As an often dreary series closed in on its 14th day of a stalemate, Pat Cummins had much to ponder.
The new Australian captain, only seven Tests into a role he never expected to have only to be thrust into it due to a humiliating scandal to his predecessor, was contemplating when to pull the trigger on a declaration.
Australia still had nightmares of not being able to bowl out Pakistan in 172 overs in the second Test in Karachi, but Cummins didn’t want to play it safe. He didn’t come to Pakistan - the historic series breaking a 24-year drought between the teams in Pakistan - to partake in the first nil-all three-Test series since New Zealand and England in 2013.
Australia, who like to traditionally think they’re innately aggressive, hadn’t played in an 0-0 affair across three Tests since a rain-affected home series against New Zealand in 2001 .
Taking a leaf out of Michael Clarke’s page - a maligned figure in modern Australian cricket but who was a tactical genius and an entertaining skipper - Cummins decided to gamble and dangle a carrot to Pakistan, who just nine days earlier finished at 443 for 7 from 171.4 overs in a fourth innings for the ages.
He declared two hours before stumps leaving Pakistan 351 runs for victory or a minimum of 121 overs to survive. It was gutsy and not something most skippers would have done - certainly not Pakistan counterpart Babar Azam and probably not any modern Australian skipper bar Clarke and Mark Taylor.
By the end of day four, Cummins was pensive and his mood soured by Steve Smith - who endured a torrid time at first slip - dropping in-form Abdullah Shafique on the second last ball as Pakistan batted through to stumps to whittle the deficit to a manageable 282 runs.
Predictably, Cummins received criticism for the sporting declaration giving Pakistan a sniff of hijacking the series. The signs were ominous on day five which was the 30th anniversary of Pakistan winning the World Cup in Australia, the cricket crazy country’s greatest feat in the sport.
But Cummins remained confident because, well, he had himself in the attack. He’s comfortably the best bowler in the world and is quickly rising to be among the very best quicks in modern history. Glenn McGrath, Australia’s leading wicket taker for a quick, set an almost impossible standard through his unrelenting accuracy and longevity but he didn’t have the sheer force or electricity that Cummins possesses.
Before he turned the match during a withering spell before tea, Cummins made all the right moves starting with trusting emerging allrounder Cameron Green to open the bowling on day five alongside himself.
It proved a masterstroke with the towering youngster snaring Shafique early before Nathan Lyon stole the show. The veteran has been maligned over the years despite being Australia’s most successful finger spinner partly due to a generation of Australians being totally spoilt by the brilliance of the late great Shane Warne.
True, Lyon had struggled amid Australia’s recent woes in bowling teams out on the final day but he had a point to prove. He was fortunate with the wicket of Azhar Ali, who was out controversially on review and was furious with the overturned decision in rare visible anger, but Lyon deserved luck after toiling manfully in the middle of day three to ensure Pakistan were kept on a leash just when they appeared to be dominating.
Backed by an aggressive Cummins, who deployed a slew of catchers around the bat, Lyon delivered with a five-wicket haul including the key wicket of captain Babar Azam who briefly threatened to defy Australia again.
With Test and series victory assured, Cummins deserved the finishing touches and he delivered in style by bowing Naseem Shah to trigger wild Australia celebrations. Many of these players probably never imagined they would ever play Test cricket in a country that was exiled for so long and that Australia’s governing body didn’t seem to have any interest in re-engaging.
But Cricket Australia, perhaps tired of copping a public flogging, did the unexpected and the series ensued. It was dreary at times - particularly excruciating during Rawalpindi - but there were indelible performances, especially Pakistan born Usman Khawaja claiming player of the series.
Australia’s sportsmanship - an oxymoron in the past - was noticeable marked by David Warner’s unusual bromance with Shaheen Shah Afridi that perhaps started going overboard when he shook the quick’s hand after being dismissed on day four.
But Cummins has clearly given the team a refined touch without losing their fire and passion. This was evident in Pakistan, where Australia trumped oppressive conditions, flat pitches, energetic young opponents and being holed in their hotels while being surrounded by high level security. They did it all with a smile, following the lead of their talisman.
It was Australia’s first overseas Test series win since 2016 and first in Asia since 2011. He’s only a few months into his captaincy, but all signs point to Pat Cummins being an all-time great Australian Test skipper.
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