‘We just keep going’: Pat Cummins responds as Australia dismisses ‘least competitive Ashes team’ label | Cricket News

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## Australia Secures Ashes Victory

What began as pre-series bravado has culminated in a familiar Ashes reality. The Australian cricket team, once labeled the “worst in 15 years,” has seized the urn with two Tests remaining, achieving a commanding 3–0 lead over an England team that entered the series with significant hype and high expectations.

## Stuart Broad’s Bold Predictions

Before the series, Stuart Broad, a key player in England’s last Ashes win in Australia during the 2010–11 series, set a provocative tone by claiming this Australian squad was the weakest in recent memory. However, after 11 days of cricket, the scoreboard tells a different story.

## Australia’s Dominant Performance

“It’s nice to be sitting where we are, 3–0 up,” stated Marnus Labuschagne after Australia clinched the third Test at Adelaide. “The job’s not done yet. We want to ensure it ends at 5–0 and really take that urn.” Australia achieved an 82-run victory at the Adelaide Oval, dismissing England for 352 while chasing an ambitious world-record target of 435.

## Record Crowd and Barmy Army Spirit

Despite facing defeat, the final Test attracted a staggering cumulative crowd of 223,638, showcasing the unwavering support from the Barmy Army well into the fifth day.

## Overcoming Challenges

Australia’s triumph is particularly impressive given the setbacks faced during the series. Pat Cummins missed the first two Tests due to a back issue, Josh Hazlewood was ruled out entirely, and Nathan Lyon was dropped before sustaining a hamstring injury in Adelaide. Mitchell Starc, however, remained a consistent force, available throughout the opening Tests.

## Mitchell Starc’s Impact

“We just found a way,” Starc commented after claiming three of the last four wickets in Adelaide. “Even when things aren’t going our way, we manage to find a way to prevail.” Starc currently leads the series with 22 wickets and has taken 51 wickets in the calendar year, guiding an Australian bowling attack that has effectively outmaneuvered England.

## Strategic Batting Changes

A series of batting reshuffles occurred during the matches. Steve Smith captained the side in Cummins’ absence but faced vertigo and missed the third Test. Usman Khawaja was hastily brought back into the lineup, while Travis Head was promoted to open after Khawaja’s prior injury.

## The Team’s Resilience

Cummins remarked, “You just kind of crack on. Challenges arise, but the boys say, ‘OK, that’s happened, what’s next?’” Head, who scored a match-winning century in Perth and 170 in Adelaide, simply described life within the dressing room as “bloody amazing.”

## Looking Ahead: Melbourne and Beyond

With the next Test in Melbourne approaching and uncertainties surrounding Cummins and Lyon, Australia’s depth will be further tested. Yet for the moment, the urn is secure, and the pre-series predictions have been proven wildly incorrect.

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