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Cummins tames Tigers with blistering spell

Aussie speedster strikes thrice after Bangladesh elected to bat in the first Test

Speedster Pat Cummins has unleashed a devastating spell to have Bangladesh reeling on the opening morning of the first Test in Dhaka.

Cummins took three wickets in eight balls, the tearaway accounting for three of the hosts' top four in about 20 minutes.

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The right-armer sent an early warning to the Bangladesh dressing room as a he got one to rise sharply on opener Soumya Sarkar, whose edge just eluded the grasp of Usman Khawaja at third slip. 

Two balls later, Cummins had his man as Sarkar edged another lifter and Peter Handscomb pouched a simple chance in the gully.

First-drop Imrul Kayes went the following over, the left-hander playing away from his body and inside-edging behind to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade.

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Cummins then found himself on a hat-trick as Shabbir Rahman edged behind for a golden duck. Shabbir strangely opted to review, but television replays showed a healthy edge.

Cummins watched six balls from Josh Hazlewood – who also started well and had star batsman Tamim Iqbal in trouble early – before delivering his hat-trick ball, which was solidly defended by Shakib Al Hasan.

Undeterred by the early blows, Iqbal showed impressive nerve in skipping down the track and lofting Nathan Lyon, who replaced Hazlewood after three overs, for an exquisite cover-driven six.

Cummins again found the edge in his fifth over, this time Shakib's, but it fell well short of Matthew Renshaw at first slip.



The blistering five-over spell enhances Cummins' growing reputation for extracting life from even the most sluggish of pitches.

After a luckless run with injuries in recent years, the Penrith product returned in March for his first Test since his player-of-the-match winning 2011 debut against South Africa. 

He took eight wickets in the final two Tests of Australia's tour of India and looks to figure as a major weapon for next summer's home Ashes series.



Australia in Bangladesh 2017

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade.

Bangladesh squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (c), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Liton Das, Taskin Ahmed, Shafiul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Mominul Haque.


27-31 August First Test, Dhaka


4-8 September Second Test, Chittagong