply to India's mammoth first innings total of 443-7, Australia needed an inspired bowling performance to breathe life back into the Test match and Cummins obliged the Aussie wishes.
India started brightly in the second innings with openers Hanuma Vihari and Mayank Agarwal stitching together a patient 28 run stand until the former fell to a Cummins bumper. The pacer then dismissed three of India's best batsman to an elaborate leg-side trap.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli went back to the pavilion for ducks after mirroring each other's dismissals. Both were caught by Marcus Harris – trying to flick deliveries off their pads – who was placed for the very shot. Ajinkya Rahane quickly followed his captain to the dressing room caught down the leg side by Tim Paine while attempting a pull shot.
Pujara ?
— Herald Sun Sport (@heraldsunsport) December 28, 2018
Kohli ?
An extraordinary spell from Pat Cummins has Australia back in the contest at the MCG.
? | LIVE: https://t.co/s4R5zlaVH8#AUSvIND #Cricket pic.twitter.com/LObNoWyw3A
Four quick wickets in the span of a few minutes changed the complexion of the game and gave the Aussies a sniff. It also sent Twitter into a frenzy.
Great
— Anubhav Mohanty (@ANUBHAVMHNT) December 28, 2018
Now Pujara n Kohli r promoting #Zero movie #INDvAUS#AUSvIND
Take a walk! The King is dead HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA KOLHI=SHIT #AUSvIND
— Keats Rattray (@tronz83) December 28, 2018
#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/AiXeReC8gx
— Brad ?? (@Braadk_) December 28, 2018
Where’s your captain? #AUSvIND
— Matt Parker (@zoonmattau2) December 28, 2018
me watching our Batting now ?#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/vb2D2VLKLd
— Asif (@asif_sk4) December 28, 2018
Meanwhile Virat Kohli promoting his wife's movie
— Vinay Dalal (@lord_dalall) December 28, 2018
Pyar ho toh aisa warna na ho.#INDvsAus#AUSvIND@imVkohli @AnushkaSharma pic.twitter.com/rWFZr15XI3
Cricket lovers to indian team in 2nd innings.. #AusvInd#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/2oPsRxi2wq
— Prabhjot Gill (@prabhjot_gill18) December 28, 2018
When you are spending too much time with @RaviShastriOfc at the bar. #AUSvIND @GabbbarSingh @AksharPathak pic.twitter.com/tBfbyDURAE
— YoungUncle (@sahilgupte19) December 28, 2018
A lot of fans were singing praises in the name of Cummins.
Patrick Cummins right now #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/7jMY0rD17l
— Shawn Sommerville (@EoEFAN) December 28, 2018
Tim Paine should consider that Pat Cummins' last IPL team was also Mumbai Indians. #AUSvIND
— Abhishek (@absycric) December 28, 2018
Pat Cummins has pretty much resurrected the series single handedly. #AUSvIND
— Mindy Pawsey (@MKPS001) December 28, 2018
Pat Cummins to open the batting in the second innings for @CricketAus after he cleans up the tail this afternoon. #BoxingDayTest #AUSvIND
— Aaron Sainsbury (@AaronSainsbury) December 28, 2018
At one point, this is what Cummins' bowling figures looked like.
Not bad stats @patcummins30. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ZONUbrqg6q
— Vincent Alvaro (@VincentAlvaro) December 28, 2018