Firing Cummins a welcome sign for Ashes

A lethal spell from Pat Cummins in tough Bangladeshi conditions has shown the danger he will pose to England in the Ashes

Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins has produced a lethal spell of fast bowling in the first Test against Bangladesh. (AAP)

If England weren't already nervous about Australia's pace attack for the Ashes series, Pat Cummins has sent them a timely warning.

The 192cm speed machine tore through Bangladesh's top order to give Australia the early advantage on day one of the first Test in Dhaka.

On a dry and dusty deck that had been expected to heavily favour spin, Cummins took just five balls to strike, squaring up Soumya Sarker with a well-pitched delivery which was caught by Peter Handscomb at gully.

Cummins' speed was proving a headache for the Bangladeshi batsmen, and he landed another blow in his second over, finding the edge of Imrul Kayes for Matthew Wade to take a regulation catch.

Cummins and Wade combined again off the next ball to dismiss Sabbir Rahman for a duck.

Sabbir called for a review but replays showed a thick edge, and Bangladesh fell to 3-10.

A hat-trick proved to be elusive but after winning the toss, the hosts were on the back foot.

Playing just his fourth Test in a hugely promising but injury-affected career, Cummins was less effective as the day went on, with the draining 75 per cent humidity in Dhaka making it tough going for the bowlers.

But the sight of a fit and firing Cummins will delight selectors as they ponder an all-out pace attack on England.

Skipper Steve Smith this week said it was possible Australia could play all four of Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson together with spinner Nathan Lyon in the Ashes.

"I guess it's nice that all the fast bowlers - probably take Josh out of it - but Starc, Cummins and Pattinson all bat pretty well," Smith said.

"So I won't say that we'll do it but there's a possibility that it could certainly happen, that you could play all four and Nathan Lyon.

"Probably leaves the batting a little bit light, but those guys do hold the bat pretty well, so it's something to certainly think about."


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Source: AAP



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