‘One of the greatest’: Cummins screamer helps Australia take first innings lead over West Indies

6 hours ago 2

St George’s: Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins in the Caribbean.

Cummins produced one of the all-time caught and bowled dismissals before taking a crucial partnership-breaking wicket to help Australia roll the West Indies for 253 and bank a 33-run first innings lead in Grenada.

Australia’s captain Pat Cummins celebrates after taking a return catch to dismiss West Indies’ Keacy Carty.

It was a sleepy start to day two of the second Test, with fewer Australian fans in attendance after a rain-affected opening day which saw the tourists bowled out for 286.

Josh Hazlewood got the ball rolling for Australia on Friday, removing Kraigg Brathwaite for an eight-ball duck in the opener’s 100th Test courtesy of a sharp return catch to the fast bowler’s left side.

About six overs later, Cummins trumped Hazlewood’s effort with a stunning caught and bowled that will be played for years to come.

Bowlers rarely take bat-pad catches because they never stand at short-leg.

As a fast-bowling captain, Cummins would be the last person to field in that position, but somehow managed to take a remarkable bat-pad catch off his own bowling thanks to some brilliant athleticism and speed.

West Indies No.3 Keacy Carty pushed forward and got a thick outside edge that ballooned in the air on the leg side.

Some fast bowlers wouldn’t get close to the catch or even attempt it, but Cummins saw the opportunity and sprinted at full tilt to give himself a chance.

With an early dive and an outstretched right hand, about 12 metres away from the bowling crease, Cummins caught the ball just above the turf and made sure it didn’t flick the grass.

Cummins threw the ball in the air and was mobbed by delighted teammates.

“Captain Pat takes one of the greatest caught and bowled of all time,” former Australian fast bowler Damien Fleming wrote on X.

When Beau Webster removed John Campbell for 40, the West Indies were in strife at 3-64 but recovered to 4-169 thanks to an impressive half century from Brandon King.

Just when the West Indies looked like registering a first innings lead, Cummins bowled Shai Hope (21) with a sensational delivery that smashed into the off stump to end a 58-run partnership.

Cummins’ father Peter is in the Caribbean and has been enjoying himself in Barbados and Grenada. Sitting near Sam Konstas father, Cummins snr gave a double thumbs up to the local television cameras when the wicket unfolded.

King then departed for 75, caught behind down the leg side off Nathan Lyon, after Cameron Green convinced stand-in captain Steve Smith he’d got a glove on it. As far as reviews go, it was as good as it got.

After some entertaining late hitting from Alzarri Joseph (27) and Shamar Joseph (29), the West Indies fought hard to make 253. Australia’s bowlers would have liked to rip through the tail quicker but will be satisfied to secure a narrow lead late on day two.

Australia will have about 36 minutes to bat today.

Cummins finished with 2-46, while Lyon (3-75 from 19 overs) took his best figures since the second innings of Australia’s second Test against Sri Lanka in February.

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