June 14, 2025
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'It’s pretty close to 50-50': Pat Cummins reflects on Australia’s position after WTC Final Day 2 vs South Africa | Cricket News

‘It’s pretty close to 50-50’: Pat Cummins reflects on Australia’s position after WTC Final Day 2 vs South Africa | Cricket News

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Pat Cummins of Australia with team mates Nathan Lyon and Beau Webster (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) Australia captain Pat Cummins reached the milestone of 300 Test wickets while leading his team to a commanding position in the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s on June 13, 2025. After two days of play, Australia reached 144-8 in their second innings, establishing a lead of 218 runs with two wickets remaining.A total of 28 wickets fell across the first two days as both teams’ batsmen struggled for runs on a challenging pitch.Cummins delivered an outstanding bowling performance, taking 6-28 on the second day to help dismiss South Africa for 138 runs, giving Australia a first-innings lead of 74 runs. Pat Cummins on WTC Final: ‘Cameron Green deserves a spot in the lineup’ An eighth-wicket partnership of 61 between Alex Carey (43) and Mitchell Starc (16 not out) strengthened Australia’s position at stumps.“It’s set up pretty well. The mood in the changing room is pretty positive. It was a great partnership and a good way to end the day,” Cummins said.“After two days it’s pretty close to 50-50. It’s a pretty good Test match. Some blokes have got themselves in and looked comfortable out there, but a lot of other guys haven’t,” Cummins added regarding the bowlers’ dominance.Quiz: Who’s that IPL player?Cummins attributed the rapid progress of the match to both pitch conditions and bowling quality.“Both teams have bowled really well, really disciplined. There haven’t been many half-volleys,” he said.“The trend of the game is that the runs are coming down. It’s still pretty difficult out there, but we will have to bowl well tomorrow (Friday),” the 32-year-old said in his 68th Test appearance. Temba Bavuma on picking Ngidi over Paterson for WTC Final: ‘Tough decision’ Cummins became the eighth Australian bowler to reach 300 Test wickets, achieving this feat at an average of 22.08.“There’s not too many on that list. It’s something I’ve always thought about. It’s a pretty good sign of durability and longevity,” Cummins remarked about his milestone.South Africa’s top scorer David Bedingham, who made 45 runs, acknowledged the challenging conditions.“It’s a fairly tricky pitch, but I think when you have six quality seamers on a tricky pitch it obviously makes batting tough,” Bedingham said.Despite trailing in the match, Bedingham expressed confidence in South Africa’s ability to chase down the target.“It is an amazing chance and we are very excited about the opportunity to win. It could go either way but there is a lot of belief,” he said.“I think the pitch is slowing down a bit and maybe in the fourth innings it will go a bit straighter. Hopefully, we can get those runs,” Bedingham added, as South Africa aims for their first major global title in 28 years.

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Did Australia withdraw appeal against David Bedingham in WTC final? Cummins reveals

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Australia captain Pat Cummins opened up on handling the ball controversy on Day 2 of the World Test Championship (WTC) final 2025 against South Africa at Lord’s, London. In the 49th over of South Africa’s innings bowled by Beau Webster, David Bedingham got an inside edge and the ball stuck in his pads. The South Africa batter quickly used his hands to put the ball on the ground seconds before wicketkeeper Alex Carey came in front of the stumps to collect it. A few Australian players objected to Bedingham using his hands, despite the ball still being in motion, leading to a discussion between the on-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth. After a brief discussion on-field umpires ruled the ball ‘dead’ and the play continued. Pat Cummins was asked about the incident in the press conference at the end of the day’s play. The Australian fast bowler revealed that umpires had said that it was a dead ball but they would’ve anyways withdrawn the appeal. “Yeah, well the umpires said it was dead ball first of all, but yeah I think we probably would have withdrawn, yeah,” said Cummins in the press conference. According to MCC Laws a ball becomes dead when it gets trapped into a batter’s equipment. “The ball becomes dead when, whether played or not it becomes trapped between the bat and person of a batter or between items of his/her clothing or equipment. 20.1.1.5 whether played or not it lodges in the clothing or equipment of a batter or the clothing of an umpire,” the law states. Bedingham also shared his thoughts on the incident, saying that he used his hands out of panick as Carey was standing up. “Yeah, I think I panicked big time. Because Carey was standing up, he was quite close. The umpires said, regardless, it was dead ball. But I think the way I picked up the ball and dropped it came across a bit dodgy,” said Bedingham in the press conference. Bedingham was dismissed for 45 (111) by Pat Cummins as South Africa got bundled out for 138, handing a 74-run lead to Australia in the first innings. However, South Africa fought back well with the ball in the second innings as they left Australia reeling at 144/8, leading by 218 runs at the end of the day’s play. Lungi Ngidi (3/35) and Kagiso Rabada (3/44) were the pick of the bowlers for the Proteas. Published By: Rishabh Beniwal Published On: Jun 13, 2025

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Out or not out? David Bedingham survives the handle-the-ball appeal in WTC final

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South Africa batter David Bedingham found himself at the centre of a rare and controversial moment during the World Test Championship final against Australia, surviving an appeal for handling the ball – now classified as obstructing the field. The incident took place when Australia’s Beau Webster bowled a length delivery that Bedingham defended with a faint inside edge. The ball deflected off his pads and dropped close to his feet. As it hovered near the pitch, wicketkeeper Alex Carey rushed forward, attempting to take a catch. In an instinctive reaction, Bedingham bent down and scooped the ball away from his body with his hand before it hit the ground. Carey immediately appealed, convinced the batter had interfered with a possible dismissal. AUS vs SA Live Score, WTC Final 2025 Day 2 Umpires Richard Illingworth and Chris Gaffaney discussed the appeal before ruling Bedingham not out. Their decision was based on MCC Law 37.3.1, which states that a batter is out obstructing the field if they willfully prevent a fielder from making a play – including a catch – using the hand or body. Since 2017, “handling the ball” is no longer a standalone dismissal and is instead considered under this law. While Bedingham clearly made contact with the ball using his hand, the umpires determined there was no deliberate intent to obstruct Carey. As a result, the appeal was dismissed. The moment drew comparisons to Michael Vaughan’s dismissal against India in 2001 – one of the few instances of a batter being given out for handling the ball in Test cricket. However, Vaughan’s case fell under the older version of the law, which did not require proof of intent. In Bedingham’s case, the emphasis was on whether he had willfully interfered. With no clear obstruction found, the South African batter was allowed to continue. If the delivery is not a no ball, the striker is out Obstructing the Field if wilful obstruction or distraction by either batter prevents the striker from being out caught. Also relevant are Laws 20.1, which pertain to when a ball becomes dead: 20.1 Ball is dead 20.1.1 The ball becomes dead when 20.1.1.1 it is finally settled in the hands of the wicket-keeper or of the bowler. 20.1.1.2 a boundary is scored. See Law 19.7 (Runs scored from boundaries). 20.1.1.3 a batter is dismissed. The ball will be deemed to be dead from the instant of the incident causing the dismissal. 20.1.1.4 whether played or not it becomes trapped between the bat and person of a batter or between items of his/her clothing or equipment. 20.1.1.5 whether played or not it lodges in the clothing or equipment of a batter or the clothing of an umpire. 20.1.1.6 under either of Laws 24.4 (Player returning without permission) or 28.2 (Fielding the ball) there is an offence resulting in an award of Penalty runs. The ball shall not count as one of the over. 20.1.1.7 there is contravention of Law 28.3 (Protective helmets belonging to the fielding side). 20.1.1.8 the match is concluded in any of the ways stated in Law 12.9 (Conclusion of match). 20.1.2 The ball shall be considered to be dead when it is clear to the bowler’s end umpire that the fielding side and both batters at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play Video footage showed the ball briefly trapped between Bedingham’s thighs before rolling onto his pad flap. As Carey closed in, Bedingham grabbed the ball and threw it down – an instinctive move that raised eyebrows. Australia’s players, including Usman Khawaja, sought a review, while Carey and the rest of the team exchanged wry smiles, aware of the delicate nature of the call. After discussion, umpire Illingworth signalled a dead ball, allowing Bedingham to continue his innings. Many questioned whether the ball had truly come to rest, arguing that it was not dead and that Bedingham’s action could have warranted dismissal. The umpires’ decision to let play continue reflected the fine balance between applying the letter of the law and respecting the spirit of the game. The incident inevitably drew comparisons to a similar Carey-involved controversy from the 2023 Ashes – the stumping of Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s – which went Australia’s way but sparked intense debate. With Bedingham not out, South Africa stand at 121 for 5, trailing by 91 runs. Published By: Saurabh Kumar Published On: Jun 12, 2025

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