S\ufeffeventy-two runs stood between Pat Cummins and an improbable Australian victory when the skipper strode to the middle late on day five of the Edgbaston Test.<\/p>\n
And the tourists lost Alex Carey shortly after, bringing Nathan Lyon \u2014 not the worst of tailenders but a tailender nonetheless \u2014 to the crease.<\/p>\n
But over the 60-odd minutes that ensued, Cummins and Lyon would combine in remarkable fashion, putting together a partnership of 55 runs\ufeff to lift the visitors to an instantly legendary win in the first Ashes Test.<\/p>\n
When Cummins guided an Ollie Robinson\ufeff delivery behind square on the off side and Harry Brook failed to mop up on the boundary, the inspirational captain completed a two-wicket win for his side and gave the Australians a 1-0 lead in the series.<\/p>\n
"Ice in his veins," Michael Atherton said in commentary when Cummins' boundary sealed the result.<\/p>\n
"Pat Cummins has led his side to a famous victory here at Edgbaston.<\/p>\n
"Seventy-two they needed when he came to the crease and he has got his team over the line."<\/p>\n
Ricky Ponting was amazed.\ufeff<\/p>\n
"What an end to a Test match, what a game of cricket," said the former Australian captain.<\/p>\n
As the Australian dressing room went berserk,\ufeff an ecstatic Cummins raced over to Lyon at the opposite end of the wicket and lifted his batting partner off the ground.<\/p>\n
They then hugged in a jubilant embrace, the Australians in the Birmingham crowd celebrating wildly.\ufeff<\/p>\n
The victory made for Australia's highest successful run chase against England since 1948.<\/p>\n
Only the harshest of critics could find fault in Ben Stokes' final-day captaincy.<\/p>\n
Despite sporting a knee brace and having had limited bowling preparation, he brought himself on to bowl and claimed the crucial wicket of the eventual man of the match, prolific opener Usman Khawaja.<\/p>\n
He also took a gamble and came up trumps when the new ball became available, persisting with Joe Root and the old ball and reaping a sweet reward when the part-time off-spinner had Alex Carey caught and bowled.<\/p>\n
However, Stokes also gave Lyon a life when the veteran tweaker was on just two.<\/p>\n
Fielding at square leg, the superstar all-rounder made a spectacular effort as Lyon pulled a Stuart Broad delivery, leaping and flinging out his right arm as the ball flew above his head.<\/p>\n
He got a hand to the ball but couldn't hold on.<\/p>\n
If he had, Australian No.11 Josh Hazlewood would have joined Cummins in the middle with the tourists still needing 37 runs to win.<\/p>\n
When all was said and done, Cummins had made 44 runs and Lyon 16, and the Australians had avoided the nervy sight of Hazlewood walking out to bat in such a high-stakes situation.<\/p>\n
MORE TO COME.\ufeff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"