Australia vs Pakistan: ‘Doesn’t really matter,’ Cummins issues epic response to Hafeez's 'better team' comment

Australia skipper Pat Cummins issued an epic response to Mohammed Hafeez, Pakistan’s Director of Cricket, after the latter claimed that Pakistan played better cricket than Australia despite their defeat in the first Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. During Cummins’ post-match press conference, a reporter highlighted Hafeez’s statement in order to get a reaction. Cummins, with a nonchalant demeanor, acknowledged Pakistan’s good performance, saying, “Cool… [laughs]. Yeah, they played well. Glad we got the win.”

However, when the reporter pressed further, Cummins said that the ultimate determinant is the team that emerges victorious. “Doesn’t really matter, does it? It’s the team that wins at the end,” he added.

“We played better cricket as a team. I’m proud of that. The way the team had the courage to attack this game in the best possible way. If I sum up the game, the Pakistan team played better than the other team in general,” Hafeez had said earlier.

Cummins finished the match with 10 wickets in the second Test to help Australia beat Pakistan by 79 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Pakistan, on the other hand, were excellent in the match, but on the fourth day Australia captain Cummins stepped up with the ball and led the hosts to a series win, seeing off the visitors for 237 in their chase.

Cummins thus became the first Test captain to claim 10 wickets in a Test at MCG.

Pakistan, from 216/5, collapsed to be bowled out for 237 in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test. Cummins, along with the rest of the Australia bowling attack, played a key role in dismantling the Pakistan lineup. Cummins set the tone towards the end of the second session by putting an end to Shan Masood’s impressive innings that posed a threat to Australia.

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Masood and former Pakistan captain Babar Azam did put Australia under pressure, but the hosts retaliated in the final session, displaying unwavering persistence. Since the start of the 1999 tour, Pakistan have lost all 16 Tests they have played in Australia.