Pat Cummins determined to bounce back at The Oval

Ever since Pat Cummins took over the leadership role, Australia have had an identity attached to them, with a combination of attritional cricket alongside some attacking brand of cricket that came with the reintegration of Travis Head. In Cummins’ first year as a leader, he’s achieved a lot - a rare Test series win in Pakistan, Test victories both in India and Sri Lanka - alongside the big prize - the World Test Championship. 

But come the Ashes, the challenge in front was a rather familiar one but in a new avatar. England were always going to play their own attacking brand of cricket, but the visitors had to come up with plans for tackling that fire. Whilst their plans were perfect in the first two Tests, the tactics soon tapered off, which led to a window of hope for England. 

Torrential downpour in Manchester, however, meant that England’s hopes of making a comeback were quashed. Australian captain Pat Cummins insisted that celebrations will be ‘muted’ considering how their focus is on winning the series at The Oval. 

"I don't think there will be huge celebrations. Maybe a bit of a pat on the back for retaining the [Ashes]. There's been a lot of work gone into putting us into a position where a draw does make us retain the Ashes. But there's a Test match starting in three days so that's going to be our full focus,” said Cummins. 

The last time Australia came this close in England was back in 2019, where a freakish innings from Ben Stokes ensured that the Urn was only retained by the Australian team. Cummins backed the group and stated that their aim this time around is to win the series 3-1. 

"It's a pretty similar group to 2019 when we retained it and we all came away feeling okay but we felt like we'd just missed what we'd come over to achieve. In some regards whatever happened today wouldn't really change how we look at next week. We want to win it to make sure we win it outright."

Probably for the first time in his Test career, Cummins turned out to be the worst of the Australian seamers, taking a solitary wicket while conceding 129 off just 23 overs. Cummins revealed his frustration, stating that there will be a look at the bowling plans ahead of the next fixture. 

"As a bowler it's frustrating that I didn't bowl very well at all, not up to the standards I try and keep myself to," he said. "I let through more boundaries than I normally do. Probably just one or two bad balls an over. I don't know [why] really. [My] rhythm felt pretty good, I felt like I was pretty clear in my own mind with plans.

"You definitely look at what you can try and do differently for next time. That will be part of this week for sure. I think there are some obvious things we could do a little bit differently. Maybe some plans, the way we executed our bowling.

While many consider Australia lucky to get away with the Urn, Cummins insisted that it was the ‘head-start’ in the series that has enabled them to rightfully retain the Urn. 

"As a group, proud that we've retained the Ashes but it's off the back of not our greatest week. We know we've got a fair bit of work to do for next week, a few improvements to make."

For Ben Stokes, the opportunity to level the series was right up their alley, but English weather denied their own side a chance of making history. But for Stokes, this already is a great victory, considering how his team has been well-loved by the fans, and he believes that was the biggest goal of the team. 

"We've become a team that have been so unbelievably well followed and we will live long in the memories of those who have watched us," Stokes said. "As much as I would love to be an Ashes-winning captain, I want this team to be a legacy team. And regardless of what happens over the next period, this 18 months will go down in history as one of the most exciting and proactive teams to go out there and represent England."

Any regrets then for Stokes, the captain? The dropped catch off Nathan Lyon in Edgbaston remains to haunt the English skipper, who insisted that it was the biggest let-go from England's stand-point in the series. 

"Probably the catch that I dropped off Nathan Lyon. I think that's probably the biggest one to be honest."