Xtra Time Web Desk: Pat Cummins made his debut as Australia’s test captain special as the fast bowler took 5/38 to leave England bowled out for 147 on Day 1 of the first Ashes test at Gabba on Wednesday. His spell read 13.1-3-38-5. Cummins also became only the second skipper for Australia to take a five-wicket haul on captaincy debut. George Giffen was the first bowler to take five wickets on his captaincy debut for Australia against England at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 1894.
The fast bowler from Sydney got rid of dangerous Ben Stokes, Haseeb Hameed, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson.
Cummins is the only second Australian after George Giffen in 1894 to take a five-wicket haul in the first game as a leader. Cummins, on his captaincy debut looked calm and composed as he used the conditions to his advantage with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
Pat Cummins becomes the first captain to take a five-wicket haul in an Ashes Test since Bob Willis in 1982. He has so far taken 57 wickets in 11 matches against Australia at an excellent average of just 20.
Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan took 5/55 in 2019 on his test captaincy debut.