Pat Cummins expresses delight as bowling unit follows Ashes blueprint

Pacer and Australia’s newly appointed captain Pat Cummins had a good start to his captaincy stint after he returned with a fifer in the first innings of the first Ashes Test against England in Brisbane. 

The visitors were bowled out for 147 in the first innings with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc picking up a couple of wickets apiece during the course. 

Hazlewood’s dismissals included the priced wicket of England captain Joe Root who was undone for a 9-ball duck. Hailing the bowling efforts from the unit, Cummins lavished praise on Hazlewood for his “high quality relentless bowling”. 

"It's nice when they don't get a good look, face too many balls," Cummins said. "They are a huge part of their batting line-up. Thought Joshy Hazlewood, that's the blueprint to bowl to Joe Root, high quality relentless bowling and nice to get Stokes' wicket. Everything went to plan today."

Fast bowler Mitchell Starc also expressed delight on wrapping up England’s first innings early and lauded the way Cummins and Hazlewood bowled. 

"Josh and Pat have almost brought that blueprint from the previous Ashes over in England where they seemed to have their plans down pat to Joe," Mitchell Starc told Seven during the rain delay. "Fantastic to get off to the start we did and have him for nothing.