World Check Championship: Cummins says closing ‘a bridge too far’ for overwhelmed Australia

Australia captain Pat Cummins stated his aspect had been confronted with a “bridge too far” after shedding the World Check Championship closing to South Africa at Lord’s on Saturday.

Cummins’ males, the reigning title-holders, had been strongly fancied to defeat a South Africa aspect with few star names.

However they suffered a five-wicket defeat as South Africa, with opener Aiden Markram making an outstanding 136 and skipper Temba Bavuma 66, chased down a goal of 282 earlier than lunch on the fourth day.

Australia led by 74 runs on first innings however might by no means utterly pull away from the Proteas, with South Africa quick bowler Kagiso Rabada returning advantageous match figures of 9-110.

“Issues can change fairly shortly,” stated Cummins on the post-match presentation ceremony. “Sadly, it was a bridge too far.”

Steve Smith’s first-innings 66 was the one rating of fifty or extra within the match by a specialist Australia batsman.

Smith, nonetheless, suffered a dislocated finger whereas dropping a slip catch and is now uncertain for the primary Check in opposition to the West Indies in Barbados on June 25.

Australia, now at first of a brand new WTC cycle, could should evaluation their batting choices extra broadly, with Marnus Labuschagne, who averaged a lowly 25.63 in Checks in the course of the 2024/25 season, out for 17 and 22 at Lord’s after being promoted to open the innings.

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“We’ve bought a few weeks earlier than the primary Check within the Windies, so we’ll sit down and have a little bit of a suppose,” stated Cummins.

“To make these finals, it’s usually off the again of being sturdy at dwelling, however you’ve bought to win some away sequence too,” he later informed reporters at a post-match press convention.

“So, in some methods, it’s good we get to mud ourselves off and switch round in a few weeks and begin waiting for the subsequent one.

“That’s one of many good issues concerning the World Check Championship, each Check sequence and each Check match feels such as you’re enjoying for one thing important.”

Deserved champions

South Africa had the perfect batting situations of the match of their second innings, however they nonetheless had a job to do in recording the second-highest profitable run chase to win a Check at Lord’s, behind the West Indies’ 344-1, requiring 342, in opposition to England in 1984.

“They (South Africa) had been improbable in that fourth innings,” stated quick bowler Cummins. “There wasn’t quite a bit within the wicket, however they didn’t give us an opportunity.”

This match was the end result of the third version of the WTC, with New Zealand the inaugural 2021 champions and Australia triumphant in 2023, with India twice the shedding finalists.

However the format of the competitors has confronted fierce criticism, with international locations free to determine what number of Checks they need to play within the two-year qualifying cycle.

Australia’s captain Pat Cummins celebrates taking the wicket of South Africa’s David Bedingham on day two of the ICC World Check Championship cricket closing match between Australia and South Africa.
| Photograph Credit score:
AFP

South Africa performed simply 12 Checks within the latest cycle, with none of these video games in opposition to England or Australia, who received 13 out of 19 matches to achieve the ultimate.

However a gracious Cummins stated of South Africa: “They confirmed why they’re on this closing and are deserved champions.”

As for the format, he jokingly added: “I most well-liked it on the Oval final time (when Australia beat India in 2023).”

On a extra severe be aware, the 32-year-old Cummins stated: “It’s one thing you construct in direction of for 2 years, it’s an enormous achievement to make the ultimate, after which a one-game shootout, I believe it’s a improbable spectacle.”