Cummins cherishes game-changing spell at Edgbaston

Cummins showed his class and quality on a fifth-day track by hitting the pitch hard and extracting variable bounce © Getty

In the first Test at Edgbaston, after initially struggling for rhythm, Pat Cummins found his groove and bagged a four-wicket haul on the final day to power Australia to a crushing 251-run victory over England.

The New South Welshman showed his class and quality by hitting the pitch hard and extracted variable bounce to trouble the opposition ranks. The way he dismissed Rory Burns with a short delivery that climbed awkwardly, or castled Jos Buttler with the one that stayed a tad low in the second innings capsulises the point. In the recent past, the pacer has also made it a habit of bowling game-changing spells and has spearheaded the pace attack admirably.

"It's those kinds of spells you remember the most... when it's to win a Test match," Cummins said of his fourth-innings show. "Day-five wicket, didn't feel like there was a lot in it for us bowlers up to that point, but one of those moments where I felt in really good rhythm, the ball was hard, there seemed to be a bit of zip in the wicket and that's when I love it. Trying to break up a partnership or get that crucial wicket to win the match - I love that, so I enjoy that role when it comes off, when it doesn't, it's normally pretty hard work, but yeah I enjoyed that day five.

"I felt like with each spell I got a little bit better and better. I haven't played a lot of red-ball [cricket] coming into the first day's play, and I think just trying to find that tempo of Test cricket - it's slightly different to white ball, and I think mixed into that the excitement and the nerves of first spell in Ashes over here. I was pretty pumped up and felt probably by the lunch session I was into my work and pretty happy how I was going. Definitely by the end of the game I felt a lot better than that first spell.

"First Test I came in pretty fresh for that Test match and luckily we had a big break, so I knew that was the carrot at the end of the game that we were going to get 10 days off, so it was pretty easy to tear in that last day. I feel really good; haven't really done much in the last few days and [have] just build up nicely. I feel 100%."

Cummins dislodged England's danger man, Buttler, both times in the Test by mostly attacking the stumps. The paceman observed that he looked to keep it simple by trying to hit the top of off-stump. "I felt like both times I was into my work and my rhythm was pretty good. We've all got our plans, but most of the times its around off stump or fourth stump and for the most part of the game we bowled well to everyone.

"Fortunately it came off against someone like Jos both times early, but we've got our plans to all of them, none of them too flamboyant, they're normally just around that off stump, but he's a dangerous player, and if you can get him early, it goes a long way towards winning the game."

Cummins also said that there is immense belief in the camp after they came from behind to emerge victorious in the first Test. Australia were reduced to 122 for 8 in the first essay and conceded a first innings lead of 90. However, Steven Smith's twin tons and a powerful show by the bowlers in the second essay ensured that Australia came out on top.

"I think the good thing was, the first couple of days we were behind in the game and with each day, we felt like we were getting more and more into the game, so it was a continual build-up of, 'are we really going to do this; we're on top now; all right, it's ours to win. So it's one of those moments you finish the game, you sit together and have a beer in the change room and you reflect on what you've achieved.

"We've had a bit of a break, so we've been able to reflect on that before we now come up here and concentrate on the next game. I don't think it was lost on any of us. For more than half the team it was our first Ashes win here in England, so it's big. I think everyone would like to play all five," he said.

Cummins, who sustained quite a few injuries during the initial phase of his career, has been largely injury free in the recent past. The pacer hoped that he would play all five Ashes Tests. "I think it's one of those things where it's just great that we've got that flexibility, so I think every game you're going to pick your best three bowlers you think are going to win that match. I guess we're lucky we've got six guys here who are a real chance of playing every game. Personally, I'll be hoping to play every game, and if I'm fully fit and bowling well I expect to, but it's good we've got plenty of bowlers here."